Human rights activists to stand by Bahraini top cleric

The rights activists are slated to launch the campaign so as to stand by Sheikh Qassim on Tuesday through using the hashtag “#save_sheikh_qassim” on social media sites.

They have called on social media users to publish photos and video footages featuring support for the prominent cleric.

Bahraini people have staged nationwide demonstrations over the past days in various cities and villages in solidarity with Sheikh Qassim.

During the peaceful rallies, protesters condemned the ruling Al Khalifa regime for attacking the house of the cleric in Diraz, west of Manama.

In the raid on the house of Sheikh Qassim in Diraz last week, regime forces shot dead at least six demonstrators, wounded dozens and arrested over 280 people.

The raid followed a Bahraini court ruling on May 21 that sentenced Sheikh Qassim to one year in prison. Based on the verdict, the cleric’s properties worth three million Bahraini dinars (near $8 million) have been also confiscated. Moreover, Sheikh Qassim has been sentenced to pay a fine of 1,000 Bahraini dinars (about $2,650).

Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with security forces resorting to harsh measures against demonstrators.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful protests.

/SR