An Iranian MP called Muslim clerics as the axis of popular movements in Bahrain warning that crackdown by the government will intensify violence in the Persian Gulf state.

Seyyed Hussein Naghavi Husseini, speaker of National Security Committee and Foreign Policy at Iran’s Parliament in an exclusive interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA) said,” West is trying to spark religious war in the Islamic nation to turn the anger of Islamic nations to a civil war within the world of Islam.

He referred to the crackdown of peaceful protests by Al Kalifa forces and said,” Escalation of anti-people crackdown by Al Kalifa and undemocratic behavior provokes violence among protesters.”

“We have frequently noticed our neighboring country to start dialogue with the people and maintain their demands so that the grounds for violence are decreased.” He said and expressed regret that Bahrain does not follow an approach of dialogue.

He referred to the increasing crackdown of Bahraini civilians explaining his concern for detention and torture of women and children in the country.

Iranian MP touched upon the role of Muslim clerics in the popular movements of Bahraini people and said,” In Islamic countries ulima (Muslims scholars) are the axis for popular movements and when Bahraini Shia and Sunni scholars unite to stand against Al Kalifa, it shows that the political system is facing serious corruptions that have to be basically solved.”

On the efforts of western countries to project Bahrain crisis as a religious issue he said,” During recent years, Western countries, particularly the US, have set Shiaphobia as the main focus in their activities.” and added,” West aims at waging a religious war to turn anger of the Islamic nation at the US and the Zionist regime, to civil clashes, a long term plan in line with their own interests.” 

HK