The movement which was born in Tunisia opened its way to some Arab countries in the Middle East. Bahrain has also joined the movement and it is more than two months that the peaceful demonstration in the Persian Gulf State of Bahrain has turned into public movements claiming the lives of many civilians.

People in the streets are attacked, schools are invaded and walls of the houses do not make a sanctuary for women any more.

When the doctors and nurses are detained, ways to hospitals are blocked and military commanders take over the presidency of the health centers, mosques are demolished and there is not the least trace of security in Bahrain.

What is the reaction of the international body though?

On the sideline of the conference titled "Bahrain Crisis; A Challenge for International Communities" attended by Iranian, Saudi and Bahraini figures, in an exclusive interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA), Ayatollah Seyyed Sadreddin Shariati, Iranian cleric and head of Allameh Tabatabayee University in Tehran answers some questions on the issue.


Q: What is your evaluation on the events in Bahrain and the duty of different countries towards the Islamic awakening?

A: What is happening in Bahrain is a catastrophe. The pictures shown via the Islamic Republic of Iran's Broadcasting (IRIB), shows the wide range of the incident like, demolishing mosques, burning mosques and houses, invading schools, attaching women, children and even school students, torturing people to death, demolishing hospitals, detaining nurses and doctors. This shows the depth of the crime they are committing in Bahrain.

On the other hand, people in Bahrain are determined people. Contrary to what is happening to them they are persevering and this resistance shows that they are determined to gain their freedom and keep control of their life.

This is quite natural and the first of the rights of every man. I doubt it if the world tyrants can confront even with full force.

The duty of the world bodies is to support because every oppressed person has to be backed. Therefore it is a religious duty of the Muslim world to defend Bahraini people.

Imam Ali (AS), first Shia Imam and cousin of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) told his sons Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein (AS) to be a supporter of the oppressed and an enemy to the oppressors.

Humanity has taken silence about the issue of Bahrain as if nothing has happened and that the people who are killed over there are not human beings. They are not people with the right to live.

You must remember there was so much when the statue of Buddha in Afghanistan was demolished by Taliban; there was so much criticism from the people around the world while so many victims in Bahrain and demolishing so many mosques, arouse no objection from the people.

It is a pity.

We feel that the tyrants have a dual stance regarding this issue. It is hypocrisy. The issue is the same but it cries out its objection in one case and keeps silent in the other and not only it keeps silent but also shows green light to the tyrants to kill the people.

This is a crime in international scale and oppression towards the people.

Pay attention to the story of Bin Laden for whose death the west celebrates. I don’t mean that he was a good guy but here I want to ask why the same thing does not happen for the criminals in Bahrain. Why do not those who have killed so many people in Bahrain confront any criticism?

This is a pity and the world has to go back to its real identity. The real identity of man is a defender of truth, a supporter of freedom and a defender of the lives of the people.

Q: What was the effect of Bahrain uprising on Muslim unity regarding the point that world media says that the crisis in Bahrain is due to a religious difference?

A: You can see that due to the force and military operations some people may hide but those who demonstrate in other countries are all Muslims. There is no discussion on Shia or Sunni. There is some propaganda that the uprising is due to sectarian differences but the reality is that it is from the heart of the Islamic society and based on Qur'anic principles, the same Qur'an that all Muslims believe in.

Q: What is your view on the paradox that they say it is a sectarian difference but the military reaction to the uprising is an international one?

A: Exactly the same thing shows that it is not limited to one special sect because should it be a sectarian disagreement it would have been silenced from the birth.

Enemies are worried that the uprising has spread to an international arena.

Is there Shia in Palestine? Are the people in Tunasia Shia? Of are the people in Libya Shia? Is there merely Shia in other countries? However the move (Islamic awakening) has opened its way in other countries.

Q: What score do you give to the international bodies like UN in terms of their reaction to the crisis in Bahrain?

A: It is C-

Q: What do you foresee as the future of the uprising?

A: What Qur'an promises is victory for those who are pious and oppressive do not last. This is justice which is eternal.