Bahrain Mirror: The Telegraph reported that Bahrain's decision to strip the country's top Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, of his citizenship is "a move that threatens to spark fresh unrest in the Gulf state and tension with Shias throughout the Middle East."

Bahrain's Sunni government accused Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the country's Shia majority, of promoting "sectarianism and violence" and serving "foreign interests".

The British newspaper further mentioned that the authorities in Bahrain have long accused the Sheikh of "fomenting unrest and even trying to overthrow the government," noting that  Sheikh Qassim has close ties to Iran and has been an outspoken critic of Bahrain's king.

The decision to strip him of his citizenship is the latest in a series of crackdowns on the Shia opposition. The decision will create "a flame of fire" in Bahrain, warned Qassem Suleimani, the Iranian general who leads Iran's Quds force.

"Surely they know that the aggression against Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line, the crossing of which will create a flame of fire in Bahrain and throughout the region that will leave no option for the people but to resort to armed resistance," said Gen Suleimani said.  

Arabic Version