Bahrain Mirror: Human Rights Watch condemned the Diraz security operation conducted by Bahraini regime forces Tuesday morning (May 23, 2017), and described it as a crackdown on freedom of expression.

"Yet again the architects of bloody destabilising violence in Bahrain appear to be the Al Khalifa government, and the timing of this operation - two days after King Hamad's convivial meeting with President Trump - can hardly be a coincidence," the group said in a statement.

Authorities raided this morning the town of Diraz, home to the country's Shiite majority spiritual leader, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim. The town has been a site for an open sit-in since the revocation of his citizenship by authorities 11 months ago.

A protester was killed after he sustained an injury in the vast security attack conducted by many security apparatuses. The forces attacked protesters with assault weapons, shotgun bullets, and teargas canisters. Dozens of protesters were reported injured.

This operation comes two day after a Bahraini court issued a verdict sentencing Sheikh Qassim to a suspended 1 year in prison, and a 100,00 dinar fire, after convicting him with gathering "Khums" money without license.

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