Bahrain Mirror: American for Democracy and Human Right is Bahrain (ADHRB) condemned the ongoing persecution of the spiritual leader of Bahrain's Shia majority, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, by Bahraini authorities.

"Bahrain must address the widespread international condemnation of its discriminatory policies and seriously reform its legal system in response to concerns by the US and UN. The government must additionally halt its practice of arbitrarily and administratively revoking the citizenship of prominent Bahraini religious and political figures. It must further drop all charges against Sheikh Isa Qassim, reinstate his citizenship, lift his de facto house arrest, and allow him full access to adequate health care," stressed ADHRB in a statement published on the group's website.

The rights group noted that Sheikh Qassim, who is over 70-years-old, suffers from a number of health issues, adding that "after having his citizenship revoked in June 2016, Sheikh Qassim had been confined to his home under de facto house arrest, and has been wary of seeking health care for fear of being deported."

"However, in the past couple of days, the Sheikh's health has worsened sharply, leading to the visit from doctors," ADHRB further stressed.

The HR organization highlighted that the government's persecution and judicial harassment of Shia clerics is part of Bahrain's targeting of important Shia figures and broader sectarian discrimination.

ADHRB said that has documented this discrimination in two reports, noting that government discrimination extends into the media, cultural, political, economic, and religious facets of Bahraini society. "The United Nation's (UN) independent experts have also taken note of Bahrain's systematic discrimination against its Shia majority population."

Arabic Version