People have held demonstrations in the Iraqi cities of Basrah and Baghdad to express solidarity withBahrainsprominent Shiacleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim,who was recently stripped of his citizenship by the Al Khalifah regime.
Hundreds of residents of Basrah gathered near the governorate building on Friday to denounce Manamas removal of Sheikh Qassims nationality, the Arabic-languageal-Sumarianewswebsitereported.
Elsewhere, hundreds of supporters of senior Iraqi clericMuqtadaal-Sadr held a protest outside the Bahraini embassy in the Mansour district ofthe capital, Baghdad.
They chanted slogans in condemnation of Sheikh Qassims citizenship repeal.
Iraqi security forces cordoned off the Mansourdistrict and closed the nearby bridges of Jadriya and Shuhada.
Also on Friday, Bahrain summoned the Iraqi ambassador to Manama, Ahmed Naif Rashid al-Dulaimi.
On June 20, Manama revoked the nationality of the clergyman, with Bahrains Interior Ministry accusing him of seeking the creation of a sectarian environment through his connections with foreign powers.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
A supporter holds a photo of Bahrain's top Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, during a sit-in outside his home in the village of Diraz on June 21, 2016. Reuters[/caption]The latest move by the Bahraini regime against Sheikh Qassim came less than a week after theJustice Ministry suspended all activities of al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, the main opposition group in the country.
The kingdom also dissolved two other opposition groups, namely al-Tawiya and al-Risala Islamic associations.
The developments have raised fears of further unrest in the tiny Persian Gulf country, whichhas been witnessing regular anti-regime demonstrations since mid-February 2011.
The Al Khalifah regime is engaged in a harsh crackdown ondissent andwidespreaddiscrimination against the countrys Shia majority.Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the island state, which isa close ally of the USin the Persian Gulf region.
By Press TV
