Press TV - Scores of people have held separate protests in Bahrain to voice their support for distinguished Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim, who has been stripped of his nationalityand put on trial by the regime in Manama.
Protesters took to the streets in the village ofMaameer, situated about 15kilometerssouth of the capital, Manama,on Tuesday evening, and chanted slogans against King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah.
The demonstrators hurled stones and fireworks at regime forces, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
On Sitra Island, located five kilometers south of the capital, marchers held up pictures of Sheikh Qassim, who is the spiritual leader of Bahrains dissolved opposition bloc the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.
They also carried banners calling for thedownfallofKing Hamad, and condemnedthe Saudi regime for providing military support to Manama in its heavy-handed crackdown on opposition activists.
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Bahraini protesters stage a rally in support of distinguished Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim on Sitra Island, Bahrain, on March 14, 2017.[/caption]Earlier in the day, Bahrains FourthHigh Criminal Courtadjourned the trial of the 77-year-old Sheikh Qassim until May 7.
Bahraini authorities stripped the cleric of his citizenship on June 20, 2016. They later dissolved the Islamic Enlightenment Institution, founded by him,in addition to the opposition al-Risala Islamic Association.
The Manama regime has pressed charges of illegal fund collections, money laundering and helping terrorism against Sheikh Qassim,who has strongly denied them.
More activists end up behind bars
Meanwhile, the Bahrain CenterforHuman Rights says regime forces have detained at least 32 pro-democracy activists over the past week as the Al Khalifah regime presses ahead with its heavy-handed crackdown on political dissidents and rights activists in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.
The center said the detentions took place between March 6 and 12, and there were five minors among those rounded up, Arabic-languageBahrain Mirrornews websitereported.
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An anti-regime protester kicks away a tear gas canister fired by riot police during clashes in the village of Nawidarat, south of Manama, Bahrain, on February 24, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)[/caption]The report added that police forces used tear gas and pellet guns in 28 areas during the mentioned period to suppress protest rallies.
Anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the kingdom on February 14, 2011.
They are demanding that theAl Khalifahdynastyrelinquish power and a just system representing all Bahrainis be established.
On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to Bahrain to assist the Manama government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.
Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or been arrested.
