Tehran, June 26, IRNA � Vice-Speaker of the Assembly of Experts Ayatollah Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi said on Sunday that Bahraini religious leader Ayatollah Isa Qassem is a symbol for Shia Muslims, Islam and the Muslim Ummah.

Speaking to Ayatollah Qassem on phone, Ayatollah Shahroudi lauded the Bahraini religious leader for his religious thoughts and said he plays a grave role in the Muslim World.

He condemned disrespect to the Bahraini religious leader by the Bahraini government to take away Bahraini nationality of the religious leader.

Shahroudi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran protested to the Bahraini government against injustice to the Shia Muslim religious leader.

He said that the Bahraini government is expected to respect its International Responsibility to honor the religious leader of the Shia Muslim population of Bahrain.

Ayatollah Qassem said that he wanted nothing for Muslims but blessing and that he is sensitive over security of Bahrain and the Muslim World as well as unity of Muslims.

By IRNA