Bahrain Mirror: Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, the largest opposition society in Bahrain, said that the authorities intensified their siege around the house of spiritual leader of Shia majority, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim.

Al-Wefaq explained in a statement that the regime "added more military and security barriers around the house of Sheikh Isa Qassim, the most important religious authority in Bahrain, on Thursday, April 12, 2018."

It added "heavily armed forces put cement barriers through which they blocked some secondary roads in the surrounding region by increasing the surrounding areas of the siege and house arrest imposed on Sheikh Isa Qassim."

The Society described this act as "aggressive and unethical that reveals a real crisis that the regime is suffering from within itself and its approach in dealing with the Shiite component in Bahrain that is subjected to the harshest campaign of marginalization, discrimination, oppression and siege unprecedented in Bahrain and the region."

It went on to say that the house arrest imposed on Sheikh Qassim has been ongoing for 11 months until now and no one can reach his home, even his sons who don't live with him. Sheikh Qassim is being harassed even in receiving treatment, noting that he is in his late 70s.

Al-Wefaq condemned in its statement the revocation of Sheikh Qassim's citizenship, given that he is one of the Bahraini Constitution's founding fathers.  He was one of the founding Board members who put the first Constitution of Bahrain in 1972 after independence, pointing out to his role in maintaining national security and stability. Al-Wefaq also mentioned his call to Bahraini people to take to the streets on March 9, 2012, which was considered one of the largest historic gatherings in Bahrain, stressing that "Sheikh Isa Qassim deserves utmost love and respect from Bahrainis", also condemning the regime's move defaming his person and his religious affiliation on official state television and the press that is deemed close to the regime."

Arabic Version