Since 2011, Bahrain has witnessed rallies against the ruling Al Khalifah regime, with many Shias leading the demonstrations.
Just two days after U.S. President Donald Trump extolled the Kingdom of Bahrain and its leader, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahraini police opened fire at a group protesters who were staging a sit-in in support of the regime-ostracized cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim.
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Firing tear gas and bullets at the protest inside the prominent Shia cleric’s home, regime forces also arrested everyone present. The raid has resulted in one confirmed death, of environmental activist Mohammed Khadim Zain al-Din, BBC reported, and also injured seven others.
Severe injuries within protesters in Duraz & the village is under lockdown people not allowed to enter or leave the area #Bahrain pic.twitter.com/LrVXwnT9ym
— Fatima (@FatiimaHalwachi) May 23, 2017
Sheikh Qassim, on Sunday, was given a one-year suspended jail sentence for alleged corruption. Press TV reported that the charges emanate from the collection of an Islamic donation called Khums, that Shia senior clerics collect and spend “in the interests of the needy.” He was also fined 100,000 Bahraini dinars (US$265,000).
Last June, he was stripped of his citizenship, left stateless and was facing the risk of deportation, on allegations of striking ‘sectarian violence’ through his role.
Prayers 4 #Bahrain Saudi backed al-Khalifa regime launches brutal attack against unarmed #Shia protesting unfair ruling against Sheik Qassem pic.twitter.com/IFA1yGoKvC
— Musti Obaid (@MustiObaid) May 23, 2017
On Tuesday, the interior ministry announced that a security operation had begun in Diraz, the sheikh’s village, in order to "maintain order and remove violations punishable under law that hinder the movement of citizens."
"The timing of this operation — two days after King Hamad's convivial meeting with President Trump — can hardly be a coincidence," Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
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In Sunni Muslim-controlled Bahrain, Shias, while a majority, are largely repressed. Since 2011, Bahrain has witnessed rallies against the ruling Al Khalifah regime, with many Shias leading the demonstrations.
Authorities have led a wider crackdown on dissent in the past year, including banning the main opposition Shia group, Wefaq, and jailing its leader Sheikh Ali Salman.