Bahraini Regime Aims to Legitimize Crackdown on Dissidents: Cleric

The representative of prominent Bahraini cleric Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qassim in Iran said the Al Khalifa regime is seeking to legitimize its heavy-handed crackdown on peaceful protests and target religious leaders, Sheikh Qassim in particular, by changing the constitution.

Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqqaq highlighted the Manama regime’s main objective behind its decision to change the constitution, saying it seems that the move is targeting Sheikh Qassim and Bahraini dissidents.

The Bahraini rulers are seeking to legitimize their repression of the people and claim that they are acting in accordance with the Persian Gulf country’s constitution, the cleric added.

He said the Al Khalifa regime thinks it can end the popular uprising by the move but the Bahraini nation’s movement is growing and will become more powerful.