The Bahraini judiciary has decided to hold another hearing session in the trial of top Shia cleric Sheikh Issa Qassim next month amid angry anti-regime rallies across the kingdom in protest at the process.
On Monday, a judicial source said the next hearing will take place on February 12 following the court session, which was held in the capital, Manama, earlier in the day amid the absence of Sheikh Qassim and under tight security measures, AFP reported.
Ahead of Monday’s hearing, Bahraini protesters held numerous demonstrations in solidarity with the opposition cleric in several villages around the capital.
“Over 150,000 Bahrainis held protest rallies last night (Sunday night) in support Sheikh Issa Qassim in 48 regions across Bahrain,” Fars news agency quoted al-Wefaq Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Hossein al-Deyhi as saying on Monday
During the rallies, the protesters chanted, “With our soul, with our blood, we sacrifice ourselves for you Qassim,” while some carried pictures of the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s banned al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.
Reports say Bahraini regime forces launched a heavy-handed clampdown on the rallies held overnight. They fired tear gas to break up the gatherings.
On June 20, 2016, Bahraini authorities stripped Qassim of his citizenship over accusations that he used his position to serve foreign interests and promote “sectarianism” and “violence.” He has denied the allegations.
Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country on February 14, 2011.
The protesters demand that the Al Khalifah dynasty relinquish power.
Manama’s heavy-handed crackdown on demonstrations, aided by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has left scores of people dead and hundreds more injured.
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