The Unbreakable Will, Bahrain Tells its Story
Zeinab Daher
It doesn't matter in Bahrain whether it is before, after, or on the day of prosecution to keep up raising the rightful demands, despite the fact that a step like prosecuting the higher leadership of peaceful opposition would turn out in undesired, or perhaps avoidable repercussions.
It was earlier on June 20, 2016, that the Bahraini regime authorities stripped the top Shia leader in Bahrain, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim of his nationality. Resuming their crackdown against dissidents, they later dissolved the Islamic Enlightenment Institution, founded by Sheikh Qassim, in addition to the opposition al-Risala Islamic Association.
Fabricating alleged charges of "illegal fund collections, money laundering and helping terrorism" against Sheikh Qassim, strongly denied by the man, the Manama regime's charges have been slammed by international rights groups as baseless and politically motivated.
However, nothing has changed, and a trial session had been scheduled for the senior cleric on March 14 but was postponed to May 7 amid fears of a surge in popular outrage.
And it is worth mentioning that a couple of days ahead of the the court pronouncing its ruling against Sheikh Qassim, Saudi Arabia deployed military reinforcements to Bahrain apparently to help the Bahraini regime repress potential anti-regime protests.
For the reason, Al-Ahed News team contacted people familiar with the situation in the hometown of Sheikh Qassim, the besieged Diraz, and got to know that the Ayatollah is doing well although the siege has been imposed since more than ten months. Sheikh Isa Qassim, as always, still possesses the ever known strong determination and he fears nothing.
Al-Ahed sources stressed that the Diraz siege is very tight during occasions, and it gets tighter as soon as the day of prosecution approaches. The entries leading to the town are under harsh measures, cars and people entering the town are being inspected thoroughly.
"We know the irritation will continue, but we don't care. We have a just cause, we have to be patient to protect Sheikh Qassim," Bahraini political activist affirmed.
The Bahraini regime is expected to issue unjust sentences against Ayatollah Qassim, but we don't expect much more than what have happened. We absorbed oppression and pain since more than six years... I don't think the sentence would exceed the current situation."
The Bahraini authority knows very well that prosecuting a huge figure as Sheikh Isa Qassim means that it is taking a risk and causing a problem for this nation and its citizens. The Bahraini people will no more stay patient on this humiliation. Neither deportation nor prosecutions could stop this ongoing movement. Even if Sheikh Qassim was exiled, the movement will keep up its activity until the just demands of the Bahraini people, guaranteed by the international law and the heavenly laws are fulfilled.
Back since the day of revoking Sheikh Qassim's citizenship, Diraz has been under tight siege as dozens of military vehicles and armed soldiers have been blocking the area, in which Bahrainis are banned from entering it. Meanwhile, every person who participates in the open-ended protest since that day is subject to detention and unfair trial. There are plenty of citizens and scholars from Diraz and other Bahraini towns who are kept behind bars for rejecting the escalating sectarian persecution and defending the leader of peaceful movement in Bahrain Ayatollah Qassim.
For their part, other rights activists considered that although Diraz has been an isolated zone, the massive protests continue, in which tyrant and violent measures have proved failure in breaking the will of the devotees and lovers of Ayatollah Qassim. They rather renew their pledge to this prominent figure that they will keep up their actions to protect and defend him against the tyrant Al Khalifah regime.
The many sources familiar with the Bahraini situation confirmed that injustice, persecution and violation are always practiced against the people of Diraz, even when they enter or leave the town through the only two usable entries. They, however, stand as lions facing the coward soldiers; none of the sectarian measures does hurt them, despite targeting their very existence, their religious rituals and their doctrine. The town's people entirely believe that such aggressive practices have nothing to do with their will to defend their rightful cause.
Commenting on the day of prosecution, Bahraini activists stressed that the Al Khalifah regime is acting crazily, tending to persecute its own citizens in what amounts to Daesh-like behavior rather than to a reasonable one. What should we expect from the Takfiri thought other than the denial of others, considering them infidels, and killing and torturing them? The best proof is the two bloody attacks the regime conducted against the peaceful protesters, leaving one martyr and dozens of others wounded.
A quick review of what has been taking place, in addition to the official rhetoric and the governmental vision including the attorney general's pleading, proves that the people of Bahrain are facing a pure Takfiri mentality in which a government classifies its own citizens as enemies only for their religious affiliation. This government, nevertheless, doesn't bear in mind that its citizens are ready to sacrifice all what they have for the sake of their principals, rights, rituals, religion and most importantly, their leadership.
"As much as the Bahraini regime practices tyranny, which is highly expected, it will sentence itself to death, signaling the end of its dictatorship," activists commented.
Had the Bahraini regime taken any stupid action against Ayatollah Qassim, there won't be one martyr; there will be a sea of blood for the Bahrainis are ready to sacrifice their lives for the wellbeing of Sheikh Qassim. Bahraini devotees vowed to sacrifice their all in favor of their doctrine, and their higher leadership, which devoted its entire life to protect and take care of the country and its people. Hence, targeting Sheikh Qassim will be, as activists stress, a targeting of Shiism and every follower of Prophet Mohammad's household [PBUT].
In this regard, a group of Bahraini activists wanted to convey a message to the free world and the free peoples rather than to the conspiring governments that obey the US and the global arrogance, is that in Bahrain, there is a free peaceful people, which is eager to protect its religion and principals. However, at a time it is known for its peace and civilization, this people is unbreakable and very tough when it comes to defending its rights.
"Allah is by our side, and this is enough for us. We carry a message of righteousness through which we want to reform this nation. This is what Ayatollah Qassim has brought us upon. Our might is significant, and our determination is way greater. So let every person in this nation carry his/her responsibility in defending those oppressed whether in Bahrain, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq, Syria or any spot of land where aggression and oppression might be found. We are a people that were raised by its leader not to neglect oppression, and indeed we will not rest as long as oppression does exist... Allah has promised His oppressed worshippers that they shall prevail, and we never doubt that Allah will fulfill His promise despite the will of the infidels."
Al-Ahed News
