Bahraini Government Issues a One-Year Passport for Sheikh Isa Qassim

Local Editor

After traveling urgently to the United Kingdom for deteriorating health situation, news agencies revealed additional information about the circumstances of spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shia majority Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim.

Sources in the Bahraini opposition said the government issued a one-year passport for Sheikh Qassim, on orders of king Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, 2 years after Sheikh Qassim's citizenship was revoked on a decree issued by the king himself.

People close to Sheikh Qassim said that the issue of covering his treatment fees, which the Bahraini Foreign Minister said that the King would pay for, hasn't been decided yet and it was up to Sheikh Qassim to accept or reject the king's offer.

AFP linked, in its coverage of the news, the fact that Sheikh Qassim was allowed to travel to what it described as a "rare verdict" acquitting opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman of the colluding with Qatar case, issued 3 weeks ago.

Associated Press agency said that Qassim has been suffering from an undisclosed illness and recently fell and hurt himself as well.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team