Bahrain Mirror: A Bahraini cassation court upheld on Monday (January 29, 2018) a one year suspended prison verdict, and citizenship revocation again spiritual leader of Shia majority, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim.

Sheikh Isa Qassim and head of his office Sheikh Hussein Al-Mahrous as well as Mirza Al-Dirazi have been sentenced over practicing Shiite religious Khums ritual.

A first-instance court ruled on May 21, 2017 a 1-year imprisonment against Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, Sheikh Hussein Al-Mahrous, and Mirza Al-Dirazi, suspended for 3 years. The ruling came in the case linked to collecting the Khums religious money, which the Public Prosecution classified as collecting funds without authorization.

Moreover, the court also imposed a BD 100,000 fine for each defendant in the case. It also ruled the confiscation of the amount deposited in Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim's account, amounting to 3 million, 367 thousand, and 301 Bahraini Dinars, and the confiscation of two properties registered to Sheikh Qassim's name.

Regarding the second accusation the three defendants are charged with, which is collecting money for general purposes and without a license, the court sentenced a fine of BD 1000 against each defendant in the case.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had issued a decree to revoke the citizenship of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim on (June 20, 2016). Since that date, security authorities have surrounded all entry points to Diraz, and only residents of the town are allowed to enter through its checkpoints.

Sheikh Isa Qassim has been under house arrest since May 23, 2017, after the security authorities forcibly dispersed the sit-in staged outside his house.

Arabic Version