Bahrain Mirror: National Islamic Society - Al-Wefaq's deputy secretary general, Sheikh Hussein al-Daihi, said the Bahraini regime "committed a foolish step, trying to break into the house of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim." Sheikh al-Daihi said that Sheikh Qassim is a figure of a high symbolic position in the Islamic world and Bahrain, which thus it was the regime's job to get rid of it.

In a statement issued (Wednesday December 21, 2016), Sheikh al-Daihi said, "It has become clear that the regime is planning to target Ayatollah Qassim, yet the mass crowds foiled this reckless step."

"Bahrain almost witnessed a scene, much bloodier than that of the Pearl Roundabout, when [today] Bahraini regime forces stormed the 6-month besieged Diraz area", he went on to say.

He pointed out that "the area which the authorities targeted a residential area with schools embracing thousands of children."

Moreover, Al-Wefaq deputy secretary general confirmed that the Bahrainis see the targeting of their religious reference and national leadership as a dangerous attack on the country, religion, and values.

"This attack is merely an indication of that Bahrain's reality is no longer as it was in 2011, but has rather become worse and more deteriorated. It also shows that the absence of inclusive political solution, the attempt to overlook the people's opinion, increase of repression, murder, and sectarian targeting, are what lead the authorities to walk in this direction", he reiterated.

"We deplore and condemn the blatant assault attempt against Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim's house, and the sit-in arena. This step will never be a reason for us to abandon supporting the oppressed, and to retrieve from demanding people's rights," al-Daihi stated.

Furthermore, he warned that "the danger of targeting still exists, and the people who stay beside this prominent national and religious figure."

Al-Daihi demanded the international community, and Bahraini regime allies, to bear the political and legal responsibility towards the regime violations. He also called on the Islamic community to "show supporting and condemning positions as much as possible, in response to this disgraceful attempt".

Arabic Version