Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the leader of the Shia in Bahrain, deemed the security of the religious scholars facing unjust trials by the Al Khalifa regime as the "responsibility of all people." At the same time, Bahraini citizens in several areas held rallies to express their support for the detained scholars.
Criticism of the Judicial Process in Bahrain
In recent years, judicial processes in Bahrain against political opponents and civil activists have faced widespread criticism from human rights organizations. These processes, which are accompanied by vague accusations, rapid trials, and heavy sentences, are seen as tools for suppressing the voices of critics and limiting fundamental freedoms. Revocation of citizenship, prolonged detentions, and religious restrictions are among the methods that have severely damaged public trust in the judiciary of the Al Khalifa regime.
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Public Protests and Support for Religious Scholars
On the eve of the trial of religious scholars, the people of Bahrain in several cities, including Duraz, Korbaabad, and Abu Sabieh, held protest gatherings to announce their support for the detained scholars. Participants in these gatherings chanted slogans calling for the cessation of judicial proceedings against these scholars and opposed what they termed sectarian trials. These gatherings took place while Al Khalifa security forces were widely deployed in the streets, an action that the organizing committee of the "Day of Public Anger" viewed as a sign of the government's concern over the spread of protests.
Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim emphasized in a statement that the nation must stand by the religious scholars. He stated that if the government's approach on November 8 aligns with the principles of justice, the result will be the recognition of the valuable role of scholars in serving the homeland. However, if the deviation from the path of justice continues, the responsibility for the security of the scholars who have been wronged will fall on all the people of Bahrain.
The trial of religious scholars in Bahrain is seen as a test of the legitimacy of the Al Khalifa regime. This trial clearly demonstrates the continuation of sectarian policies and the regime's dependence on foreign powers, especially Saudi Arabia. Historical evidence shows that the Al Khalifa regime has continued the systematic suppression of opponents since the military intervention by Saudi Arabia in 2011. Reports from human rights organizations have repeatedly emphasized that vague accusations and rushed trials have been the main tools of the regime to silence critics.
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