Bahrain Government Revokes Citizenship of Prominent Shia Cleric

On Monday, June 21, the Bahraini government revoked the citizenship of the spiritual leader of the majority Shia population in the country, a decision that led to thousands gathering in protest outside the cleric's home and raised concerns about potential unrest. According to Reuters, this action against Ayatollah Isa Qassim comes less than a week after a Bahraini court ruled to dissolve the opposition group 'Al-Wefaq,' accusing it of inciting sectarian unrest and having ties to a foreign power, presumably Iran. Bahrain suppressed Shia protests in 2011 that called for political and economic reforms. The government in Manama is run by a Sunni minority, and the country hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet. Despite the crackdowns, protests in Bahrain continue, exacerbated by falling oil prices that have slowed the island's economic growth. The Bahraini news agency, BNA, reported that the Ministry of Interior stated that Isa Qassim intended to divide Bahraini society, encouraged youth to violate the constitution, and fueled ethnic tensions in the country. The statement added: 'Accordingly, the Bahraini citizenship of Isa Ahmad Qassim has been revoked, as he has sought to form organizations that follow foreign political and religious centers since obtaining citizenship.' Reuters adds that Ayatollah Qassim's official website states that he was born in the 1940s in a Shia village in Bahrain when the island was still under British rule. Eyewitnesses reported that a crowd of about three to four thousand gathered outside Qassim's home in the Shia village of Diraz, west of Manama, chanting Shia slogans. They shouted: 'We sacrifice our lives and blood for you, Hussein!' referring to the third Imam of Shia Islam. Videos shared on social media showed Ayatollah Isa Qassim outside his home responding to the emotions of the protesters. Several police vehicles surrounded the village of Diraz, but no reports of clashes between protesters and police have emerged. According to Reuters, the Lebanese Hezbollah group described the Bahraini government's decision as 'extremely dangerous' and warned that 'this action will have dire consequences for the ruling regime in this country.' The group stated in its statement: 'Officials are recklessly pushing the people of Bahrain towards a difficult choice that will have severe repercussions for the corrupt, dictatorial regime.' Bahrain had previously accused the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group of supporting militants responsible for bombings in the country and placed the group on its list of terrorist organizations. The Bahraini Institute for Rights and Democracy stated that revoking Qassim's citizenship could fuel unrest. Seyyed Ahmad Al-Wadaei, the director of this advisory institute, expressed in a statement: 'We are deeply concerned about such actions that could escalate tensions in the streets and even lead to violence, as targeting a prominent Shia cleric is a red line for many Bahrainis.' Bahraini media reported last week that officials in the country are investigating a bank account belonging to Qassim with a balance of $10 million to determine the source and use of these funds. This action was met with strong reactions from prominent Shia clerics in the country, including Qassim, who warned against encroaching on 'the Khums of Muslims.' According to Reuters, Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of more than 250 of its citizens in the past two years to silence dissent. Many of these individuals have been exiled. Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the then-spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, criticized the recent actions of the Bahraini government on June 17, stating: 'The Bahraini government's approach to dealing with peaceful protests through increased security measures, imprisoning moderate leaders and human rights activists, and closing the offices of peaceful political and social organizations complicates the internal crisis of this country.'