Bahrain's Foreign Minister's Sarcastic Response to Zarif's Tweet

Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Foreign Minister, responded to Iran's Foreign Minister's tweet regarding the attack on Shia protesters in Bahrain with a sarcastic tone, stating that "it seems Zarif is having troubled dreams. I suggest he read the book Lolita in Tehran." It appears Mr. Ahmed's reference is to the book "Reading Lolita in Tehran," a memoir by Azar Nafisi, an Iranian professor and writer, published in English in 2003 in the United States. Nafisi, after being expelled from the university and before leaving Iran in the early years post-1979 revolution, spent two years reading and discussing Western and Iranian classical works with seven young girls in a private class. In her interviews, she stated that her intention in writing this book was to change the image that some foreign citizens have of Iran, an image that is solely summarized in "politics." Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, had previously tweeted in response to the attack by Bahraini security forces on the home of Sheikh Isa Qasim, the leader of the Shia opposition, stating: "The first result of the US President's warm relations with dictators in Riyadh: deadly attack on peaceful protests by the emboldened Bahraini regime. Search it on Google." The Iranian Foreign Ministry also condemned this attack on Tuesday, June 2, and warned about its consequences. Bahrain has repeatedly accused Iran of interfering in its internal affairs, supporting "terrorism," and directing protests in the country. Three days ago, the Bahraini government sentenced Sheikh Isa Qasim, a dissenting cleric, to one year in prison on charges of "money laundering" and "illegal fundraising." The issuance of this sentence led to protests from the cleric's supporters, and according to reports, at least five people were killed and hundreds arrested following the Bahraini security forces' assault on protesters. Meanwhile, 154 Iranian parliament members on Wednesday, June 3, expressed concern over this ruling in a statement, declaring that the Islamic Republic of Iran "is obliged" to explore all necessary measures to support the protesters and "meet their legitimate demands." These parliament members warned the Bahraini government that "continuing anti-religious policies in Bahrain and ignoring the legitimate demands of the people will have unpredictable consequences." On the other hand, Hossein Nouri Hamedani, a Shia cleric, also condemned this attack in a message, calling for the "unconditional freedom" of Sheikh Isa Qasim. He emphasized that the Bahraini government, by attacking the home of this Shia cleric, "showed its utmost cruelty and wickedness to the world and became an executor of the orders of its American, Saudi, and Western masters." Protests in Bahrain have escalated since 2011. Since then, dozens of protesters and at least ten police officers have been killed during the protests. Security forces have also arrested hundreds, and according to "Amnesty International," the citizenship rights of at least 316 individuals have been revoked. From the perspective of fundamental freedoms advocacy organizations, Bahrain, along with some other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, ranks among the countries with the lowest levels of political freedoms, freedom of expression, and citizens' rights to peaceful assembly.