Iran and Hezbollah threaten Bahrain after cleric stripped of citizenship

The citizenship of the most prominent Shia cleric of Bahrain, ‘Ayatollah Isa Qassim’, has been revoked. The action has, on the one hand, invited discontentment among the masses of Bahrain and on the other, a threat from Iran that ‘Bahrain would be engulfed in flames’. The Hezbollah, a strong Shia supporter has warned that this decision on the part of Bahrain’s ruling powers had crossed all limits wiping out the possibility of any negotiation at all. The US too has taken serious note of the decision and has warned that it could prove dangerous for Bahrain’s regime.

Isa Qassim is believed to be the leader of the biggest group opposed to the Bahrain regime. A majority of the population of Bahrain is of the Shia sect and Isa Qassim is respected as the supreme leader of this sect. The ruling powers of Bahrain however, accuse ‘Isa Qassim’ of working with other nations, of working to divide the society of Bahrain and of encouraging extremism. The ministry of Interior of Bahrain had demanded the revocation of the citizenship of Isa Qassim who was charged with the above. The court then issued orders on Monday, that Isa Qassim’s citizenship be revoked.

The court’s sentence unleashed a wave of severe public dissent in Bahrain and thousands came together in support of Isa Qassim outside his residence at Diraz. Protests too have been staged at several places. Gen. Qasem Suleimani, the chief of Iran’s military ‘Quds force’, angered by this decision reacted with a scathing attack saying, ‘The ruling powers of Bahrain had crossed a red line and that would set off flames in the region. They would have to pay a price. This blood-thirsty regime would be toppled.’

The Hezbollah too have said that since this decision had eliminated all possibility of discussion with the Bahrain government, it was now time the people took to the streets to express their fury. Meanwhile, the US, taking serious note of this turn of events, has expressed deep concern. John Kirby, the spokesperson of the US Department of State stated that the decision to strip Isa Qassim of his citizenship arbitrarily, without allowing him to present his side, was indeed unjust. The US would be following the case closely, he added. The western media have claimed that this development could have horrifying repercussions.

Isa Qassim and his organization ‘Al Wefaq’ were a part of the Arab Spring movement that began in 2010. The movement received an overwhelming response against the Bahrain ruling powers. However, Bahrain had successfully crushed the movement with the help of Saudi Arabia and its allies, who, even today stand by Bahrain in solid support whereas Iran has rallied all its strength in support of the Shia masses who oppose the Bahrain government. With all these factors in consideration, the possibility of the conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia taking a drastic and dreadful turn, cannot be denied. The statements issued by the Hezbollah and by the senior military officials of Iran do in fact, point to it.