Bahrain revokes top Shia cleric Isa Qassim's citizenship
Bahrain has stripped the Sunni-ruled kingdom's most prominent Shia cleric of his citizenship, state media report.
An interior ministry statement accused Sheikh Isa Qassim of using his position to "serve foreign interests" and promote "sectarianism and violence".
Bahrain has stripped the Sunni-ruled kingdom's most prominent Shia cleric of his citizenship, state media report.
An interior ministry statement accused Sheikh Isa Qassim of using his position to "serve foreign interests" and promote "sectarianism and violence".
The cleric, who holds the religious rank of ayatollah, has backed protests led by the majority Shia community for greater civil and political rights.
Last week, the government suspended the leading Shia opposition grouping.
Bahraini authorities said the offices of the Wefaq National Islamic Society had also been closed and its assets frozen. A lawyer for the group said the move had come "out of the blue".
Wefaq's political leader, Shia cleric Sheikh Ali Salman, is in prison and recently had his jail term increased to nine years, after being convicted in 2015 of inciting hatred and disobedience, and insulting public institutions.
A US diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks described Sheikh Isa Qassim as Wefaq's spiritual leader. He is also regarded as spiritual leader of Bahrain's wider Shia community.
The US cable said the cleric had studied in the Iranian city of Qom in the 1990s and also spent time in the Iraqi city of Najaf, another centre of Shia learning.
Last week, the government suspended the leading Shia opposition grouping.
Bahraini authorities said the offices of the Wefaq National Islamic Society had also been closed and its assets frozen. A lawyer for the group said the move had come "out of the blue".
Wefaq's political leader, Shia cleric Sheikh Ali Salman, is in prison and recently had his jail term increased to nine years, after being convicted in 2015 of inciting hatred and disobedience, and insulting public institutions.
A US diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks described Sheikh Isa Qassim as Wefaq's spiritual leader. He is also regarded as spiritual leader of Bahrain's wider Shia community.
The US cable said the cleric had studied in the Iranian city of Qom in the 1990s and also spent time in the Iraqi city of Najaf, another centre of Shia learning.
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