Statement issued by Ayatollah Isa Qassim on the detention of Sheikh Ali Salman

In the name of Allah the Merciful and Beneficent

Peace be upon you,

Dear liberated prisoner, Sheikh Ali Salman, you are a striving, powerful and selfless person,

 Your words, stances and history are all witnesses to your endeavor to preserve the dignity and interests of the nation, refusal of oppression, and adherence to the peaceful movement, deep belief in human dignity and justice, and equality of all citizens. You sincerely enjoyed the undertaking of uniting the people of this nation.

This has imposed an obligation on all citizens, who know of your great personality, to flock to your support.

The whole nation has been severely oppressed and Sheikh Ali Salman is a son of the nation. Indeed, he is one of the most who suffered from the Authority’s repression.

He has been “criminalized” for his stance and words, which are a proof of his innocence, sincerity and peacefulness. You have been oppressed in the worst of ways. A person who has never supported any form of terrorism or propagated tensions, rather, called for continuous and peaceful activism and always rejected violence. All he demands is reform.

How can the people believe that you – Sheikh Ali Salman – a man of peace, reform and balance, who’s character is far from a retaliation, who truly believes in justice and national gain for all?

It was incumbent on the State to declare your innocence at the end of the unjust investigations and apologize to the nation for such a shock.

Yet the State has taken an opposite venture, defying the rights of the people by attempting to break their will. The nation will not cease the peaceful activities and protests until the Sheikh Ali Salman is declared innocent and his case is closed.

It is the people’s right to continue their peaceful protests and activities until the imprisoned peaceful figures are freed, as well as all prisoners – men and women – the heroes of this country.

The movement for reform shall continue – by God’s will – with the same strength and level of peacefulness until the people are given their rights and freedoms.

The movement shall not stop and the peacefulness shall remain.

Glory to Allah and His Messenger and the believers.

Isa Ahmed Qassim

15 Rabi’ al-Awal 1436 (h)

6 January 2014