Statement by Ayatollah Qassim, entitled: “What is the root cause of Bahrain’s crisis?”

In the name of of Allah the Merciful, the most Beneficial

In Bahrain, there is actually neither an overwhelming revolution nor provocative events between the people and the government, and there is no sabotage.

Indeed, what is taking place on the Bahraini arena is a political opposition and in its most peaceful methods. This is what must exist as long as its necessity exists, in accordance to what is stressed by religion, humanity, the interest of the country and even in accordance to the constitution.

No one from the government or other position can claim that the people of Bahrain enjoy their political and other rights. Hence, as long as these rights are missed, what is legitimate, what is righteous and what must be expected is that the political opposition shall not give up until its demands are met.

These rights are not denied but by those who entirely lack the ethic of justice and who is indifferent about the sanctity and worth of these rights. Thus, none is more aggressive than the one who penalises on the basis of this opposition.

Today, the prisons of Bahrain’s government are overcrowded with political dissents and prisoners of conscious who have opposed oppression. Besides, its courts carry on with issuing unjust long-term, life and death sentences, following trials, which according to human rights organisations, rely on confession coerced under unbearable torture.

Moreover, the open cultural, religious, social, economic and legislative crackdown by the authority against the people persists and in a steady pace.

Accordingly, there are two positions; the people’s stance towards the authority, and the authority’s stance towards the people. Here is a call to appeal to religious resources, humanituan conscience, moderate views of the international community, or to any celebrated just constitution. Let a referendum examine those two stances to reveal which ignites tension, which is the unfair, which destabilises the situation, which causes unrest, which contradicts the state of security and stability and which strikes the interests of the country.

Bahrain’s status quo is turbulent owing to the governmental stance, which necessarily ought to be addressed for the safety and interests of the country, the brotherhood of its citizens. The solution is to drop death sentences; to stop issuing any new ones; to release all the political prisoners; to grant them their basic freedoms and natural roles; which should be enjoyed by all, in light of the values of religion, just law and established legal provisions. Further, it is essentially to reestablish a fair political relation between the government and the people, and to legally and practically recognise all rights.

This is neither impossible nor difficult for those who adhere to the truth, gratify to see justice; strive for the interest of the homeland; respect mankind; rebel against their fears, devilish and worldly temptations, and the power of lust that is reverse religion and truth.

Isa Ahmed Qasim

July 21, 2020