Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Bahrain Intensifies Security Measures following IRGC Threats | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55353147
Caption:

IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani, Reuters


Manama – London – The Kingdom of Bahrain called for increased security measures in the wake of a decision to revoke the nationality of religious cleric Isa Ahmed Qasim earlier this week.
Bahrain’s Cabinet and Parliament held a joint meeting on Tuesday to discuss the means to maintain the country’s security and Government’s decisions in this regard.

Bahraini Public Prosecution accused the religious cleric running Islamic Awareness Society of committing legal offenses and funding organizations hostile to Bahrain in Iran and Iraq.
Investigations revealed that the cleric opened an office for illegally gathering money. Public Prosecution also froze his 10 million dollars’ bank account.

Bahrain’s Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al-Mulla stressed the country’s strong rejection of foreign interference in its internal affairs. For his part, Minister of Interior Lieutenant General Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said the ministry would pursue its measures to implement the laws and maintain security, adding that the current situation requires all parties to be united to “strengthen the internal front”.

“This is the time of unity and cohesion”, he said, adding that there should be no room for divisions and extremism.

Bahrain’s stances came in the wake of threats by Quds Force to topple the Kingdom’s regime. Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani warned the Manama regime to stay away from the Bahraini Shiite cleric or wait for dire repercussions.

On the other hand, Iran’s Foreign Ministry had a lighter stance towards Bahrain’s decision.
In a statement on Monday, the foreign ministry condemned the Bahrain’s move to strip the citizenship of Sheikh Isa Qassim.

The foreign ministry also denounced the Bahraini regime’s “intensification of its security approach toward religious and national leaders, opposition to religious beliefs and principles, and misappropriation of religious assets and funds of the Bahraini people.”

Meanwhile, Iranian President’s senior advisor Hesam al-Din Ashna has implicitly criticized on his Facebook account IRGC’s statements against Bahrain. However, Ashna expressed support to Iran’s foreign ministry stance regarding the Kingdom’s decision to strop Qassim of his citizenship.

Analysts believe that IRGC’s violent statements came as a response to diplomatic reshuffle that was approved by Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif earlier this week, which led to the removal of Amir Abdul Lahyan from the position of deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs.
Abdul Lahyan is known to be close to IRGC and Al-Quds Force.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the IRGC stressed Tehran’s commitment to pursue its interference in Arab countries’ internal affairs.

“IRGC gravely warns the illegitimate and petty despotic rulers of the Al-Khalifa family about its inevitable overthrow by the sweeping waves of revolution”, the statement said.