Isa Qassim
Isa Qassim | |
---|---|
Born | Isa Ahmed Qassim 1 January 1937 |
Nationality | Bahraini (revoked in 2016) |
Alma mater | Qom Seminary |
Occupation(s) | Religious leader, politician and former teacher |
Years active | 1961–2017 |
Political party | Al Wefaq |
Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qassim (
Biography
Isa Qassim was born in 1937 to a fisherman in Duraz though some sources reported he was born either in 1940 or 1941. He attended Budaiya primary school where he was known for his intelligence and it was reported that he always scored the highest marks. After finishing primary school and with his brother's aid he moved to Manama's secondary school. After graduating he worked as a teacher in Budaiya primary school where he remained until 1962.[1][2]
Religious activity
Religious study in 1960s
During his academic study, Isa Qassim went to
Religious study in 1990s
At the beginning of the 1990s, Isa Qassim traveled to
Friday sermon
Isa Qassim has been leading
Political activity
1970s elections
In 1971, Isa Qassim was chosen by religious leaders to be a candidate for elections while he was still in Iraq. At first he refused and wanted to stay in Iraq to finish his studies and stay away from politics, but just four days before candidates registration was closed, his brother Mahdi traveled to Iraq and brought him back along with his wife and kids. In 1972, he was elected for the Constituent assembly where he had big influence in including parts of the Islamic sharia in the 1973 constitution.[2]
Formation of the religious block
In 1972, a 'religious block' was formed which included Isa Qassim, Sheikh
In 1973, Qassim was elected a member of Bahrain's parliament, the
1996 coup plot allegations
The Bahraini government alleged that Qassim was implicated in a coup plot in 1996. They accused him to be the head of an Iran-based group called
Role in Al Wefaq
Isa Qassim is often referred to as the spiritual leader of Al Wefaq. However, he has no formal position within the party and has attained this status as a result of his religious seniority.[5] Some see this as a way for Qassim to avoid “submitting his opinions to internal democratic debate so that he can retain the final decision without paying the price for it”.[6] Qassim rarely makes his decisions in public.
Involvement in the Bahraini uprising (2011–present)
Throughout the
Deployment of Peninsula Shield Force
On 14 March, the
In response to the deployment of the GCC troops in Bahrain. Isa Qassim, criticised al-Khalifa's claims that the mobilisation of GCC troops is a broader effort to ensure regional stability, rather than what Qassim considers to be Sunni entrenchment and a veiled challenge to Shia representation in the government.[12] On 18 March he said the Peninsula Shield Force had "made a big mistake" and he "would have been proud" if it instead went "to help our brothers in Gaza".[13]
Loss of nationality
On 20 June 2016, a week after the government of Bahrain suspended the main Shia opposition party al-Wefaq, Isa Qassim was stripped of his Bahraini citizenship. An interior ministry statement accused Sheikh Isa Qassim of “using his position to serve foreign interests" and “promote sectarianism and violence". Announcing the move to strip him of his Bahraini citizenship, the interior ministry said the cleric had "adopted theocracy and stressed the absolute allegiance to the clergy". It added that he had been in continuous contact with "organisations and parties that are enemies of the kingdom". Bahrain's citizenship law allows for the cabinet to revoke the citizenship of anyone who "causes harm to the interests of the kingdom or behaves in a way inimical with the duty of loyalty to it".[14][15][16][17] Due to persecution at the hands of the Sunni regime, in December 2018 he relocated to Iran.[18]
Reaction
- After the decision was announced, several hundred Qassim supporters gathered outside his house in the mostly Shia village of Diraz, carrying posters and chanting religious slogans.
- Hussein Abdulla, executive director of campaign group Americans for Human Rights and Democracy in Bahrain, called the move to revoke his citizenship "an unprecedented low for the Bahraini authorities".
- Sayed Alwadaei, director of advocacy at the British-based campaign group Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, said in a statement that the decision would "escalate tensions on the streets and may even lead to violence".
- Saudi Arabia's Council of Senior Scholars welcomed the actions taken by Bahrain.
- Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group, denounced the decision on its Al-Manar TV network, which called on Bahrainis to "express their indignation" and said the move against the cleric would have "grave consequences".
- Speaker of the Iranian parliament condemned the action, saying "this was an impolitic and quite an adventurous move by the Bahraini regime which assumed that by revoking the nationality of this prominent spiritual leader, it could lead the country's domestic political crisis toward tranquility" and "the Al-Khalifa regime must take a careful look at this historical record that clearly shows once a government starts threatening the influential figures of its nation with revocation of citizenship, it is taking its last breaths".[19]
- In a statement published by Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force said: "The Al Khalifa[rulers of Bahrain] surely know their aggression against Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line that crossing it would set Bahrain and the whole region on fire, and it would leave no choice for people but to resort to armed resistance."Al Khalifa will definitely pay the price for that and their blood-thirsty regime will be toppled."
- Spokesperson for the United States Department of State John Kirby said, "We are alarmed by the Government of Bahrain's decision to revoke the citizenship of prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim" and "We remain deeply troubled by the Government of Bahrain's practice of withdrawing the nationality of its citizens arbitrarily, the overall precedent that this case could establish, and the risk that individuals may be rendered stateless".[20][21]
- 2011 crackdown and "these actions should be met with serious consequences, not expressions of concern".[22]
- The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, said in a speech carried by state media, "This is blatant foolishness and insanity. When he still could address the Bahraini people, Sheikh Isa Qassim would advise against radical and armed actions" and "Attacking Sheikh Isa Qassim means removing all obstacles blocking heroic Bahraini youths from attacking the regime".[23]
Further persecution
On 16 July 2016, the head of public prosecution, Ahmed al-Dosari, said a Bahraini cleric would go on trial the next month on charges of “collecting funds illegally and money laundering.” Sources identified the cleric as Qassim. Regime controlled media last month reported an investigation was underway into a bank account of some $10 million in Qassim's name to “find the source of the funds and how they were being spent.”[24]
See also
- Abdul Amir al-Jamri
- Al Wefaq National Islamic Society
- Politics of Bahrain
- 1990s uprising in Bahrain
- Bahraini uprising (2011–present)
References
- ^ a b c d e Wesam Al-Seb'a (22 October 2011). "The religious block in National assembly" (in Arabic). Al-Wasat newspaper. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Staff writer. "Historical scrap" (in Arabic). Al-Bayan. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ "Bahrain Plot 'Is Led From Qom'". The Guardian (London). June 12, 1996.
- UNHCR. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-85065-911-2.
- ISBN 978-1-85065-911-2.
- ^ "Qassim: Bahrain treats protesters as state enemies", Isa Qassim, 17 September 2011 Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 5 October 2011
- ^ "Bahrain crackdown failed to end protests", Isa Qassim, 17 September 2011 Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 5 October 2011
- ^ Staff writer (15 March 2011). "Saudi Soldiers Sent into Bahrain – Saudi Troops and Police from UAE Deployed to Gulf Neighbour To Help Protect Government Facilities After Weeks of Unrest". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
- ^ (registration required) Bronner, Ethan; Slackman, Michael (14 March 2011). "Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (14 March 2011). "Gulf States Send Force to Bahrain Following Protests". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
- ^ "Saudi presence 'fuels' strife fears", Al Jazeera English, 15 March 2011, Retrieved 2 October 2011
- ^ "Bahrain: Shaykh Isa Qassim 1st Friday prayer sermon after declaration of martial law", The Muslim News, 19 March 2011, Retrieved 5 October 2011
- ^ Wam (20 June 2016). "Bahrain revokes citizenship of man accused of extremism". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Bahrain strips Sheikh Isa Qassim of nationality". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Bahrain revokes top Shia cleric Isa Qassim's citizenship". BBC News. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ Simeon Kerr (20 June 2016). "Bahrain revokes top Shia cleric's citizenship". Financial Times. Dubai. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
The cabinet decided to revoke the citizenship of Sheikh Isa — an indigenous Bahraini who applied for nationality to get a passport in the 1960s.
- ^ "Bahrain's Shiite Leader Announces Move to Iran After Losing Citizenship". 3 February 2019.
- ^ "Revocation of Qassim's citizenship sign of Al-Khalifa's 'last breaths'". 21 June 2016.
- ^ "Bahrain Strips Nationality From Top Shiite Cleric". The New York Times. AP. 20 June 2016.
- ^ "U.S. criticizes Bahrain's move to strip cleric of citizenship". Reuters. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Bahrain strips nationality from top Shiite cleric". San Diego Union-Tribune. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Iran supreme leader: Bahrain's move against top cleric risks violence". Reuters. 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Bahrain to try top Shi'ite cleric for money laundering". Reuters. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2018.