Prominent Bahraini Muslim cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassem, who is well known advocate of democracy and rights, has won Islamic Human Rights award
The internationally-reputed cleric was awarded the prize by the Iranian Judiciary’s Human Rights Committee (IHRC). Senior Bahraini cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassem and Arzu Merali, a founding member of the Islamic Human Rights Commission were announced as the winners of this year’s award.
A special ceremony was held at International conference hall of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday to present the 3rd Islamic Human Rights Award.
Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani and a number of other senior officials attended the ceremony which had been organized on the occasion of the International Day of Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity.
Muslim figures and scholars from across Yemen, Syria, Iraq and several other countries received the awards over the past years.
It is worthy to mention that Imam Khomeini, the late founder of Islamic Republic of Iran through his speeches and messages used to stress to promote and observe rights of all people from various religions, faiths, communities and minorities.
The developments come as thousands of protesters in recent weeks have staged several rallies to denounce the Al Khalifah regime’s decision to revoke Sheikh Qassim’s nationality.
The distinguished religious figure is also considered as the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s main opposition bloc al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.
Moreover, rights campaigners and pro-democracy demonstrators have been for days staging a sit-in in front of Sheikh Qassem's house the northwestern village of Diraz, situated west of the capital, Manama.
International rights groups and organizations have demanded Manama regime to cancel the lockdown on Diraz, which has been in effect for several weeks.
On June 20, Bahraini authorities stripped Sheikh Qassim of his citizenship
The pro-democracy activists say the ruling Al Khalia dynasty is suppressing the political dissent through the Al Saud regime’s political and intelligence support.
Large crowds of anti- Al Khalifa regime demonstrators have held numerous massive rallies across Bahrain on an almost daily basis Since February 14, 2011.
Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the Bahraini crackdown on the anti-regime protesters