Hawzah News Agency (Manama, Bahrain) - Protesters took to the streets in the village of Ma’ameer, situated about 15 kilometers south of the capital, Manama, on Tuesday evening, and chanted slogans against King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah.

The demonstrators hurled stones and fireworks at regime forces, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

On Sitra Island, located five kilometers south of the capital, marchers held up pictures of Shaykh Qasim, who is the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s dissolved opposition bloc – the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.

They also carried banners calling for the downfall of King Hamad, and condemned the Saudi regime for providing military support to Manama in its heavy-handed crackdown on opposition activists.

Earlier in the day, Bahrain’s Fourth High Criminal Court adjourned the trial of the 77-year-old Shaykh Qasim until May 7.

Bahraini authorities stripped the cleric of his citizenship on June 20, 2016. They later dissolved the Islamic Enlightenment Institution, founded by him, in addition to the opposition al-Risala Islamic Association.

The Manama regime has pressed charges of “illegal fund collections, money laundering and helping terrorism” against Shaykh Qasim, who has strongly denied them. 

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