Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at a press conference in Tehran marking the anniversary of Bahrain’s 2011 popular uprising, Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqaq, a prominent Bahraini scholar and representative of Sheikh Isa Qassim, said targeting Iran’s Leader amounts to an attack on a political and religious symbol deeply connected to the sentiments of millions of Muslims worldwide.
The event was held at the former US embassy compound in Tehran, now known as the “Den of Espionage,” where a message from Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s revolution, was also read.
Bahrain’s February 14 Uprising: A Turning Point
Sheikh al-Daqaq emphasized that rights do not expire with time, particularly when a nation continues to demand them.
He described February 14, 2011, as a watershed moment in Bahrain’s political history, saying it demonstrated the people’s determination to secure human dignity and establish a political order that guarantees social and political rights for all citizens on an equitable basis.
“The core issue in Bahrain is the people’s demand for justice in shaping their political future,” he stated. “Despite sustained repression, the Bahraini people have maintained a high level of political awareness, adhered to peaceful means, and upheld a discourse of national unity.”
According to the cleric, however, the government has responded by expanding what he called “mechanisms of political exclusion and retaliation” against dissenting voices.
Dissolution of Institutions and Pressure on Religious Platforms
Sheikh al-Daqaq said Bahraini authorities have sought to eliminate both the political and religious presence of opposition forces through security-driven measures.
He pointed to the dissolution of major opposition entities, including Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society and other political and religious associations, as well as the arrest of prominent opposition leaders.
He added that repression extended to religious platforms, including the suspension of Friday prayers led by Sheikh Isa Qassim.
“The authorities aim to instrumentalize religious pulpits to promote normalization with Israel and compliance with US policies,” he said. “But the Bahraini people will not trade their faith for political dictates.”
The cleric sharply criticized Manama’s official policies, which he said have resulted in the revocation of citizenship from hundreds of citizens, the issuance of death sentences, and what he described as numerous politically motivated judicial rulings.
He further noted that Bahrain’s public debt has exceeded 20 billion Bahraini dinars—approximately $60 billion—while effective oversight over public spending remains absent.
Calling the normalization of ties with Israel the “most dangerous development,” Sheikh al-Daqaq stressed that the Bahraini people do not recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli regime.
Call for Comprehensive Political Reform
Addressing Bahrain’s rulers, the cleric questioned the outcome of 15 years of security-based governance and disregard for popular demands.
“The strength of a state lies in uniting all its citizens under one umbrella and transforming opponents into partners in building the future—not in perpetuating security crackdowns,” he said.
He argued that the roots of Bahrain’s crisis are fundamentally political, with legal, economic, and civil restrictions stemming from that unresolved issue.
Sheikh al-Daqaq called for the drafting of a consensual constitution agreed upon by all components of society—Sunni and Shia alike—rather than the imposed 2002 constitution.
Political Prisoners and National Responsibility
Highlighting the human cost of repression, Sheikh al-Daqaq said that approximately 20,000 citizens have been detained since 2011, with more than 190 individuals currently imprisoned on political charges.
Addressing the families of detainees, he said: “You are the honor of the nation, and your patience reflects the resilience of this cause.”
He stressed that the issue of political prisoners is not merely a family matter but a national one, calling for their immediate release and compensation for damages incurred.
US Threats Against Iran
In another part of his remarks, Sheikh al-Daqaq condemned threats by the US president against Iran and its Leader, stating that such rhetoric violates international norms and constitutes an assault on the sovereignty of a nation with regional and religious significance.
“Mutual respect is a prerequisite for any balanced international dialogue,” he warned. “The language of threats only escalates tensions and, paradoxically, strengthens political and popular convergence on the other side.”
Criticism of US Regional Policies
The Bahraini cleric also criticized Washington’s broader regional policies, saying they have exacerbated tensions and imposed heavy human and material costs.
He accused the United States of fostering a culture of impunity by backing certain regional allies, adding that such policies undermine international legal standards.
In this context, he referred to the case of Jeffrey Epstein, describing it as indicative of a deeper moral and legal crisis in the West. He said that raising human rights slogans lacks credibility unless applied universally and without exception.
Continued International Advocacy
Concluding his remarks, Sheikh al-Daqaq affirmed that Bahrain’s cause will remain present in international forums.
He called on legal and media activists to continue defending the legitimate demands of the Bahraini people, stressing that national rights can be realized through awareness-raising, lawful advocacy, and sustained engagement on the international stage.
“The rights of our nation,” he said, “will be secured through perseverance, unity, and adherence to legitimate and peaceful means.”
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