MANAMA (Press TV) – Bahrain’s leading Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim has called on the tiny Persian Gulf country’s authorities to immediately release political prisoners because such an issue “cannot be postponed” until the Bahraini parliament is ready.
In a statement carried by Bahrain Mirror, the top cleric criticized human rights violations of the Bahraini regime, saying the realization of such rights cannot be “postponed or delayed until the parliament gets prepared and an agreed-upon constitution [is reached].”
Sheikh Qassim added that restoring Bahrainis’ rights, preparing the electoral law, holding parliamentary elections and agreeing on the constitution must begin quickly and simultaneously.
On April 19, the prominent cleric said drawing up a new constitution was the only way out of the political crisis in the kingdom, urging the Manama regime to pursue an agreement with the Bahraini opposition instead of increasingly suppressing the dissidents.
Demonstrations in Bahrain have been held on a regular basis ever since a popular uprising began in mid-February 2011.
The participants demand that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.
Manama, however, has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent.
Bahrain has come under pressure from human rights organizations over prison conditions, including overcrowding, poor sanitation and lack of medical care.
Since the March outbreak of the coronavirus at the Jau prison, families of the Bahraini prisoners have been holding protests demanding the release of their loved ones and better conditions.