Bahraini Regime Violating Human Rights with US’ Green Light: Cleric

A member of the presiding board of Bahrain’s Ulema (scholars) Council highlighted Washington’s support for the Manama regime’s crackdown on the Bahraini people and said the human rights violations in the Persian Gulf country are greenlighted by the US.

Bahrain is witnessing systematic human right violations, including the political and security crackdown on dissidents, Sheikh Mohammad Hassan Khojasteh said, addressing a meeting on “US’ Human Rights Violations in West Asia” held in Tasnim’s head office in Tehran on Monday.

He pointed to the Al Khalifa regime’s continued crimes against the Bahraini people and said without US support, the regime dared not commit such crimes.

“Therefore, we can say that all of the crimes committed in this country have taken place with the support of the United States and the UK’s plans,” Khojasteh said, adding that it refutes US claim that it is backing human rights in the world and in the region.

Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.

Amnesty International and many other international rights organizations have frequently censured the Bahraini regime for the rampant human rights abuses against opposition groups and anti-regime protesters.

Since 1980s, the ruling Al Khalifa regime has been trying to change the Kingdom’s demographic structure which largely consists of Shiites.