Bahrain Mirror: Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman, Head of Religious Freedom Unit in the Bahrain Human Rights Observatory (BHRO), said that the majority of Bahraini citizens (Shia) are subjected to systematic violations based on their religion, according to the Special Rapporteurs reports and that of the US Department of States and European Union, stating that 65% of the citizens are being persecuted.

In an interview with France 24, Al-Salman stressed that transitioning to the equal citizenship state is the solution for Bahrain's problems, explaining that the authority and some regional states do not want dialogue in Bahrain. Al-Salman added that "the authority and some regional states insist not to hold a serious dialogue with the democratic opposition to find out a solution for the crisis."

He added "the dialogues held were shallow and do not address the problem; absence of equal citizenship and real partnership in the regime through the elected legislative councils that have all the powers and through demanding to elect a Prime Minister that expresses the views of the majority of people."

As for the prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, Al-Salman said that he does not expect he'd be released, especially after the revocation of Sheikh Isa Qassim's citizenship and his trial and after the authority executed citizens and the outlaw killings, expecting that the authority would impose "more restrictions".

Sheikh Maytham warned from what he dubbed serious deterioration in the human rights state, warning that this would generate more depression "and probably more political violence", calling on the influential countries to pressure more on Bahrain.

As for the hatred speech which stems from terrorist and Takfiri sources, Al-Salman stressed that it finds media platform in Bahrain, explaining that the government's defiance is only against those who express their peaceful opinions and that the legislations enacted to fight hatred speeches were used to punish opposition in Bahrain.

Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman further stated that Sheikh Isa Qassim represents the highest Shiite religious authority in Bahrain and that what the authority is doing against him is a political revenge.

Arabic Version