Khalil: Targeting Isa Qassim’s House was Deliberate

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Al-Wefaq’s Abdul Jaleel Khalil stated that Ayatollah Issa Qassim wasn’t targeted because he is a religious figure but because of his pivotal political position and pro-reform views.Khalil presented the details of the regime’s attack on Sheikh Qassim’s home in a press conference held at Al-Wefaq society Monday 20, May.“Regime forces raided three houses near Qassim’s. They didn’t spend more than a few minutes in each house, then they headed to Ayatollah Qassim’s house. They remained at his door for 20 minutes without doing anything at the beginning. After that, they broke the doors, and raided the house without even presenting a legal warrant and like what happens to many victims of home raids, the attackers gave no reasons to the households”, he added, “they remained in Qassim’s room for 15 minutes. They searched his belongings, books and clothes”.Commenting on MoI’s statements about the raid, he said “the MoI’s statements are conflicting. In one statement it claimed that there was a suspicious car carrying terrorists whilst, another statement said that the forces were dealing with some security incidents”, adding, “the events that night were near Duraz roundabout, and Qassim’s house is far from the tension area”.He wondered “Was it logical for the regime forces to leave Duraz area after only half an hour after they had raided Ayatollah Qassim’s house? Given the MoI’s claims, half an hour would be too fast to leave; especially that the MoI is talking about shootings and two of its personnel claimed to be injured! Did they arrest anybody that night?”.“If they were searching for a car with terrorists inside it, is it logical to hide this car inside Qassim’s rooms? And by the way Qassim’s house has no garage”, he added.He, also, commented on statements of the MOI and the government’s spokeswoman who claimed that the “law is above all” wondering if there is something more valuable than citizens blood, or “more holier than mosques, did they hold any officials accountable for demolishing mosques? Land theft? Extrajudicial killings? ”On the other hand, Abdul Jaleel Khalil talked about Ayatollah Issa Qassim, highlighting his participation in the modern political history of Bahrain. “He is an active national figure who had participated in drafting the contractual constitution in 1973. He participated in the Constituent Assembly in 1972 and was elected to join the Representatives’ Council in 1973. He called on the people to participate in the 2006 and 2010 parliamentary elections. Today, he is leading the national struggle towards a better life of justice for all Bahrainis”.“Qassim’s sermons and speeches always emphasize the nonviolent continuation of people’s rightful demands. He believes that the popular movement has started peaceful, political and pro-reform, and will remain like that. Qassim reiterated his refusal to violent acts of throwing stones or molotovs, and clearly expressed his adoption of and support to the nonviolent approach”, he said.He underlined that “Qassim’s sermons always concentrate on two principles. First, protecting the national unity even in the most difficult times. He constantly emphasises that the main dispute is with the authority not against any other sect. At the same time, he strongly believes that it is impossible to abandon the political demands under brutality”.“Targeting Qassim’s house aims to degrade the will of people. But, the uprising of the people will be escalated and they will not back down”, emphasizing, “al-Wefaq and opposition parties will continue their pro-democracy struggle. In the coming days, there will be a serial of activities that will be launched to express the people’s insistence to achieve the rightful demands”./129