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Hariri Slams Hizbullah, Iran over Anti-Bahrain Stances

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri lashed out Tuesday at Iran and its Lebanese ally Hizbullah over their virulent tirades against Bahrain in the wake of the kingdom's revocation of the citizenship of a top Shiite cleric.

“What do Iran and Hizbullah have to do with Bahrain's decision to revoke the citizenship of one of its citizens, be him a clergyman or not?” Hariri asked rhetorically on Twitter.

“They have described as a crime the citizenship revocation of a naturalized Bahraini cleric who calls for sedition while they are taking part in the killing of thousands of innocents and the destruction of cities and towns over the heads of their residents in Syria,” he added.

Iran has warned Bahrain that it is fanning armed rebellion and "will pay the price" after the Gulf kingdom stripped senior Shiite cleric Sheikh Issa Qassem of his citizenship.

Bahrain's rulers "will pay the price and it will have no result but the destruction of this bloodthirsty regime," Qassem Suleimani, the head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards' overseas operations arm, the Quds Force, said late on Monday.

Iran's foreign ministry also criticized what it called the "extrajudicial" measures by Bahrain that "dash hopes of reform through dialogue."

Hizbullah for its part slammed Bahrain's decision as “unprecedented” and “very dangerous,” noting that Sheikh Qassem represented “a true guarantee for Bahrain's present and future.”

It also called on “all Bahraini, Arab and international religious and political authorities and rights groups” to “press the Bahrain regime to reverse its decision immediately” and to convince it to “reach an understanding with the people in order to overcome the complicated political crisis.”

The Lebanese, Iran-backed party also urged Bahrain's people to “decisively express their anger and dismay over the attack on their great icon.”

Bahrain has been shaken by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister in 2011.

Tensions have reached fresh heights in recent days, with the suspension of the al-Wefaq main Shiite opposition group and, on Monday, the move against Sheikh Qassem.

Bahrain has repeatedly accused Iran of interfering in its affairs and inciting violence among Shiites, a claim Tehran denies.

The Bahraini interior ministry alluded to the accusations in its statement announcing the decision against the Shiite spiritual leader.

Qassem abused his position to "serve foreign interests and promote... sectarianism and violence," it said.

Y.R.


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