Bahrain Expels Envoy of Shiite Ayatollah Sistani

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Authorities in Sunni-ruled Bahrain on Wednesday expelled the representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in the latest manifestation of tension with the kingdom's Shiite majority.

Sheikh Hussein al-Najati was among 31 Bahrainis who had their citizenship revoked in November 2012 over accusations that they had undermined state security, more than a year after authorities crushed a Shiite uprising in March 2011.

Najati "practiced unclear activities, without coordinating with authorities which discovered afterwards that he was Sistani's representative," the interior ministry said.

"Working as an official representative of any party necessitates a letter of accreditation that specifies responsibilities and planned activities," it said.

Najati worked on "collecting funds and distributing them" in the name of the Iraq-based Sistani, one of the top Shiite spiritual guides, the ministry added.

Najati was born in 1960 to Iranian parents in Bahrain, it said.

He arrived on Wednesday in Lebanon, according to Bahrain's Shiite Al-Wefaq opposition association.

Sistani, who is based in the Iraqi city of Najaf, in 2011 condemned Bahrain's crackdown on Arab Spring-inspired protests which demanded democratic reforms in the Gulf kingdom.

Bahrain remains deeply divided three years after the February 2011 uprising, with persistent protests sparking clashes with police, scores of Shiites jailed on "terror" charges and reconciliation talks deadlocked.

Comments 4
Thumb Elemental 23 April 2014, 20:22

Good

Thumb kanaanljdid 23 April 2014, 22:47

Let's follow this wise decision as well

Thumb Elemental 24 April 2014, 08:32

That's pretty much what HA's been doing ;)

Default-user-icon Wake up dudes! (Guest) 24 April 2014, 14:16

That is the clear example of how sectarian you guys are when you pretend you only oppose hezbollah! Just admit it that you are nothing but filthy haters who just go about the forum to spread hatred against shias. Spare us the BS, wake up and open your eyes to see what is the majority of lebanese. If they wanted to get rid of the likes of you they would only need to march onto you and 1 of you have to face multiple of them.

What a shame... Letting the likes of you leave comments such the ones above everyday everywhere on articles here!