Bahrain: New clashes as fate of Ayatollah Shiekh Qassim remains unknown

Aal-e Khalifa regime forces have clashed with demonstrators rallying in solidarity with Bahrain's most prominent religious scholar and his slain supporters in several areas across the the Persian Gulf island State.

Troops attacked peaceful protesters who took to the streets of Sitra Island and chanted slogans against the self-styled King Hamad bin Isa Aal-e Khalifah on Sunday night.

The protesters held the monarch responsible for recent crimes committed by his forces in the northwestern village of Diraz where several protesters were killed during a raid of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim's home.

On May 23, regime forces raided Diraz, which has been under a military siege for almost a year, and stormed the home of the spiritual leader of Bahrain.

At least five demonstrators were martyred and dozens more injured during the crackdown which also saw more than 280 people arrested. 

The fresh wave of anti-regime protests broke out on May 21, when a regime court sentenced Ayatollah Sheikh Qassim to one year in jail and ordered him to pay $265,266 in fines.

Last year, the religious scholar was also stripped of his citizenship, which sparked repeated sit-ins outside his residence in Diraz.

Also on Sunday, demonstrators staged a protest in support of Ayatollah Sheikh Qassim in Saar residential area, west of Manama, calling for the punishment of those behind the killing of activists.

SS