Isa Qassim | |
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 Isa Qassim in 2007 | |
| Born | Isa Ahmed Qassim (1937-01-01)1 January 1937 (age 88) |
| Nationality | Bahraini (revoked in 2016) |
| Alma mater | Qom Seminary |
| Occupation(s) | Religious leader, politician and former teacher |
| Years active | 1961–2017 |
| Political party | Al Wefaq |
Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qassim (Arabic: آية الله الشيخ عيسى أحمد قاسم) is Bahrain's leadingShia cleric and a politician. He is the spiritual leader ofAl Wefaq, Bahrain's biggest opposition society. He is the founder and leader of theIslamic Enlightenment Institution.[1]
Isa Qassim was born in 1937 to a fisherman inDuraz though some sources reported he was born either in 1940 or 1941. He attendedBudaiya primary school where he was known for his intelligence and it was reported that he always scored the highest marks. After finishing primary school and with his brother's aid he moved to Manama's secondary school. After graduating he worked as a teacher in Budaiya primary school where he remained until 1962.[1][2]
During his academic study, Isa Qassim went toNoaim at night to study Islamic teachings under sheikhAbdul-Hussain Al-Heli (Died in 1957). In 1962, Qassim began studies at theNajaf Religious Institute inIraq, where he studied under manyMarja's includingMohammad Baqir al-Sadr.[2] He remained in Al-Najaf for 4 years then returned to Bahrain where he worked as a teacher inAl-Khamis intermediate school for 2 years before returning to Al-Najaf. In Al-Najaf, he met with other Shia Bahraini scholars including: SheikhAbdul Amir al-Jamri, SheikhAbdulla Al-Guraifi, SheikhAbdulla Al-Madani and SheikhAbbas Al-Rayes. All of them were from the same generation and knew each other well even before going to Al-Najaf, due to being partners as students or teachers.[1]
At the beginning of the 1990s, Isa Qassim traveled toQum inIran to continue his religious studies. He studied on the hands of some of the highest-rankingMarjas including: Ayatollah SayedMahmood al-Qashimi, Ayatollah SayedKadhem al-Haeri and AyatollahFadhel al-Lankarani. In March 2001, he finished his studies, gained the title ofAyatollah and returned to Bahrain on March 8, 2001.[2]
Isa Qassim has been leadingFriday sermon inDuraz mosque since his return to Bahrain in 2001. Thousands of worshipers attend this sermon weekly.
In 1971, Isa Qassim was chosen by religious leaders to be a candidate for elections while he was still in Iraq. At first he refused and wanted to stay in Iraq to finish his studies and stay away from politics, but just four days before candidates registration was closed, his brother Mahdi traveled to Iraq and brought him back along with his wife and kids. In 1972, he was elected for theConstituent assembly where he had big influence in including parts of the Islamicsharia in the1973 constitution.[2]
In 1972, a 'religious block' was formed which included Isa Qassim, SheikhAbdul Amir al-Jamri, SheikhAbdulla Al-Madani, SheikhAbbas Al-Rayes, Suleiman Al-Mubarak and Hassan Al-Motawwaj. At first they were nine members, but later three of them joined the 'Independent middle' block. During elections the block adopted a wide program including: supporting the labor's union & demands, forbidding trade ofAlcoholic drinks and separating men and women in higher education (like primary, intermediate and secondary schools). They also called for prohibiting male doctors from treating females (especially in pregnancy) as well as other demands that are part of the Islamic customs.[1]
In 1973, Qassim was elected a member of Bahrain's parliament, theNational Assembly of Bahrain, until the parliament was dissolved in August 1975. He gained 1079 votes making him the biggest winner in the fifteen constituency.[1][2]
The Bahraini government alleged that Qassim was implicated in a coup plot in 1996. They accused him to be the head of an Iran-based group calledHizbullah Bahrain, who were said to be behind aconspiracy to overthrow the Bahraini government.[3] After tortures, some of those convicted of the conspiracy “confessed to receiving financial help and military training fromIran andLebanon”. This claim was described byHuman Rights Watch as lacking any credibility.[4] Their confessions were broadcast on Bahrain TV. Many Bahraini Shias denied that Isa Qassim was involved in any plot and claimed that the confessions were taken under torture.
Isa Qassim is often referred to as the spiritual leader ofAl Wefaq. However, he has no formal position within the party and has attained this status as a result of his religious seniority.[5] Some see this as a way for Qassim to avoid “submitting his opinions to internal democratic debate so that he can retain the final decision without paying the price for it”.[6] Qassim rarely makes his decisions in public.
Throughout theBahraini uprising (2011–present) Qassim has been a vocal critic of the government and has led the opposition to KingHamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. "Bahrain’s Sunni rulers have treatedShiite anti-government protesters seeking greater rights in the Gulf kingdom as enemies of state." He said on September 16 duringFriday Sermon.[7] "the politics of fear and the Sunni rulers’ refusal to reform has strengthened the resolve of Bahrain's Shiite majority. He added.[8]
On 14 March, theGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed to deployPeninsula Shield Force troops to Bahrain.Saudi Arabia deployed about 1,000 troops with armored support, and theUnited Arab Emirates deployed about 500 police officers. The forces crossed into Bahrain via theKing Fahd Causeway. The purported reason of the intervention was to secure key installations.[9][10] The opposition reacted strongly, calling it an "occupation".[11]
In response to the deployment of the GCC troops in Bahrain. Isa Qassim, criticised al-Khalifa's claims that the mobilisation of GCC troops is a broader effort to ensure regional stability, rather than what Qassim considers to be Sunni entrenchment and a veiled challenge to Shia representation in the government.[12] On 18 March he said thePeninsula Shield Force had "made a big mistake" and he "would have been proud" if it instead went "to help our brothers inGaza".[13]
On 20 June 2016, a week after the government of Bahrain suspended the main Shia opposition party al-Wefaq, Isa Qassim was stripped of his Bahraini citizenship. Aninterior ministry statement accused Sheikh Isa Qassim of “using his position to serve foreign interests" and “promote sectarianism and violence". Announcing the move to strip him of his Bahraini citizenship, the interior ministry said the cleric had "adopted theocracy and stressed the absolute allegiance to the clergy". It added that he had been in continuous contact with "organisations and parties that are enemies of the kingdom". Bahrain'scitizenship law allows for the cabinet to revoke the citizenship of anyone who "causes harm to the interests of the kingdom or behaves in a way inimical with the duty of loyalty to it".[14][15][16][17] Due to persecution at the hands of the Sunni regime, in December 2018 he relocated toIran.[18]
On 16 July 2016, the head of public prosecution, Ahmed al-Dosari, said a Bahraini cleric would go on trial the next month on charges of “collecting funds illegally and money laundering.” Sources identified the cleric as Qassim. Regime controlled media last month reported an investigation was underway into a bank account of some $10 million in Qassim's name to “find the source of the funds and how they were being spent.”[24]
The cabinet decided to revoke the citizenship of Sheikh Isa — an indigenous Bahraini who applied for nationality to get a passport in the 1960s.
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