Bahrain postpones trial of prominent Shia cleric

By Eman Nassar

MANAMA 

A Bahraini court on Wednesday postponed proceedings in the trial of prominent Shia cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qassim -- who faces charges of money laundering and "collecting money without a license" -- to Aug. 14.

"The High Criminal Court on Wednesday held the first trial session of three defendants, among them the cleric Qassim, who stands accused of committing the crime of collecting money without a license and money laundering," Bahrain’s official news agency reported.

"According to Bahraini law, trial hearings were held in a public forum," it said.

The news agency added: "The defendants were absent, however, despite being informed… of the hearing date, compelling the court to postpone proceedings [to Aug. 14]."

Qassim is the country’s leading Shia cleric and the spiritual leader of the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Bahrain’s largest opposition movement.

Last month, the Bahraini authorities revoked Qassim’s citizenship and indefinitely suspended Al-Wefaq’s activities.

Bahrain has been rocked by revolt since 2011, when pro-democracy protests erupted in the tiny Gulf state as part of that year’s "Arab Spring" uprisings.

The Sunni-led government blames Al-Wefaq for the upheaval, accusing the Shia party of pursuing an "Iranian agenda".

Al-Wefaq, for its part, denies the allegations, saying it wants to see the establishment of a "constitutional government" in the small Gulf kingdom.