Bahraini demonstrators attend a protest against the revocation of the citizenship of top Bahraini Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim (portrait), on 20 June 2016. (AFP)
Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, Bahrains top Shia cleric, travelled to London on Monday due to deteriorating health, according to his aides.
Qassim, who is in his late 70s, is a leading figure in the opposition to the Gulf Arab monarchy and his health has been a point of contention between his supporters and the Bahraini government.
In 2016, who lives in Bahrain, was stripped of his nationality on charges of “serving foreign interests”. The ayatollah has played a leading role in protests against Bahrains Saudi-backed Sunni monarchy.
As his condition worsened in recent months, Qassims relatives have repeatedly refused the governments offer to transfer him to a hospital in the island country, saying they feared he could be detained and deported were he to leave his residence.
Qassim was issued a temporary passport, valid for just a year, to be able to fly from Bahrains capital Manama to the United Kingdom. The passport was issued on the personal orders of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Qassims aides said.
Bahrains foreign minister, Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, said in a tweet on Friday that the king had ordered Qassims "facilitation of travel” to find medical assistance abroad.
King Hamad had agreed to cover any costs, the minister added.
صاحب الجلالة الملك حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة حفظه الله يأمر بتسهيل إجراءات سفر الشيخ عيسى قاسم للعلاج في الخارج و ذلك حسب رغبته و رأي أطبائه ، و تغطية أية تكاليف يتطلبها العلاج
اللهم احفظ لنا مليكنا و ولي امرنا من كل شر— خالد بن أحمد (@khalidalkhalifa) July 6, 2018
Translation: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, may Allah help him to facilitate the travel procedures of Sheikh Isa Qassim for treatment abroad, as he wishes. And see his doctors and to cover any costs required for the treatment. May Allah save our king and us from all evil
However Qassims aides and relatives said the issue of payment is yet to be decided, and whether the kings offer to cover costs is accepted or not will be down to the ayatollah.
Since 2011, when protests against the government erupted as part of the “Arab Spring”, tensions have simmered – and occasionally boiled over – between the Shia-majority populace and the Sunni monarchy.
The 2011 demonstrations were put down with the help of Saudi Arabia, but other protests have erupted since.
Authorities have jailed dozens of high-profile activists, disbanded both religious and secular opposition groups, and stripped hundreds of people of their citizenship.
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