Saudi Arabia defends Bahrain’s deadly crackdown

This image provided by an activist who requested to remain unnamed shows Bahraini regime forces during a raid on a sit-in in Diraz, Bahrain, May 23, 2017. (Photo by AP)

Human rights groups have condemned Bahrain for its deadly crackdown on people in the village of Diraz, but the Saudi regime has come to Manama’s defense, saying the Bahraini kingdom is "an integral part" of Saudi Arabia's security.

A source in the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the security of Bahrain "is an integral part" of Saudi security, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

"The source affirmed the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the measures being taken," including in the northwestern village of Diraz, the official news agency said.

According to the source, the measures are allegedly to "address all terrorist attempts aimed at destabilizing and damaging" security and order.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the kingdom in early February 2011. They are demanding that the Al Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and a just system representing all Bahrainis be established.

This image provided by an activist who requested to remain unnamed shows people carrying a man who was injured in a raid on an sit-in in Diraz, Bahrain, May 23, 2017. (Photo by AP)

The Manama regime has spared no effort to clamp down on dissent and rights activists. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to Bahrain to assist Manama in its crackdown.

Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others have been injured or arrested as a result of the Al Khalifah regime’s crackdown on anti-regime activists.

On Tuesday, Bahrain's Interior Ministry announced the death of five people in raids on protesters gathering in Diraz. Earlier in the day, Bahraini regime forces stormed the residence of Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the country’s Shia majority in the village, arresting everyone inside the house.

Amnesty International slammed the Manama regime's excessive use of force against protesters, stressing that the village has been under siege for over 11 months.

The village has been a scene of protests since last June, when authorities stripped the cleric of his citizenship over an accusation that he used his position to serve foreign interests and promote “sectarianism” and “violence.” He has denied the allegation.

Qassim was handed a suspended one-year prison term and ordered to pay a fine on Sunday. The spiritual leader of Bahrain’s dissolved opposition bloc al-Wefaq National Islamic Society is under house arrest.