A top Bahraini cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, says the government's harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters has strengthened their resolve to fight for their rights.
Bahrain's senior cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim
Sheikh Isa Qassim said on Friday that use of ''politics of fear'' by authorities and their refusal to adopt demanded reforms have failed to silence Bahrainis.
He also said that the uprisings sweeping across the Arab World after decades of silence against oppression are because of the wave of Islamic Awakening in the region.
The cleric's remarks came as the Saudi-backed regime has stepped up efforts to suppress peaceful protesters in bid to end months of anti-government protests in the country.
His remarks also came ahead of a planned nationwide demonstration organized by the country's largest opposition group, al-Wefaq, to show that protesters will not back down from their demands.
Large numbers of Bahrainis are expected to attend the rally on ''The Friday of Determination''.
Sheikh Isa Qassim has repeatedly called on Bahrainis to continue their protest campaign until their demands are met.
"We have offered so many sacrifices and cannot back down and end up empty handed. The reactions of the security forces result in damaging the country, but the people are patient and peaceful,'' he said in June.
Thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging demonstrations in Bahrain since mid-February, demanding political reforms and a constitutional monarchy -- a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.
Scores of people have also been killed and many others have been injured in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain.
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