Iranian leader’s speech flayed

A parliamentarian has rejected the recent statements made by Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei against Bahrain.

While discussing granting more powers to police in dealing with terror crimes during the weekly session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Islamic cleric and Parliamentarian Shaikh Dr Majeed Al Asfoor slammed Khamenei’s recent statements against Bahrain, who claimed that “a minority is unjustly controlling a majority of the community in Bahrain”.

Dr Al Asfoor questioned where the Iranian leader’s statements are coming from, confirming that “these statements seek brewing terrorism in Bahrain”.

“The statements are furnishing a perfect environment for terrorism in Bahrain,” Al Asfoor affirmed.

“There are no scripts in the Jaffari belief that supports terrorism and allows forming terrorist groups.  Our family is a good example of tolerance and coexistence. My ancestor Shaikh Yousif Al Asfoor, from whom Khamenei learnt his religious lessons, calls for tolerance and coexistence,” the MP said, insisting that “the Iranian leader’s statements are endorsing terrorism”.

 “We don’t need any Iranian parties to interfere in our internal affairs. We’re with His Majesty the King and his reforming project. The Iranian Republic is harming our country by issuing such statements that create terrorism habitats in our country,” he added.

Al Asfoor’s statement followed the Kingdom’s official rejection of Khamenei’s recent statements.

As reported earlier, the Foreign Affairs Ministry summoned Iranian Embassy Acting Charge d’affaires in Bahrain Hameed Shafe’e Zad, following the recent statements which were made by the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Revolution Ali Khamenei.

Undersecretary Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla handed to the Iranian envoy an official memorandum in protest against the statements, affirming that “they were a blatant interference in internal affairs and a rejected infringement on the sovereignty and independence of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as being far from what is fundamental and known about the Kingdom and its people, and only reflect what is pursued by Iran in its policy based on sectarian discrimination and contrary to the principles and the values of civilised societies.” 
The undersecretary described the statements as being untrue and contrary to reality, calling for such statements to cease immediately, as they carry an explicit incitement and “reflect a clear determination to foment discord and fuel tensions in the region, instead of focusing on improving the conditions of the friendly Iranian
people.” 

He stressed the necessity of committing fully to the principles of the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), stopping all interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs and respecting its sovereignty and independence.

The undersecretary urged full compliance with the principles of good neighbourliness and the norms governing relations between sovereign states, affirming that “Bahrain will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to protect its interests, maintain its security and stability and ensure the safety of its people.”