Bahrain protests over Iraqi ex-PM’s remarks

Maliki’s attitude is a clear solidarity with those who seek to spread chaos, violence and terrorism and exhibit hatred

A Bahraini official

manama — Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry summoned the deputy charge d’affaires of the embassy of Iraq on Monday to denounce footage of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki alleging ‘Manama’s crackdown’ on the opposition.

Maliki who now heads an Iraqi coalition called “the State of Law”, attended a meeting last week organised by the February 14 movement, a Bahraini activist group which Manama designated a terrorist group in 2014.

“Discrimination, marginalisation ... have reached a severe limit on the people of Bahrain,” Maliki claimed according to videos from the event published by Iraqi media.

He was quoted as urging dialogue with those “demanding freedom and justice” to protect Bahrain and Bahrain’s people.

Bahrain described Maliki’s statements as “blatant and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain”, state news agency (BNA) reported.

“(A Bahraini official) described Maliki’s attitude as a clear solidarity with those who seek to spread chaos, violence and terrorism and exhibit hatred,” BNA said.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment but it was expected to issue a statement.

Iraq has also struggled for years with sectarianism that followed the 2003 US-led invasion, ending with the disastrous war against the Islamic State militants.

Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has seen unrest with demonstrators clashing frequently with security forces in Bahrain in recent years, and there have been several bomb attacks. —