Emami-Kashani criticizes Saudi approach toward Bahrain uprising

Tehran's Interim Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani criticized Saudi Arabia paradoxical approach toward regional uprisings in particular Bahraini nation. “There is no difference between Bahraini nation’s uprising and Tunisian, Egyptian and Libyan uprisings,” he added. “Saudis claim that Bahraini movements are against Arabs and Islam, what do they mean by Arabs? Do they mean Arab governments under the influence of hegemonic powers and the Zionists?” Emami-Kashani questioned. Emami-Kashani warned also the revolutionized countries to be careful about the hijacking of their revolution by anti-Muslim hegemonic powers. Since the beginning of 2011, the Muslim world has witnessed popular uprisings and revolutions similar to what happened in Iran in 1979. Tunisia saw the overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a popular revolution in January, which was soon followed by a revolution which toppled Hosni Mubarak in Egypt in February. Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have since been the scene of protests against their totalitarian rulers, who have resorted to brutal crackdown on demonstrations to silence their critics. Bahrain, however, has experienced the deadliest clashes. Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule. Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.