The Bahraini People Reject Compromise and Religious Concessions

The event received coverage from international media outlets, Iranian news agencies, and satellite and television networks.

According to Taghrib News Agency(TNA), Sheikh al-Daqqaq stated that “rights do not expire with the passage of time, especially when there are those who continue to demand them.” He described February 14, 2011, as a turning point in Bahrain’s political history—“a day that demonstrated the Bahraini people’s aspiration for human dignity and meaningful change that guarantees the social and political rights of all citizens in a just manner.”
The director of the Bahraini seminary in Iran identified the core issue in Bahrain as “the people’s demand for justice regarding their political future.” He emphasized that the Bahraini people, with high political awareness, have remained committed to legitimate demands, peaceful approaches, and a discourse of national unity, despite what he described as the government’s increasing reliance on exclusionary measures and political retaliation against opponents.

Dissolution of Institutions and Pressure on the Opposition

Al-Daqqaq stated that Bahraini authorities have undertaken security measures aimed at ending the political and religious presence of opposition groups. In this context, he said, the Council of Scholars, Al-Wefaq Society, the Islamic Enlightenment Society, and other political associations have been dissolved, and opposition leaders detained.
He added that pressure extended to religious platforms, including the suspension of Friday prayers led by Ayatollah Isa Qassim. He accused Bahraini authorities of attempting to instrumentalize religious pulpits to promote normalization with Israel and alignment with U.S. policies, asserting that “the Bahraini people will not compromise their faith nor accept imposed political dictates.”

Revocation of Citizenship and Political Sentences

Sheikh al-Daqqaq strongly criticized official policies in Manama that, according to him, have resulted in the revocation of citizenship from hundreds of citizens, the implementation of death sentences, and the issuance of numerous politically motivated rulings. He also claimed that Bahrain’s public debt has exceeded 20 billion Bahraini dinars (approximately $60 billion), while lacking effective oversight of expenditures.
He described normalization with Israel as “the most dangerous development,” emphasizing that, in his view, the Bahraini people do not recognize Israel.

Call for a Comprehensive Political Solution

Addressing Bahrain’s rulers, al-Daqqaq questioned: “What has fifteen years of a security-driven approach and disregard for the people’s demands achieved?”
He argued that the strength of a state lies in uniting all citizens under one umbrella and transforming opponents into partners in shaping the future, rather than persisting in continuous security confrontations.
He described the root of Bahrain’s crisis as political, stating that legal, economic, and other restrictions stem from this fundamental issue. He called for drafting a consensual constitution, agreed upon by both Sunni and Shia communities, in which the people serve as the primary stakeholder, rather than what he referred to as the imposed 2002 constitution.

Message to the Families of Detainees

Al-Daqqaq stated that since 2011, approximately 20,000 citizens have been detained, and that more than 190 individuals are currently imprisoned on political charges in Bahrain. Addressing the families of detainees, he said: “You are the honor of the Ummah, and your patience reflects the resilience of this cause.”
He stressed that the issue of political prisoners is not merely a family matter, but a national one, calling for their immediate release and compensation for damages suffered.

Threats Against the Islamic Republic of Iran

In another part of the press conference, al-Daqqaq described threats made by the U.S. President against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its Supreme Leader as “a violation of international norms and an infringement upon the sovereignty of a country with regional and religious standing.” He stated that targeting Iran’s Leader constitutes an affront to a political and religious symbol connected to the sentiments of millions of Muslims.
He warned that mutual respect is a prerequisite for balanced international dialogue, adding that the language of threats only escalates tensions, while potentially strengthening political and popular cohesion on the opposing side.

U.S. Policies and the Epstein Case

Al-Daqqaq described Washington’s policies as contributing to regional instability, arguing that interventionist approaches have imposed heavy human and material costs. He further claimed that support for certain regional allies has, at times, fostered a culture of impunity.
Referring to the Epstein case, he said that raising the name of former U.S. President Donald Trump in that context has generated numerous questions, adding that advocacy for human rights is credible only when applied universally and without exception.

Emphasis on International Follow-Up

Concluding the press conference, Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqqaq affirmed that the issue of Bahrain will continue to be raised in international forums. He called upon legal and media activists to persist in defending the demands of the Bahraini people, stating that their rights will be realized through raising awareness among other nations and pursuing legitimate avenues of advocacy.