HOLY CITY OF QOM, Iran: Qom’s Ayatollah Sheikh Nasser Makarem Shirazi strongly condemning inhumane crimes in Bahrain said that very painful events are underway in the Persian Gulf country where cruel rulers are brutally massacring Shia Muslims who demand nothing but their rights.

“We call on the international community not to remain silent on such heinous crimes in Bahrain and do not let autocrat Bahraini rulers commit any crimes,” he added.

The statement also warned Bahraini leaders that their crimes would lead to the end of their ruling and that “Muslim people in Bahrain will finally be rescued.”

Bahrain has been the scene of pro-democracy protests, inspired by popular revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, over the past eight days, as thousands of protesters camped out into Pearl Square in the capital Manama.

The Bahraini government has violently suppressed demonstrators that demand an end to the monarchy in the country. The crackdown has left six people dead and hundreds of others wounded.

The army withdrew from the square on Saturday following an order by Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who is leading a national dialogue.

Despite the government's violent crackdown on the pro-democracy protests, the opposition and many ordinary Bahrainis insist on the peaceful nature of their movement.