HOLY CITY OF QOM, Iran: Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has criticized Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi for his discriminatory remarks about the protests in Bahrain saying it is surprising that the cleric who had supported uprising in Egypt has said pro-democracy movement in Bahrain “should be suppressed”.

A religious scholar should not make such discriminatory remarks, the ayatollah said.

“How can an open-minded religious scholar make such remarks? The meaning of the statement by Mr. Qaradawi is that we make discrimination between Muslims,” Ayatollah Shirazi told theology students on Wednesday.

“Qaradawi supports uprising in Egypt, and war in Libya but when it comes to Bahrain he defends dictatorship.”

The ayatollah said both Shias and Sunnis are involved in the protests in Bahrain.

“The uprising by the Bahraini people is not restricted to Shias because all Bahraini people have risen up (against dictatorship) and even Sunni ulema have issued statement in support of this popular uprising.”