Bahrain’s foreign ministry summoned Iraq’s ambassador in Manama to protest against remarks by Iraqi officials denouncing the execution of pro-democracy activists.

The execution on Sunday of Ali Al-Singace, Abbas Al-Samee and Sami Mushaima has drawn condemnation from rights groups. Iran called it a “reckless” act.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain opposes the death penalty and he “raised the issue with the Bahraini Government.”

Iraqi Vice President Nouri al-Maliki called the execution “an ugly crime” and said it put the Bahraini government in a position of being accused by the international community of systematic killing of its opponents.

The Bahrain foreign ministry said Maliki’s remarks and comments by the Iraqi foreign ministry spokesman amounted to an “unacceptable interference” in Manama’s internal affairs.

“The undersecretary of Regional and GCC Affairs, Ambassador Waheed Mubarak Sayyar, asserted the Kingdom of Bahrain’s condemnation and its deep rejection of the remarks … and demanded they be conveyed to the Iraqi government,” BNA said.

The execution of the three men sparked public anger, with Bahraini protesters taking to streets to voice rejection to the wide-scale crackdown on dissents, stressing that the execution ruling was fabricated and based on confessions that followed torture of the three martyrs.

Source: Agencies