The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief has censured the Bahraini government for discriminating against the country’s Shia majority

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief urged the Bahraini government to stop the harassment and persecution of a Shi’a Muslim leader who was reportedly forced to leave the country following threats  to arrest him and his son.

On Thursday, the UN body criticized the Persian Gulf kingdom after it expelled the representative of prominent Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, according to Press TV.

"Targeting the most senior and influential Shia religious figure in Bahrain may amount to intimidating and thus discriminating against the entire Shia Muslim community in the country because of its religious beliefs," Heiner Bielefeldt said in a news release.

Bielefeldt added that the case of Sheikh Hussein al-Najati is a stark illustration of the broader mistreatment of Shia Muslims in Bahrain.

"I understand that Mr. Najati has consistently refrained from engaging into politics, and has maintained his position and activities strictly in the realm of his religion," Bielefeldt stated, adding, "He is not known to have advocated violence or its use, or to have committed acts that would undermine national security or public order, nor has he been charged or sentenced for committing such acts." 

"Discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms," Bielefeldt added.