Bahrain's Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi envoy on Monday to condemn footage showing ex-Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in which he voiced his support for Bahraini protests organized by Shia Muslims.
The video shows al-Maliki, who now serves as a head of an Iraqi coalition "the State of Law", demanding 'freedom and justice' to protect Bahrain and Bahrain's Sunnis and Shi'ites.
"Discrimination, marginalisation… have reached a severe limit on the people of Bahrain," the footage shows Maliki as saying during the event.
In addition, Bahrain described Maliki's stance "as a clear solidarity with those who seek to spread chaos, violence and terrorism and exhibit hatred," according to BNA.
Iraqi authorities, on their part, have not yet commented on the situation, however, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry is expected to issue a statement.
The tensions emerged after ex-Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last week attended a meeting led by a Bahraini-based activist association which state authorities consider to be a terrorist group.