Bahrain Mirror: Reports say that at least 50 people were arrested west of the Bahraini capital, Manama, during their attempt to perform prayers at a mosque in Diraz, where the Shia hold the largest congregational prayers on Friday.

The regime's security forces, who have set checkpoints at the entrances of the town taking control over any movements in/out of the area since last June, denied the mosque's Imam Sheikh Mohammad Sanqour entry, preventing him from leading the prayers.

As a result, Bahrainis took to the streets of the town, the stronghold of the Bahraini Shia spiritual leader Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim who was stripped of his nationality last month. Protestors chanted slogans demanding the authorities to put an end to the sectarian discrimination practiced against the country's Shiite majority, and stop its targeting of Shia beliefs.

Security forces were heavily deployed with armored military vehicles at Diraz's entrances in an attempt to prevent worshipers from reaching area.

Arabic Version