Bahrain Mirror: A number of accounts on social media sites posted pictures of citizens who were injured by shotgun pellets (birdshot) as they tried to prevent security forces from taking down banners related to the religious occasion of Ashura, which is commemorated by Bahraini Shiites for 10 days every year. Security forces reportedly stormed several villages, including Akar and Malikiyya, in order to remove posters and black banners bearing religious slogans related to Ashura commemoration. The citizens deemed this move an attack on their religious ceremonies, repeated for the eighth consecutive year.

In April, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reiterated its accusation against Bahraini authorities of interfering in the Ashura commemoration rites of the Shia citizens. Security forces removed religious banners and posters from 21 predominantly Shia Muslim neighborhoods, used tear gas and live ammunition against protestors, and arrested 12 civilians in the same operations.

Arabic Version