Bahrain Mirror: The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) said that the security authorities in Bahrain target freedom of religion and belief through imposing restrictions on the commemoration of religious rituals and Ashura rituals in Bahraini villages and cities.  

BCHR stated that the security authorities removed Ashura banners from 9 villages which led to confrontations with the residents. A number of youths were injured as a result.

The center further stated that the authorities interrogated 9 preachers and 2 eulogy citers (Sayed Hussein Al-Maliki and Mahdi Sahwan) and arrested two preachers. The authorities also imposed restrictions on the place where the central mourning procession is annually held in Hamad Town in Muharram month.

BCHR explained that the authorities demanded the organizers on Friday, September 14, in Hamad Town to remove photos of Sheikh Isa Qassim, whose nationality was revoked 2 years ago.

It also noted that the security authorities removed on Saturday, September 15, banners related to Ashura occasion from Al-Malikiya village, which led to confrontations between residents and police forces that used shotgun pellets to disperse protestors, leaving number of injured.

Bahrain Center for Human Rights deemed these acts as systematic practices and restrictions on the rights of Shiite sect guaranteed by international covenants, calling on the authorities to release the two preachers Sheikh Hani Al-Bana'a and Yasin Al-Jamri, guarantee the human rights, especially those related to freedom of religion and belief, and end the clamp down on practicing religious rituals and targeting preachers.

Arabic Version