Bahrain's religious scholars launched Ashura season for 1443 Hijri under the slogan (Glory of Faith and Imam).

Interior Ministry issued a provocative statement threating to take legal measures against the majority of Shiites participating in the commemoration of 40th anniversary of Imam Hussein martyrdom (Arbaeen) in case of holding gathering in the homes.

After opening mosques for the first time in 6 months due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Bahraini king performed Friday prayers at a private mosque in Al-Sakhir Palace and he issued an interesting statement in which he spoke about "the conclusion of Ashura commemoration" and said that he wishes "success" for the commemoration rituals.

Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of Shia majority in Bahrain, condemned the decision to close Shiite mosques in Hamad town, considering it a seditious step that aims at fighting the thoughts of Ahl Al-Bayt.

Only 20 minutes is the time allowed for Husseini obsequies (religious congregation halls) to broadcast live their mourning ceremony during Ashura this year. After the 20-minute mark, these obsequies will be considered to be violating the law, and the authorities will shut them down for 3 years, fining them 10,000 dinars.

The spiritual leader of Shia majority in Bahrain, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, called for commemorating Ashura away from political tensions, stressing the need that the commemoration be held "outside the scope of harm" while adhering to preventive measures.

A medical source expects the number of Coronavirus cases in Bahrain to jump to 600 a day during Ashura, even with the closure of obsequies, as religious commemorations are expected to be held in secret, which will prevent direct tracking.

Jaffari Endowments Board Chairman Yusef bin Saleh Al-Saleh held a remote meeting with representatives of the obsequies and Husseiniyas (religious congregational halls), in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Interior, representatives of the four governorates, the Ministry of Health and members of the National Taskforce for Combating COVID-19.

Deputy Secretary-General of the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society Sheikh Hussein Al-Daihi said that lovers and Shiites of Imam Al-Hussein will commemorate his martyrdom in all available means. "You will never stop them," he addressed the authorities.

Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of the Shiite majority in Bahrain, called for opening the obsequies under the same conditions other places were opened.

Questions that need to be answered: Why is this incomprehensible insistence on preventing religious activities? Why is there this serious threat to the administrators of obsequies and Husseiniyas? Why is the media being used to incite as well as underestimate people's religious dignity? W

Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, the highest religious authority in Bahrain, described the authorities' prevention of Ashura commemoration in Bahrain as a war against Imam Al-Hussein (PBUH).

The Bahraini authorities are clearly trying to take advantage of the exceptional measures of the Coronavirus pandemic and exploiting this conundrum that many countries around the globe are witnessing in order to intensify the persecution of Shiite citizens in Bahrain.

The Bahraini Interior Ministry is launching two campaigns against the return of religious rituals that Bahraini Shiites commemorate in the Month of Muharram every year. The first is a campaign of summonses to pressure and cause direct threat and the second is a media campaign via local media outlets.

The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs dealt a blow to the efforts of Bahrain's senior Shiite clerics and all popular efforts that were preparing to commemorate Ashura rituals, during the Holy month of Muharram, in Husseiniyas (religious congregational halls).

Bahrain's Interior Minister acted in advance of the 2019 Ashura season by making threats during his meeting with the Jaafari Endowments chairman, members of the Husseini processions committee and a number of heads of obsequies on Sep. 3, 2019, saying that "political slogans will not be allowed to be raised in the Ashura season of 1441 Hijri."

Pictures posted on social media showed citizens who were injured by shotgun pellets (birdshot) as they tried to prevent security forces from taking down Ashura banners.

SALAM organization for Democracy and Human Rights has revealed serious violations in Jaw prison against political prisoners who have been practicing Ashura rites.

The Bahraini security authorities released on Wednesday (October 11, 2017) Shiite cleric Sayed Ali Al-Mousawi after 9 days on his arrest.

The organizing committee for Imam Hussein blood donation campaign, organized by the Naim Charitable Organization in the Naim Health Centre, said that it collected more than 600 blood units within the eighth and ninth day of Muharram (Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30, 2017).