Bahrain Mirror: Sheikh Hussain Mahrous, director of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim's office, refused to be tried over the Khums religious ritual, which is guaranteed by the Bahraini constitution. This came during the second session of Sheikh Qassim's trial, and to which Sheikh Mahrous was summoned against his will.

Information received from Dry Dock Prison reported that Sheikh Hussain Mahrous refused to stand before the court over the case filed against Ayatollah Qassim. The authorities have recently arrested Sheikh Mahrous for charges of demonstrating in Diraz.

Sheikh Mahrous is one of the individuals who the authorities accuse of collecting money for the Khums obligation, along with Shiite Spiritual Leader Sheikh Isa Qassim and Mirza Dirazi, who is also an employee at Sheikh Qassim's office.

Sheikh Mahrous was summoned for interrogation in Hamad Town police station on Tuesday, August 9, 2016, and was arrested to stand before the public prosecution the next day. The Public Prosecution decided to detain him for 15 days pending investigation, and then transferred him with the rest of the detained Shiite clerics to Dry Dock Prison.

Yesterday, the prison guards asked Sheikh Mahrous to accompany them to one of the Interior Ministry vehicles, so it would drive him to the court to attend Sheikh Qassim's second trial hearing. Sheikh Mahrous refused to go, yet the authorities took him against his will.

During the court session held last Sunday, which did not last more than 5 minutes, Mahrous told the judge that he "refuses to be tried over the Khums ritual which is guaranteed by the constitution." He further stressed that he works in interpreting the provisions of religion [jurisprudence] and has nothing to do with fundraising.

The court decided to adjourn the case to the hearing on September 15, 2016, to give time to appoint a lawyer for Sheikh Mahrous, and to summon again Sheikh Isa Qassim and Mirza Dirazi, who missed the second consecutive session, and did not appoint a lawyer to be present on their behalf.

Arabic Version