Bahraini officials have summoned a Shia Muslim cleric for interrogation as the ruling Al Khalifah dynasty presses ahead with its heavy-handed crackdown and persecution of members of the religious community in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom. RNA - The Arabic-language Lualua television network reported on Thursday that Bahraini security forces had ordered Sheikh Abdulmohsen Mulla Atiya al-Jamri to appear for questioning at Hamad Town Police Station. The reason for the summons remains unknown.
Earlier, Bahraini forces had interrogated Sheikh Jamri for his fiery sermons in the run-up to Ashura, which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011.
They are demanding that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established. Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.
On March 5, 2017, Bahrain’s parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.
Bahraini monarch King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3, 2017.