BCHR:

Manama Authorities Trample Rights of Shiite Muslim Majority during Ashura

Rasa - The Bahraini regime severely curtailed freedom of religion and belief of its majority Shiite Muslims population, imposing tight restrictions to hold mourning ceremonies marking Ashura in October 2017, a human rights group said.

News ID: 434615

Date: 05 November 2017 - 20:14

RNA - The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) has issued a report saying that during Ashura ceremonies this year, the Bahraini regime perpetrated a number of violations, which ranged from removing Shiite banners, flags and figures, from summons of around 67 citizens including number of clerics, like Sheikh Hassan al-'Ali, Sheikh Hassan al-Banna Ali Hammad, Al Waght reported.

The first ten days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, mark the martyrdom of the third Shiite Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), Imam Hussein (pbuh), in 680 AD in a battle with the tyrant of the time. The tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashura, marks the day when Imam Hussein was martyred with 72 of his loyal companions. The historic event's message of resistance and rising up against tyranny has been key to the evolution of a culture which rejects abjection at any rate.

Bahrain Center for Human Rights noted that Nuwaidrat, Maameer and Malikya villages were attacked with tear gas and shot pellets for resisting the security forces who were removing all the Ashura banners.  Many families and children were targeted by tear gas.

Protest rallies in Bahrain have continued on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising started in the kingdom in 2011. The protesters are demanding that the Al Khalifah tyrannical dynasty relinquish power.

Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured in a harsh crackdown which is backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Around 4000 Shiite Muslims have been incarcerated, including dozens of clerics and prominent political dissidents, languish behind bars for political reasons.

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