Bahrain summons, detains another Shia cleric as crackdown persists

Bahraini authorities have summoned and arrested another Shia Muslim cleric as the ruling Al Khalifah dynasty presses ahead with its heavy-handed crackdown against members of the religious community in the country.

News ID: 448928

Date: 09 February 2020 - 09:46

RNA - Arabic-language and independent Manama Post online newspaper reported on Saturday that Sheikh Mohammed al-Reish was detained after he underwent an hours-long interrogation at the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) building in the capital Manama, the previous day.

This is not the first time that the Bahraini cleric has been detained.

Back in September 2018, Bahraini officials ordered the arrest of Sheikh Reish following an investigation at a police station in the Hoora district of Manama.

Also on Friday, Bahraini regime officials renewed the imprisonment of Shia preacher, Mullah Qasim Zain al-Din, for 15 days pending investigation.

The clergyman was arrested on January 29 with no charges pressed against him.

Another Shia cleric, identified as Mullah Abdul Zahra al-Samaheeji, was remanded in custody for 15 days pending the investigation.

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.

According to Press TV, 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 King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3, 2017.

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