Hawzah News Agency- In a statement published on its website, the Bahrain Human Rights Society urged the government to immediately end all measures and restrictions imposed on religious rites and mourning processions, and to guarantee that citizens can freely practice their faith in accordance with the constitution and international covenants.
The society condemned what it described as arbitrary actions and decisions that have led to the cancellation of fifty mourning houses (Husseiniyas) and processions dedicated to religious commemorations and other occasions. It said these measures violate international laws that Bahrain has signed, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
The society added that these actions are not separate from the broader climate Bahrain has witnessed recently—since the outbreak of war on the region or even before—but rather represent a new link in an escalating policy specifically targeting the Shia community. In the recent period, this has included: preventing or restricting Arbaeen pilgrimage activities, cracking down on all Shia religious rituals and expressions, launching a wave of arrests against participants in peaceful protests and demonstrations, and detaining a large number of senior Shia scholars and clerics. The group pointed to documented information regarding assaults against them, mistreatment, and arbitrary detention—confirming the existence of a systematic pattern that specifically targets the religious and even civil rights of this segment of citizens.
The society stressed that Bahraini authorities continue to pursue a policy of systematic crackdown against the Shia community, a policy whose pace has accelerated following the US aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. This policy is implemented through sweeping restrictions on religious observances, including preventing mourning processions, limiting gatherings and rituals to inside mourning houses and Husseiniyas, and shutting down all religious activities by a designated hour.
The Bahrain Human Rights Society said these measures are carried out in accordance with decisions issued by the Jafari Endowments Directorate, which it said is fully complicit in the arbitrary policies against the Shia community and functions as little more than an executive tool in the service of the ruling power.
The society emphasized the need to end all forms of security crackdowns on mourning houses, Husseiniyas, and religious institutions. It demanded a halt to the summoning or pressuring of those responsible for these venues over their religious activities, an end to blatant discrimination based on religion or belief, and a guarantee of equality for all groups in enjoying the rights and freedoms related to practicing their faith.
The Bahraini society called on the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association to follow up on and assess these developments, monitor and document violations targeting the Shia community in Bahrain, and engage with Bahraini authorities to pressure them to respect their international human rights obligations.
Your Comment