Bahrain Regime Intensifies Crackdown against Ashura Orators, Summons 8 More

By Staff, Agencies

Bahrain’s Al Khalifah regime intensified its already in place clampdown on the marking of Ashura, as it summoned for interrogation 8 more clerics and orators [including several ex-detainees].

The summoned individuals are due to appear before the Public Prosecution.

The measure comes in the course the continued clampdown against Bahrain’s Shia population, in which the Bahraini regime a few days earlier summoned twelve speakers for investigation over taking part in Ashura occasion, the martyrdom anniversary of third Shia Imam Hussein bin Ali [AS].

Some of them have been also arrested.

It has been since the start of Muharram that Bahrain’s Al Khalifah authorities have taken to attacking Ashura displays, removing religious banners and flags of mourning from various villages.

Among the summoned orators are Sheikh Abdulmohsen Al-Jamri, Sheikh Mounir Al-Maatouk, Mulla Kassim Zainuldin and Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Ojaimi. At least Al-Ojaimi and Zainuldin are still held awaiting investigation.

Since 2011, the Bahraini regime has been summoning preachers and eulogy citers and arresting them for participating in Ashura season through delivering speeches and poems.

Human rights groups say that the aim behind the summons is imposing restrictions on the practice of religious rituals for the country's Shia majority.