Bahrain Steps Up Crackdown on Shia Clerics ahead of Ashura
Ashura marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Rights activists, requesting anonymity, said Bahraini security officials have summoned Sheikh Issa al-Mu'min, Sheikh Ali Ashour, Sheikh Aqeel al-Ghanimi, Sheikh Jassim al-Damistani, Sayyed Maytham al-Muhafazah as well as Sheikh Mamdouh al-Aali for questioning, Arabic-language Lualua television network reported.
Earlier, Bahraini authorities had summoned Sayyed Jaber al-Shahrakani, Sheikh Mohammad Ali al-Mahfuz, Sheikh Mohammad Ashour and Sheikh Zoheir al-Khal for interrogation.
They also arrested Shia preachers Sheikh Menbar al-Ma’atouq and Sheikh Mohammad al-A’ajimi.
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 Khalifa 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 Khalifa ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3, 2017.
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