Bahrain Intensifies Crackdown on Shias after Arbaeen
According to Bahrain’s main opposition group, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, some 100 Shias have been taken into custody by the regime forces since Thursday, the day of Arbaeen.
On Monday alone, the security forces summoned at least 31 Shias and arrested many of them for participation in Arbaeen programs.
Arbaeen comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
The ruling regime in Bahrain has in recent years tried to prevent the country’s Shias from holding the mourning rituals.
Restrictive measures and rights abuses increased in Bahrain even before the lunar Hirji month of Muharram (August 21- September 18), in which Shias mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS).
The measures include summoning those organizing mourning rituals to threaten them.
The Persian Gulf kingdom has seen anti-regime protests over the past nine years. The major demand has been the ouster of the Al Khalifa regime and the establishment of a just and conclusive system representing all Bahraini nationals.
The Manama regime, in return, has ignored the calls and is pressing ahead with its heavy-handed crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations with the help of forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
