Bahraini Shias Worried about More Crackdown on Religious Freedoms
Sheikh al-Salman said imposing more restrictions on Shias’ religious rites would be a wrong move aimed at intensifying the political and social crisis in the society.
His comments came after Bahraini interior minister, Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, talked of plans to set up a committee for supervising Shias’ religious rites and ceremonies.
Sheikh al-Salman described the Al Khalifa regime’s targeting of Shia ceremonies in Bahrain as blatant violation of human rights and freedom of religious rites.
He also urged the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion, Heiner Bielefeldt, to investigate the Bahraini’s regime’s violation of religious rights.
Bahrain, which has been the scene of almost daily protests against the Al Khalifa regime since an uprising began in 2011, has been repeatedly criticized by international human rights organizations for violating human rights.
The uprising in Bahrain began on February 14, 2011. Protesters initially called for political reforms and a constitutional monarchy. However, the demand later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.
Scores of people have been killed in the crackdown and security forces have arrested hundreds including doctors and nurses. Dozens of demonstrators have also been sentenced to jail terms for attending street protests.
