Bahraini Group Condemns Al Khalifa Regime’s Move against Arbaeen Pilgrims
The coalition’s political council in a statement described the moves as shameful and deplorable, Al-Alam news network reported.
It strongly condemned preventing hundreds of Bahraini citizens, including scholars, clerics and social and cultural figures, from traveling to Karbala.
The statement said such measures signify the true nature of the ruling regime and its mentality that is like that of the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group.
It underlined that brutal measures against people will not dissuade them from massive participation in Arbaeen pilgrimage.
The devotees of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) will insist on taking part in this enormous religious event, it went on to say.
The February 14 Youth Coalition also hailed those Bahrainis who surmounted all obstacles and hurdles and managed to travel to Karbala for Arbaeen procession.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen falls on September 17.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
Bahrain’s Shia community has long complained about discrimination and marginalization at the hands of the West-backed regime.
Last month, the Manama regime tightened its ruthless crackdown against Shia Muslims in the country ahead of Ashura.
According to human rights organizations, Bahraini authorities have imposed heavy curbs on the religious freedom of the majority community since the outbreak of the popular uprising and nationwide protests in 2011.
Demonstrations have been held in Bahrain on a regular basis ever since the popular uprising began in mid-February 2011.
People demand that the Al Khalifa regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.
Manama, however, has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any form of dissent.
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