Report of the Bahrain HRA on the Violation of the Religious Rights of the Shia

According to the report of the Bahrain Human Rights Assembly on 5 September 2023, three human rights organizations of Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, Bahrain Human Rights Assembly and Persian Gulf Institute for Human Rights and Democracy published a joint report on the commemoration of Ashura in Bahrain entitled “Ashura in Bahrain: Fear, Security Restrictions and Marginalization of the Media” in the current year.
According to the Bahrain Human Rights Assembly report, as every year the Ashura commemorations in Bahrain came with attacks on the participants. In spite of the Bahrain government’s claim to being eager to support and respect religious freedoms, the country’s Interior Minister set specific restrictions for these commemorations and prevented foreigners and people from neighbouring countries from entering the country. A measure which is contrary to the official position of the Bahrain government whichch is religious diversity and tolerance. Furthermore, Bahrain authorities have summoned a number of Bahrainis that include Sheikh Mahmoud Hassan-Ali Habib Al-Ali and Ali Mahna and interrogated them for participation in Ashura commemorations.
The report goes on, the Bahrain Human Rights Assembly declared that the authorities also attacked 13 locations where Ashura gatherings were and carried out fear causing actions against the participants of the commemorations. Furthermore, with the exception of a few of them, prisoners were not allowed to hold Ashura commemoration ceremonies.
Finally according to the Assembly’s report, a number of recommendations were given for the protection of human rights and promotion of tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Bahrain’s society to ensure observation of religious rights for all citizens and residents.

  https://www.bfhr.org/english/article.php?id=106&cid=153