Bahrain- Ulema Council
Since 18.11.2012, Bahrain witnessed a campaign of arrests for a number of religious men and orators of Husseini pulpit, summon for other number of orators, speakers of Husseini processions, and owners of religious mourning places, as well as the threats to close the Hussainiyah and stop those who are responsible if the public affairs had been discussed.
Such escalator steps, which is a precedent of its size at the level of Bahrain, comes just two days after the start of Ashura season, which has a great specificity to the Muslims in general, and to more than half of Bahraini people in particular; In addition, infringement of religious privacy occurs by removing the outstanding religious banners, at a time the rising voices of official propaganda claiming all the respect for religions and freedom of expression.
News spread -Sunday morning 3 Muharram 1434, 18 November 2012- about arresting Mr. Kamel al-Hashemi, an orator in Al-Gharb Matam in Bani Jamra and a professor in Hawza, for two days after being summoned this morning, as well as the orator of Al-Shabab Ma'atam in Naeem Ahmed Majid from his home at dawn today.
Moreover, the orator in Sanabis Ma'atam, Sheikh Hassan Alaali, has been summoned today's morning, as well as one of the moderators of Sanabis ma'atm Jafar Shamrookh, and head of Saar Ma'atm, head of Karzakan ma'atam, and the orator Sayed Ali al-Moussawi. The speaker Aba Thar Alhalwachi had been summoned and signed a pledge.
This morning, mercenaries dare tearing Ashura's banners and remove it in Aali and they remove a statue on pottery roundabout, a step that met widespread resentment of the people of the region considering it as a security provocation and contempt for their religious beliefs which constitution provides for respecting it.
Commenting on what happened, a number of religious men and activists express their surprise from Bahraini authorities to do such provocative steps in this particular time, while some were waiting for reform initiatives that may contribute to stop the crisis situation that started since almost two years.
In that regard, the Chairman of the legitimacy Committee of the Olaama Islamic Council Sheikh Fadel Zaki, said in his account on Twitter: "Husseini pulpit is far from sectarianism and incitement. One of its major functions is raising historical, social, and political issues and addressing it objectively."
The head of Algoriffi Hawza, Mr. Mohammed Hadi Algoriffi, stressed that "the arrest of a group of religious scholars in order to silence them will not solve the crisis, but will increase our determination to continue the path to achieve our dignity and our freedom."
It is noteworthy that season of Ashura in Bahrain has a special sanctity among the people, it witness longstanding annual interest by showing aspects of grief and the lessons from Imam Hussain life (peace be upon him), the grandson of Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and his family). The season witness pressure and restriction attempts on its movement by officials previously, but according to observers it did not reach the level of what the authorities are doing this year.
Several anonymous accounts, that bearing names refer to particular known groups, on the social networking site "Twitter" launched (and still) open-ended campaign against Ashura manifestations in Bahrain by launching insults, attenuation, and ridicule of those who made it, as well as raising serious sectarian dredge, and urging the regime in Bahrain to remove black banners, prosecute and arrest orators and speakers. This is a precedent which has not occur -as obvious as is it today- in Bahrain community, which is known with tolerance and fraternal relations between sects, and participation of people from different sects in its activities in Ashura, through several evidences that are well-known by faithful Bahraini sons.
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Since 18.11.2012, Bahrain witnessed a campaign of arrests for a number of religious men and orators of Husseini pulpit, summon for other number of orators, speakers of Husseini processions, and owners of religious mourning places, as well as the threats to close the Hussainiyah and stop those who are responsible if the public affairs had been discussed.
Such escalator steps, which is a precedent of its size at the level of Bahrain, comes just two days after the start of Ashura season, which has a great specificity to the Muslims in general, and to more than half of Bahraini people in particular; In addition, infringement of religious privacy occurs by removing the outstanding religious banners, at a time the rising voices of official propaganda claiming all the respect for religions and freedom of expression.
News spread -Sunday morning 3 Muharram 1434, 18 November 2012- about arresting Mr. Kamel al-Hashemi, an orator in Al-Gharb Matam in Bani Jamra and a professor in Hawza, for two days after being summoned this morning, as well as the orator of Al-Shabab Ma'atam in Naeem Ahmed Majid from his home at dawn today.
Moreover, the orator in Sanabis Ma'atam, Sheikh Hassan Alaali, has been summoned today's morning, as well as one of the moderators of Sanabis ma'atm Jafar Shamrookh, and head of Saar Ma'atm, head of Karzakan ma'atam, and the orator Sayed Ali al-Moussawi. The speaker Aba Thar Alhalwachi had been summoned and signed a pledge.
This morning, mercenaries dare tearing Ashura's banners and remove it in Aali and they remove a statue on pottery roundabout, a step that met widespread resentment of the people of the region considering it as a security provocation and contempt for their religious beliefs which constitution provides for respecting it.
Commenting on what happened, a number of religious men and activists express their surprise from Bahraini authorities to do such provocative steps in this particular time, while some were waiting for reform initiatives that may contribute to stop the crisis situation that started since almost two years.
In that regard, the Chairman of the legitimacy Committee of the Olaama Islamic Council Sheikh Fadel Zaki, said in his account on Twitter: "Husseini pulpit is far from sectarianism and incitement. One of its major functions is raising historical, social, and political issues and addressing it objectively."
The head of Algoriffi Hawza, Mr. Mohammed Hadi Algoriffi, stressed that "the arrest of a group of religious scholars in order to silence them will not solve the crisis, but will increase our determination to continue the path to achieve our dignity and our freedom."
It is noteworthy that season of Ashura in Bahrain has a special sanctity among the people, it witness longstanding annual interest by showing aspects of grief and the lessons from Imam Hussain life (peace be upon him), the grandson of Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and his family). The season witness pressure and restriction attempts on its movement by officials previously, but according to observers it did not reach the level of what the authorities are doing this year.
Several anonymous accounts, that bearing names refer to particular known groups, on the social networking site "Twitter" launched (and still) open-ended campaign against Ashura manifestations in Bahrain by launching insults, attenuation, and ridicule of those who made it, as well as raising serious sectarian dredge, and urging the regime in Bahrain to remove black banners, prosecute and arrest orators and speakers. This is a precedent which has not occur -as obvious as is it today- in Bahrain community, which is known with tolerance and fraternal relations between sects, and participation of people from different sects in its activities in Ashura, through several evidences that are well-known by faithful Bahraini sons.
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