Bahrain: Summoning citizens for exercising religious rituals is a flagrant sectarian violation

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Municipal Bloc of Al Wefaq National Islamic Society issued a statement following the authority’s summoning of a number of citizens for hanging manifestations of Ashura on their houses. Ashura is a religious season marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (pbuh), the grandson of the prophet Mohammed (pbuh), and that is yearly commemorated in Bahrain.In its statement, the municipal bloc said that this measure is a sectarian targeting and a flagrant violation to freedom of religion and belief and personal freedom to retaliate from its people who are demanding freedom and democracy and an end to tyranny.The summons followed the regime forces removed banners and other manifestations of Ashura and attacked a religious gathering a few days ago in Maámeer village. The bloc mentions that the banners that have been removed by the regime forces read slogans calling for unity and synergy between all categories of the society. Therefore, such practices clearly indicate the authority’s intention to target the beliefs of citizens and expropriate their freedom, it added.The bloc also said that the summoning of citizens for hanging religious manifestations is not justified and may be considered deliberate targeting of religious celebrations.Bahrain has long been known as a society of coexistence, but the authority has repeatedly targeted the citizens’ religious freedoms.The bloc strongly refused the authority’s illegal practices which it fails to put in legal shape. The law should ensure the religious freedom and rituals of the people and not ban these rights as a punishment for the people who are demanding democratic transition in Bahrain./129