AhlulBayt News Agency - A local Bahraini newspaper said that the security authorities summoned 15 Shiite clerics since the revocation of Bahrain's Shia spiritual leader Sheikh Isa Qassim's citizenship.
"A series of security summonings of clerics were launched in June 23, 2016, when the Al-Budaiya Police authorities summoned 6 clerics: Sheikh Mahmoud Al-A'ali, Sheikh Fadel Al-Zaki, Sheikh Moneer Maatouk, Sheikh Hamza Al-Dairy, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Safa, Sheikh Ali Rahma, in addition to two religious reciters: Jaafar Al-Qashma'i and Mahdi Sahwan, for their participation in Diraz rally. They were released the following day (June 24, 2016)," the paper added.
"After two days (June 26, 2016), both clerics Sayed Majeed Meshaal and Sheikh Jassem Al-Motawa' were summoned for interrogation at the Al-Budaiya police station, over the speeches they delivered during the open Diraz rally, that reached its 7th day at the time."
"For about 20 days, the summonings came to a halt until they resumed on Sunday (July 17, 2016), when the Imam of Imam Sadiq Mosque Sheikh Mohammad Sanqour was summoned to the Al-Budaiya police station and then detained, one day after leading prayers at the Ima m Sadiq Mosque in Diraz," it further stated.
Sheikh Sanqour was released on July, 18, 2016 after he was interrogated by the Public Prosecution.
On Tuesday (July 19, 2016), Sheikh Saeed Al-Asfoor, Reciter Abdul Jabbar Al-Dirazi were summoned to the Al-Budaiya police station over incidents related to the Diraz rally. Sheikh Saeed Al-Asfoor's family said that they were informed on the same day of the decision to release him following interrogation.
Two other clerics were summoned on Sunday (July 24, 2016), Sheikh Jassem Al-Khayat and Sayed Yassine Al-Musawi for questioning, and the latter was detained to be referred to the Public Prosecution on Monday (July 25, 2016).
The paper further stated that the security authorities continued detaining Sheikh Aziz Al-Khadran for two days (July 23, 24, 2016) although the Public Prosecution decided to release him after interrogation over charges of insulting the kingdom's constitutional system in a Friday sermon. The prosecution ordered releasing him on condition of staying at a specified place of residence.
On Monday (July 25, 2016) the security authorities released three clerics: Sheikh Jassem Al-Khayat, Sayed Yassine Al-Musawi, and Sheikh Abdul aziz Al-KHadran.
The local newspaper highlighted that the authorities re-arrested Sheikh Saeed Al-Asfoor, and questioned Sheikh Hamza Al-Dairy again after accusing him of inciting hatred against the Kingdom's constitutional system and insulting a statutory body.
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