Bahrain: Arrival of Ramadan spells no change for Shiite worshipers in Diraz

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - In much of the Muslim world, Ramadan is traditionally a period of piety and prayer.

But for Diraz’s 30,000 residents, the holy month commenced with another dose of persecution and repression.

This northwestern Bahraini village has been subjected to an unprecedented lockdown by Manama’s security forces since the denaturalization of the country highest religious authority Sheikh Isa Qassim in June 2016.

The virtual siege also involves a ban on what was once the country’s largest Shiite congregation during Friday prayers.

And this week – the first Friday of Ramadan – was no different.

Armored vehicles were deployed to cordon off the mosque as concrete barricades and police checkpoints restricted people’s freedom of movement throughout Diraz.

Rights groups have described the measures as collective punishment against the entire village, whose residents began a peaceful sit-in around Sheikh Qassim’s home after he was rendered stateless.

Last May, security forces launched a bloody attack on the sit-in, killing five protesters and placing Sheikh Qassim under house arrest.



/257