TEHRAN, October 1- Defying restrictions put in place by the ruling Al Khalifa regime, people in Bahrain attended ceremonies held in different parts of the country to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS).
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - The mourning rituals were held in religious centers across the Persian Gulf country on Tasua and Ashura, the 9th and 10th days of the lunar month of Muharram, falling on Saturday and Sunday this year.
The mourners started the processions shortly after the sunrise, lining up in coordinated and orderly bands of passion plays and recitations of elegies which continue until the evening.
In Manama, the capital, the mourners chanted slogans against the Al Khalifa regime and condemned the crackdown on dissent.
Earlier this week, a former Bahraini opposition lawmaker criticized the Al Khalifa regime’s crackdown on dissidents, saying that in a latest development, security forces of the regime have arrested several youths and two women for protesting the desecration of religious signs.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Jalal Fairooz said during this year’s Muharram mourning ceremonies, the Manama regime has taken much more restrictive measures against the religious rites, compared to previous years.
He further said the security forces pull down flags and signs related to the mourning ceremonies.
The former MP said that since the beginning of the lunar month of Muharram, several people, including two women have been arrested for voicing their protest against security forces’ move to pull down the religious flags.
Despite tough security measures taken by the Al Khalifa regime, the Bahraini people, who are mostly Shiite Muslims, attend mourning ceremonies during the lunar month of Muharram each year.
Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
For Shiite Muslims, Ashura symbolizes the eternal struggle of the truth against injustice.
Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.
Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
Source: Tasnim
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