People have staged fresh ralliesin Bahrain to protest stepped-upcrackdown on Shia processions commemorating themartyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (Peace Be Upon Him).
Protesterstook to the streets in the town of A'ali southeast of the capitalManamaon Wednesday evening tocondemn newheavy-handed measures.
Muslims in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon and many other countries have beentaking part in mourning ceremonies since the beginning ofMuharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
The first ten days of Muharram mark the martyrdom ofthe third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in680 AD in a battle with the tyrant of the time.
Thehistoric event's message of resistance and rising up against tyranny has been key to the evolution of a culture which rejects abjection at any rate.
Bahrainison Wednesday nightchanted slogans and denounced theManama regime's disruption of mourning ceremonies and removing banners and flags about Ashura which marks the 10th day of Muharram.
Participants in the rally alsoheld pictures of distinguished opposition figures, including Sheikh Ali Salman and Sheikh Isa Qassim. They pledgedto press ahead with their resistance campaign against the Al Khalifah regime.
Protests have intensified in Bahrain sinceOctober when the supreme court of appealrejected a request to release Sheikh Salman, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence. The 50-year-old clergyman faces a new date onOctober 17 to have his case re-examined.
The tiny Persian Gulf is in fresh turmoil afterBahraini authorities decided tostrip thecountrys most prominent Shia Muslim cleric, Sheikh Qassim, of his citizenship inJune.
They alsodissolved the main opposition bloc al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, al-Risala Islamic Associationas well as the Islamic Enlightenment Institution, founded by Sheikh Qassim.
Protest ralliesin Bahrain have continuedon an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising started in the kingdom in2011. The protesters are demanding that theAl Khalifahdynastyrelinquish power.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured in a harsh crackdown which is backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
By Press TV
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