Bahraini authorities prevent Shia Muslims from holding Friday prayer in Diraz

For the 13th consecutive week, Bahraini authorities have continued to block the largest Friday prayer gathering for Shia Muslims at Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in the town of Diraz, located in the capital, Manama.

Local Bahraini sources reported that on Friday, December 27, 2024, authorities imposed a complete blockade on Diraz, preventing worshippers from reaching the mosque, except for a small number who were able to perform individual prayers.

The sources noted that security forces were heavily deployed around the mosque, with military vehicles and armed personnel stationed to prevent the central Friday prayer. The Bahraini authorities had initially banned Friday prayers at Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque on October 4, 2024, following demonstrations in the area expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people.

These measures, which many activists have described as an attempt to restrict the freedom of religious practice in Bahrain, continue to provoke criticism.