Shia in Saudi Arabia hold 10days of Mourning for Imam Hussain (AS)

This year, followers of Ahlul-Bayt from various Shiite cities of Saudi Arabia held mourning ceremonies for the martyrdom of the Master of the Martyrs and his faithful companions.

Report:

After several years of severe restrictions imposed by the Saudi government on Shia mourners, Husseini ceremonies were held with great vitality this year as the Saudi government relented recently.

The mourning ceremony of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) is held every year in the Shiite cities of Saudi Arabia, at the same time as in Iran, Iraq and other cities of the world, with the difference that in the past years, Shiites in Saudi Arabia faced severe restrictions and pressure to hold these ceremonies.

During the last few years, Saudi Shiites have faced many challenges and problems for holding rituals of Muharram and Safar in their cities, with the Saudi government applying pressure and restrictive instructions during these months.

Mourning ceremonies are limited to Hussainiyyas only, and any action that encourages mourning ceremonies in the streets and alleys has been stopped.

In recent years, Saudi officials have canceled Muharram mourning ceremonies many times and prevented the publication and promotion of banners related to holding mourning ceremonies.

Also, in recent years, the Saudi agents raided the mosque of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) in the city of Al-Awamiyeh in Qatif province and completely destroyed it with a bulldozer.

It should be noted that in addition to the restrictions imposed on holding mourning ceremonies and honoring the position of Ahlul-Bayt and the Infallible Imams, peace be upon them, Saudi Government has committed discriminatory actions affecting the Shiite youth, and neglected the economic issues of this minority population. These measures have led to the underdevelopment of Shia-populated regions.

It should be mentioned that the Saudi state-owned Al-Akhbariya TV, which is the fourth prominent channel among the official media of this country, recently showed a report on the mourning ceremony of the first ten days of Muharram in the Saudi city of Qatif.

In this report, the reporter tried to emphasize on the one hand the “peaceful” nature of the mourning speeches and on the other hand the government’s efforts to maintain the security of the ceremonies.