Shia Muslims hold religious ceremony in Bahrain
June 20, 2011 - 0:0
Bahraini Shia Muslims have held a religious ceremony outside Bahrain's capital, Manama, to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of Hazrat Zainab, the daughter of the first Shia Imam.
A large group of Bahrainis flooded the streets of Diraz village to hold the ceremony for the first time since the al-Khalifah regime lifted the emergency law in Bahrain, Press TV reported.The noble Lady of Islam, Hazrat Zainab (AS), conveyed the message of the martyrs of Karbala through her fervent speeches, which served to awaken Muslims all over the world.
The noble lady is the daughter of the first Shia Imam, Imam Ali (AS), and his wife, Prophet Mohammad's daughter Hazrat Fatemeh (AS).
The Persian Gulf kingdom banned public and religious gatherings after the beginning of anti-government protests in the country in mid-February, but lifted the ban earlier this month.
Saudi-backed Bahraini regime forces have demolished or desecrated hundreds of religious places and mosques during the past four months.
Thousands of anti-government protesters have been staging demonstrations in Bahrain, demanding political reforms and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling al-Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds, including doctors and journalists, were arrested in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain.
Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have bitterly criticized the Manama regime for its brutal crackdown on civilians.
Bahraini students pressured in UK
Bahraini students in Britain have said they have been forced to sign pledges of allegiance to Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa after they took part in an anti-regime demonstration in Britain.
The students also say they were forced to promise not to attend any rallies that are held abroad against the Manama regime, a Press TV correspondent reported.
The Bahraini students in the UK say their families have also been mistreated back in Bahrain.
The students added that they were filmed by unidentified men on March 20 during a demonstration in the British city of Manchester against the Bahraini regime's crackdown on anti-government protests in the Persian Gulf sheikdom.
The rally was held in front of the BBC headquarters and was aimed to highlight the media silence over the brutal crackdowns on protests in Bahrain.
“Some pledges even say that it's our responsibility to basically report anything that we see from other students. So in effect,
[we are] acting like spies on each other which is worrying. Secondly, our parents have been approached and the ministry said to them look we understand that your children have been politically active and we discourage them from doing this,” said Ali, a Bahraini student in Manchester.
But at a conference on Bahrain at Manchester Metropolitan University, student leaders vowed to help the Bahraini students complete their education with or without a funding from the Bahraini government.
Meanwhile, speakers at the conference outlined what they called the serial human rights abuses committed by the Bahraini authorities. The rights abuses include killings, unlawful detentions, torture and the targeting of health workers, journalists and lawyers, among others.
Bahrain's authorities admit contacting students in Britain, but say that those contacted can appeal the decision to withdraw education funding.
(Source: Press TV)
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