Bahrain Detains 60 Shia Clerics Amid Widespread Crackdown
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Bahraini authorities have detained 60 Shia clerics as part of a widening crackdown on religious figures. The Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society of Bahrain, citing its report titled ‘Beyond Restrictions’ by Deputy Head Sheikh Hussein Al-Dehi, brought the cases of arrested clerics to public attention. The report details the detention of 62 religious scholars, including 60 within Bahrain and two in the UAE, along with over 820 arrests from the conflict’s inception until mid-September 2026.
Al-Dehi stated that these figures indicate an expanding scope of persecution and arrests targeting clerics and religious institutions, accompanied by restrictions on religious practices and management. The report outlines various violations, most notably coerced confessions, signing documents without full awareness of their content, limitations on legal activities, and mistreatment during detention. It also highlights the use of sermons, speeches, and religious rituals as evidence for charges, raising serious questions about fair trial guarantees and freedom of belief protections.
The Deputy Head of Al-Wefaq emphasized the need for the release of detained clerics, the invalidation of statements obtained under duress and torture, and independent international investigations into these violations. He also called for an end to actions targeting endowments, religious institutions, and religious activists, stressing the importance of action by human rights organizations and international bodies to follow up on this case and ensure respect for religious freedoms and the legal rights of detainees.
