WANA (Jun 03) – News sources reported on Wednesday that the Al Khalifa regime has launched a crackdown against Shia figures following Iranian retaliatory operations targeting U.S. interests in Bahrain.

 

The Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, Bahrain’s largest Shia opposition group, reported that security forces have raided homes and arrested numerous religious figures and community members across the country.

 

Travel Restrictions: Al Wefaq announced that the Ministry of Interior has banned Shia citizens from traveling to holy sites in Iran and Iraq ahead of the pilgrimage season.

 

Mass Detentions: The group reported that four religious scholars, three Shia eulogists, and several other figures were targeted. Security forces arrested five of these individuals following residential raids, searched the home of another cleric, and transferred a previously detained eulogist from prison for interrogation.

 

Prior Accusations: The regime previously stated the initial detentions were based on alleged links to Iran’s IRGC and financial violations.

 

Opposition Reaction

Al Wefaq condemned the travel ban as an illegitimate, politically and religiously motivated decision. The society stated that because both Iran and Iraq are currently stable, the timing of the restriction is highly suspicious.

 

The opposition group argued that the government’s narrative of only targeting individuals suspected of cooperating with Iran has failed. They asserted that by restricting access to the holy shrines, the regime has demonstrated that its targeting extends to the entire Bahraini Shia population.

 

Al Wefaq concluded that Bahrain requires a new political framework based on the rule of law, equal citizenship, and a fully empowered, representative parliament.