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Bahrain’s Ongoing Campaign of Political Retaliation Targets More Than 40 Shiite Clerics The Bahrain Forum for Human Rights (BFHR) said that the sweeping raids and arbitrary arrests carried out by Bahraini authorities today, May 9, 2026, against at least 40 Bahraini clerics and citizens reflect a continued security escalation. BFHR said the arrests also demonstrate the ongoing implementation of a policy of systematic repression against citizens who exercised their right to peacefully express political positions and opinions related to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and its direct repercussions for Bahrain. In connection with this political context, Bahraini authorities have arrested more than 300 citizens, including women and children, and have extrajudicially killed one citizen.
The latest arrest campaign marks a clear sectarian turn by the Bahraini authorities, who have specifically targeted religious scholars and preachers from the Shiite community. This appears to be a deliberate attempt to spread fear, intimidate society, and prevent any independent expression of political opinion or popular solidarity. It further confirms the authorities’ insistence on managing domestic affairs through a security-driven and repressive mentality. This constitutes a blatant violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by Bahrain’s Constitution and international conventions, foremost among them freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of belief, and the right to peaceful activity.
The religious scholars arrested by the authorities today, May 9, 2026, are: • Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Aali • Sheikh Ali Al-Sadadi • Sheikh Mohammed Sanqoor • Sheikh Ali Humaidan • Sheikh Jassim Al-Moamen • Sheikh Ali Rahma • Sheikh Hamed Ashour • Sheikh Fadhel Al-Zaki • Sheikh Radhi Al-Qaffas • Sheikh Munir Al-Ma’tooq • Sheikh Ghazi Al-Sammak • Sheikh Sadiq Al-Afiya • Sheikh Ali Al-Mutaghawi • Sheikh Mohammed Jawad Al-Shihabi • Sheikh Hani Al-Banna • Sheikh Jassim Al-Khayyat • Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kharsi • Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour Al-Sadadi • Sheikh Ayoub Al-Bahrani • Sheikh Isa Al-Moamen • Sheikh Jameel Al-Aali • Sayed Mohammed Al-Ghuraifi • Sheikh Ali Naji Al-Hamli • Sheikh Baqir Al-Hawaj • Sayed Ahmed Al-Ghuraifi • Sayed Sadiq Al-Maliki • Sheikh Hussein Al-Mahrous • Sheikh Ali Hassan Al-Sayba’i • Sayed Hussein Al-Karrani • Sayed Talib Mohammed • Sheikh Ali Salim • Sheikh Ali Sanad • Sheikh Abdulhussain Al-Akri • Sheikh Fadhel Duhainim Al-Sitri • Sheikh Sadiq Al-Dirazi • Sheikh Fouad Al-Mubarak • Sayed Mousa Al-Wadaei • Sheikh Raed Al-Sitri
In the preceding days, the authorities had also arrested the following Shiite clerics: • Sayed Majeed Al-Mishaal • Sheikh Hassan Al-Qassab • Sayed Hatem Al-Alawi • Sheikh Ahmed Al-Haiki • Sheikh Aziz Al-Khudran • Sayed Sadiq Al-Hajari
BFHR warned of the dangers of continuing these policies, which are driving the country toward further tension and unrest while entrenching an atmosphere of repression, political exclusion, and sectarian marginalization.
BFHR holds the Bahraini authorities fully responsible for the safety of all detainees, particularly in light of the killing under torture of a citizen by the “Special Investigation Unit” after he had been arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared on the same political grounds. Those responsible for the crime have not been held accountable.
Accordingly, BFHR called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees held over their opinions and political positions. It also called for an end to all forms of security persecution and restrictions on religious and political freedoms.
BFHR further called on the international community, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations to uphold their moral and legal responsibilities. It urged them to take urgent action to stop the ongoing violations in Bahrain, pressure the Bahraini authorities to respect their international human rights obligations, and put an end to the policy of impunity and the continued repression of citizens.
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