[أخبار]Ashura is for all and a manifestation of coexistence in Bahrain

The vice president of al-Wefaq's municipal bloc and member of secretariat, Majeed Milad, said in a press conference Tuesday, "The authorities' provocations and infringements on religious freedoms during the season of Ashura are refused and will bring no good to the country, as this season is not only celebrated by one sect but citizens and residents in general", he added, " the infringements on religious freedoms will not bring us to abandon our demands for political freedoms"

Milad mentioned the figures of violations perpetrated by Bahrain security services according to al-Wefaq's Monitoring Committee, which revealed that 12 preachers have been summoned for different accusations, some more than once, in addition to 5 speakers and 15 owners of community houses known as Matam. Milad also pointed out that the security forces have vandalized the Ashura displays, posters and banners in a number of areas.

Milad said practice of religious freedoms is guaranteed by the constitution as article no.22 states; Freedom of conscience is absolute. The State guarantees the inviolability of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold religious parades and meetings in accordance with the customs observed in the country.

"Bahrain's undersecretary assistant of legal affairs described the measures against and infringements on manifestations of Ashura and religious freedoms as aiming to maintain public safety. We will see who is harming public safety according to international standards, MoI's infringements or lift of pressure on practice of rituals?"
Milad pointed out that the General Assembly of the United Nations states that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Human Rights call for equality and the right of conscience and belief, and that neglect of human rights, particularly freedom of thought and belief have brought wars and sufferings to mankind, and stir hatred between peoples and nations.
"Preventing and neglecting religious freedoms is what harms public safety, so are we supposed to believe the Ministry of Interior or the UN?", Milad said.

"Al-Wefaq considers these summons as based on breaches of the constitution and neglect of religious freedoms and a precedent provocation in Bahrain's history"
Milad stated that vandalism of Ashura displays and summons sent to owners of community houses proves that the religious season of Ashura is targeted in itself and not just freedom of speech. This is an outrageous violation of freedom of belief that the state is supposed to abide to."

"The regime's attempts to pull the situation into sectarian conflict it will not achieve and is more of a dream than reality"
"What is ridiculous, is that the ministry of interior accuses the religious speakers and preachers to have harmed the spirit of Ashura. What about its provocations and vandalisms?"
"One justification the MoI claimed was that some Ashura banners had commercial ads between, and this the Municipal ministry's job, so why is the MoI removing them? This can only prove how far it has gone in its security tightening on the expense of other official parties".