On 17 March 2026, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) delivered an intervention during the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, under the General Debate. The organization highlighted the ongoing and escalating religious persecution faced by the Shia community in Bahrain, particularly during religious occasions, through increasing restrictions on religious practices and the targeting of participants. ADHRB expressed concern over repeated patterns of religious repression, including the removal of religious symbols and the summoning and arrest of participants, and called on Bahraini authorities to end sectarian discrimination and uphold their obligations to respect and protect freedom of religion and belief.
Religious persecution against Shias in Bahrain is ongoing. However, it intensifies during key religious occasions, such as Ashura or Sha’ban, demonstrating that every effort to exercise the right to worship is routinely met with deliberate repression.
Recently, authorities have escalated restrictions on Shia religious practices. These measures have included the removal of religious models and symbols, as well as the summoning and arrest of individuals participating in religious commemorations.
In the village of Al Ma’ameer, a repeated, systematic pattern of religious repression has taken place over the past two months. Police forces removed several religious displays, including a model of the Ka’aba and symbols marking the birth anniversaries of prominent Shia religious figures. Following these crackdowns, participants were summoned and arrested.
Since 2011, Bahrain has consistently suppressed Shia rights, closing mosques, disrupting Friday prayers, and imposing restrictions on religious commemorations for Shia political prisoners.
We condemn the restrictions on Shia religious practices and call on Bahrain to end sectarian discrimination and uphold its commitments to respect and protect religious freedoms.
