Bahraini authorities on Thursday took down flags and banners for Ashura season which the Shiites majority in Bahrain commemorates on the onset of the Hijri year of the Islamic calendar in a flagrant violation of freedom of beliefs.

Social media activists posted photos of the civil defense forces accompanied by a large number of Interior Ministry security forces, who were roaming through the streets of Eskan A’ali to take down any banner or flag related to Ashura.

Bahrain’s Shiite majority complains about the discrimination and marginalization exercised against them. Human rights organizations say that the authorities have imposed restrictions on Shiite religious freedom since the eruption of the widespread protests in 2011.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) headed by Cherif Bassiouni and appointed by Bahrain’s king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, documented that the authorities demolished 38 Shiite mosques and committed other violations against Shiites in Bahrain.

Al-Manar