Mass arrest of Shiites in Bahrain

Bahraini authorities have arrested several Shiite religious figures, including the chairman of Al-Sanabis Ma'tam, Hajj Hassan Ahmed Juma Al-Muallim, for exceeding the permitted time for a mourning council by 45 minutes. The custodian of Sheikh Ali Mosque in Abu Saiba, Hajj Sayed Mohammed Radhi, was also detained. Additionally, authorities prevented religious speakers Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei and Sheikh Mohammed Ashour from continuing their Muharram mourning councils. The arrests have drawn criticism over alleged state interference in Ashura religious rituals.