Bahraini judiciary officials have postponed the trial of three Shia clerics amid the Al Khalifah regimes heavy-handed crackdown against prominent figures and followers of the majority religious community in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.
On Thursday, the authorities ordered that Sheikh Ali Hamali, Sheikh Emad al-Sholah and Sheikh Munir al-Matouq must remainunder policecustody pending further investigation and court appearance on September 20, Arabic-language Lualua television network reported.
The trio were arrested on August 9, and sentenced to 15 days in custody on charges of participation in anti-regime demonstrations.
Bahraini authorities have either arrested or summoned tens of Shia clericsover the past few months.
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Bahraini Shia cleric Sheikh Emad al-Shollah[/caption]Bahraini Shia clerics, in a statement titled Those Barred from Praying released on June 16, condemned the Manamaregimes efforts to restrict Shia Muslims freedom of religion and belief, describing the situation in the country as deplorable.
The statement said that the Al Khalifah regimes systematic suppression of the country's Shia Muslims had reached its highest level ever, and members of the kingdoms largest religious community felt insecure and faced threats of arrest and prosecution if they soughtto observe their religious rituals, primarily Friday and othercongregational prayers.
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Bahraini Shia cleric Sheikh Munir al-Matouq[/caption]On June 20, Bahraini authorities revoked the citizenship of distinguished Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassimless than a week aftersuspendingthe countrys main opposition bloc, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, and dissolving theIslamic Enlightenment Institution, founded by Sheikh Qassim, and the opposition al-Risala Islamic Association.
Anti-regime protesters have staged numerous demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis since February 14, 2011, calling on the Al Khalifah regime to relinquish power.
Troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates themselves repressive Arab regimes were deployed to the country in March that year to assist the Manama government in its crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy rallies.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in Manama'scrackdown on the anti-regime activists.
By Press TV
