Bahrain Mirror: 10 human rights organizations called on civil society groups to take part in commemorating the national religious freedom day in Bahrain on April 17, 2016 via various media, legal and civil means.

The statement stressed on the need to abide by Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and respect plurality of religions, protect religious freedoms and all religions and sects from discrimination and crimes committed over religious beliefs as the crime of demolishing and destroying Al-Barbaghy Mosque on April 17, 2011.

The human rights organizations stated that they will launch a campaign on Twitter on the anniversary of Al-Barbaghy Mosque Demolition.

The aim of the campaign is to recall the crime of demolishing mosques, demand not repeating such a crime against any sect and seek to pass laws that protect places of worship and the right to practice religious rituals.

Human rights groups concerned about the issue of religious freedoms in Bahrain have called in 2012 for regarding the day on which the ancient Al-Barbaghy Mosque (established in 1549) was demolished a day for celebrating religious freedom in Bahrain.

The Bahrain Human Rights Society, Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Bahrain Human Rights Observatory, Bahrain Forum for Human Rights, European-Bahraini Organization for Human Rights (EBOHR), Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, Lualua Center for Human Rights, Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, Manama Observatory for Human Rights and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) signed the statement.

Arabic Version