Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini Interior Ministry turned the main entrance to the town of Diraz into a "restricted area." The ministry forces set a sign warning that the area is restricted, hours after blocking it with concrete barriers.
On Thursday (August 3, 2017) activists published a picture of a banner with the Interior Ministry logo that read "Restricted area. We caution you to step back."

A harsh siege has been imposed on the town of Diraz since June 2016, following a sit-in held by citizens outside the house of the spiritual leader of the Shiite majority in the country, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, denouncing the government's measures against him, including the revocation of his nationality.

The security authorities forcibly dispersed the Diraz demonstrators on 23 June 2017 and cleared the area. Five people were killed and dozens injured in the security operation. The authorities also arrested about 300 citizens on that day.
Since the sit-in, Ayatollah Sheikh Issa Qassem has been under house arrest, surrounded by Interior Ministry armoured vehicles, who prevent people from visiting him in his home.

Arabic Version