Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Until the early hours of Wednesday (September 19, 2018), the ninth of Muharram, Bahraini security forces were continuing their raids on villages across the country to remove the black banners hung in commemoration of the religious occasion of Ashura or banners that read words by Imam Hussain, third shia Imam and grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in Karbala on the 10th of Muharram in 61 Hijri (680 AD).

It's the eighth Ashura celebrated since 2011 uprising. Since then, the authorities have taken over Manama, which was Bahrain's Ashura hub, and put an end to the Ashura central sermon that was held. Over the years, preachers, eulogy reciters and obsequies' organizers were curbed to practice self-restraint to the extent that the political content included on platforms and mourning processions decreased to almost nil since last year. Despite this, preachers, eulogy reciters, obsequies organizers and even Ashura banners were not spared.

Throughout the 10 days of commemoration rituals, the security alert disrupted the peaceful spiritual ambiance of the Hussainiat (Shia congregation halls). It became very common to see cranes, armed forces in civilian attire and security vehicles near these halls and at any time. They come for what? For some sermon delivered by the preacher or some words written on banners and hung in streets (in neighborhoods not main roads).

What exactly is it about Ashura slogans that stirs the anger of the government? What doesn't it like about Imam Hussain related sermons? The following are some of the sayings written on banners which irritate the government, thus are taken down:

"A man like me shall never swear the oath of allegiance to a man like him"

"Far be it that we accept humiliation"

"Death with dignity is better than life with humiliation"

"I shall not give my hands in yours like a base man, nor shall I flee away like a slave"

"Woe betide a people who have bought the wrath of the Creator in lieu of the pleasure of the creatures"

"Everyday is Ashura and every land is Karbala"

"I learnt from Hussain how to attain victory while being oppressed"

"Everything we have is from Ashura"

Does the regime take an (ideological) and political stance against Ashura? Maybe, its stance in the past was purely political. It wanted to prevent any projections from the Ashura revolution on the political reality in the kingdom or using the religious platform or mourning processions as a means to directly tackle the political situation, and thus incite opposition against it. It seemed that the regime didn't pay any serious heed to the cultural aspect or meanings of the event, so long as it was disguised, or was silent.

Nonetheless, two years ago, when the king summoned one of the officials of the Sanabis obsequy (from his prison) to directly attack him over the fact that people stomped during the "Arbaeen" ceremony on a photo of him. The king said something that suggests another sentiment: If Imam Hussain existed in this time, he would have been by my side!

Ten years earlier, all hell broke loose after Sheikh Isa Qasim's words were reprinted on a banner during the Ashura season. Senior state officials including the Prime minister launched a campaign against the Shiite spiritual leader, which raised the concern of the US embassy, because of a banner that read: "The Battle of Karbala still stands with two sides today and will tomorrow. In one's self, in one's home, in all arenas of life and society, people will remain divided into a camp with Hussain and a camp with Yazid, so choose your camp".

A Lebanese media person commented that the regime in Bahrain chose not to be in Imam Hussain's camp.

Between a king who imagines that Hussain would have been with him if he were to be alive today, and a government that always feels targeted and referred to as the Yazid Camp, or the unjust, tyrannical party, the Ashura «Revolution» has triggered a serious cultural complex in the regime. Ashura is no longer a historical struggle to the government, it has become a political, religious and even moral struggle to the regime in Bahrain today.

It seems that Imam Hussain, with his history and values, is today accused of inciting hatred against the regime, rather than the preachers, eulogy reciters, obsequy organizers, who have been arrested, or even supporters of Imam Hussain who are from the opposition in Bahrain (Shia and Sunnis alike).

Arabic Version