Senior Islamic Scholars Affirm Independency of Religious Institutions

Four senior Islamic scholars in Bahrain have reaffirmed in a joint statement that Islamic schools and mosques must remain independent of official mandate.

“The pure independency of these private religious institutions is a substantial historic responsibility”, the statement said. “And by affirming this, we do not aim for a status of estrangement with the state. Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to keep religious institutions unaffected by the moods and desires of regimes”.

The scholars also assured another major responsibility to combat sedition, conflict and fragmentation. Furthermore, the statement asserted that violence, extremism and sectarianism are all rejected to maintain a secure and stable homeland.

The statement was signed by Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qasim, Sayed Abdullah Alghuraifi, Sheikh Abdulhusain Alsitri, Sheikh Mohammed Salih Alrabe’i.