The Bahraini opposition group Al Wefaq National Islamic Society has warned that communication with 41 detained Bahraini scholars has been cut off for more than 72 hours, describing the situation as a dangerous escalation in what it called a systematic campaign targeting the country’s Shiite community.

According to Al Wefaq, the detentions followed a sweeping security campaign linked to the alleged case publicly referred to as the “Mastermind Plot,” which opposition figures describe as a fabricated case aimed at suppressing religious and political dissent.

The group characterized the arrests as one of the most serious waves of religious and political targeting witnessed in Bahrain in recent years.

In its statement, Al Wefaq said Bahraini security authorities continue to impose a complete blackout regarding the fate of the detained scholars, refusing to disclose their whereabouts or allow them to contact their families.

The opposition society warned that the circumstances amount to enforced disappearance under international human rights standards, particularly amid growing fears for the scholars’ safety.

The concerns are reportedly heightened by the fact that several of the detained clerics are elderly and suffer from chronic illnesses and serious health conditions.

Rights advocates and opposition figures fear that denying communication and legal transparency could place their wellbeing at significant risk.

Al Wefaq further argued that the detentions reflect an intensification of sectarian targeting policies aimed at intimidating and weakening the religious and social presence of Bahrain’s Shiite community.

The group accused authorities of attempting to silence voices opposed to the government’s security policies through arrests, intimidation, and collective pressure.

The opposition also criticized the absence of legal transparency surrounding the arrests, stating that families and the public remain without official information regarding the detainees’ legal status, place of detention, or the charges brought against them.

As concerns continue to mount, calls are increasing for Bahraini authorities to immediately disclose the fate and whereabouts of the detained scholars, guarantee their safety, and end what critics describe as an open-ended campaign against the Shiite community.

Observers warn that the continued escalation risks deepening political tensions and social divisions within the country.