July 9, 2026 — Bahrain’s opposition groups, including

ALWEFAQ, have strongly condemned the ongoing prosecution of more than 50 prominent Shiite religious scholars, describing the proceedings as a politically motivated and sectarian campaign targeting the country's religious leadership amid heightened regional tensions. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the opposition said the trial, which began on July 5, targets senior Shiite clerics, including Grand

AyatollahQassim, seminary professors, and Friday prayer leaders. The oppostion groups stated that the charges are linked to the regional conflict involving Iran and represent retaliation against Bahrain's Shiite community for its public opposition to the war. The statement accused the Bahraini authorities of pursuing "a rapidly escalating course of sectarian violations and abuses" since the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran confirming that the prosecution reflects an effort to punish Bahrain's Shiite population rather than address legitimate legal concerns. "The unjust trial of more than 50 senior Bahraini scholars and religious figures is based on fabricated charges connected to the American-Zionist war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and constitutes retaliation against the people of Bahrain for rejecting that war," the opposition said. According to the statement, the opposition believes the legal proceedings form part of a broader policy of religious persecution, claiming that the government is seeking to suppress Shiite religious institutions and leadership through judicial means. The groups further maintained that the prosecution violates both Bahrain's domestic legal framework and international human rights obligations, accusing the authorities of disregarding international conventions, humanitarian principles, and religious freedoms. "Bringing senior scholars to trial represents a reckless escalation in the state's campaign against the Shiite community and deepens the unprecedented political and social divisions created by authoritarian rule," the statement read. The opposition warned that the prosecution of Bahrain's leading clerics could further increase domestic tensions and undermine social stability, warning that the country's religious scholars have historically played an important role in preserving national unity and protecting Bahrain's social fabric. "Our scholars and the religious figures detained in prisons are symbols of the nation's dignity and identity. They have consistently worked to preserve the unity of the people and defend the country's authentic values," the statement said. The opposition also rejected the accusations against the clerics, describing them as politically motivated and comparable to what it called previous judicial cases targeting dissidents over past decades. Concluding its statement, Bahrain's opposition called on the authorities to immediately halt the trial, drop all charges against the clerics, and release all detained religious figures without conditions. "We call on the authorities to stop this unjust trial, dismiss all fabricated charges, release the scholars and all detainees immediately and unconditionally, end the campaign against the people's religion and religious practices, and refrain from further involving Bahrain in regional military alliances," the statement concluded. The opposition further urged the government to address the country's political crisis through dialogue and by responding to what it described as the Bahraini people's legitimate rights and demands, warning that continued repression would only strengthen public determination to defend the country's identity and national sovereignty.