The February 14 Youth Coalition strongly condemned Manama’s campaign targeting Ashura commemorations, which includes the forcible removal of all displays related to the occasion.

The group called on Bahrainis to take part in a Friday demonstration, organized to denounce the actions of the country’s security forces.

In recent days, civilian militias accompanied by the security services have started removing all slogans, banners and flags related to Ashura – commemorating the martyrdom of the grandson of Islam’s Prophet Mohammad, Imam Hussein.

Since the start of Bahrain’s popular uprising in 2011, security forces have routinely removed all public displays associated with Ashura. Meanwhile, scores of Shiite clerics were questioned and tried for commemorating the occasion.