Bahrain al-Wefaq Says 62 Clerics Detained Amid Judicial Violations
Bahrain’s National Islamic al-Wefaq Society has published a new report saying the case of detained Shiite clerics in the country has been marred by violations during interrogation and trial procedures, deepening concerns over fair trial rights and freedom of belief.
According to Mehr News Agency, quoting Mar’ah Bahrain, the society released the report, titled “Beyond the Restrictions,” written by Sheikh Hussein al-Dehi, deputy head of al-Wefaq, in an effort to bring the scope of the case before the public.
The report says 62 religious scholars have been detained; according to the report’s authors, 60 were arrested in Bahrain and two others in the United Arab Emirates. It also claims that more than 820 arrests were recorded from the start of the war until mid-September 2026.
Al-Dehi said in explaining the figures that they indicate the expansion of prosecution and arrests amid measures targeting clerics and religious institutions, accompanied by restrictions on the performance of religious rites and the administration of religious affairs.
Another section of the report lists alleged violations, including confessions obtained under duress, the signing of minutes without knowing their contents, restrictions on lawyers’ activities, and cases of mistreatment during detention. According to the report, the recording of sermons, speeches and religious rituals has also been used as evidence in accusations, raising “serious questions” about guarantees of a fair trial and the extent of protection for freedom of belief.
The deputy head of Bahrain’s al-Wefaq Society called for the release of the detained clerics, the nullification of statements he said were obtained under coercion and torture, and independent, impartial international investigations into the alleged violations. He also called for an end to measures targeting endowments, religious institutions and religious activists, and stressed the role of human rights groups and international bodies in following up on the case and ensuring respect for religious freedoms and the legal rights of those detained.
