Bahrain Mirror: Bahrain's Ministry of Interior claimed that it did not prevent performing Friday prayer in Diraz, after the religious leader Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim condemned the prevention of Imam of the mosque and worshipers from reaching the Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque.

The Director-General of the Northern Governorate Police denied on Tuesday the news reports, saying "the mosque was open for worshippers and the role of police was limited to securing the worshippers during Friday prayers."

He explained that some said that some people were deliberately trying to promote the allegations as the relevant body had not submitted the name of the scholar who was to deliver the sermon there so his entry there could be facilitated. This followed when the Religious Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowment summoned the mosque's previous preacher who refused to give an undertaking not to repeat the violations of the rules relating to religious sermons.

The authorities have prevented for weeks the Imam of the largest Shia prayer Mohammad Sanqour from reaching the mosque. The ministry of interior is demanding to appoint another Imam who complies with the governmental decisions.

Arabic Version