Bahrain Mirror-Exclusive: Civil society organizations and institutions in Belgium and Sweden urged the British Prime Minister Theresa May to raise issue of sectarian discrimination against Shia majority in Bahrain in her upcoming visit to Manama.

Religious institutions and civil society organizations sent letters to UK embassy in Belgium and Sweden calling on the UK PM to raise the issue of "sectarianism against the Shiite community and the restrictions on freedom of belief and freedom of opinion and expression."

The letters which Bahrain Mirror could attain a copy of demanded "to push the Bahraini authorities to cancel the decision of revocation of citizenship of the spiritual authority of the Shiite community in Bahrain Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim,  stop the siege against the area where he is inhabited and to stick the Bahraini government to implement the recommendations of the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inquiry and let the special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to visit Bahrain."

The civil society organizations that signed the letters expressed their great concern "on the human rights situation of the Shiite community and segregation against them." adding that "We hope that we see a positive impact in improving this situation reflected in this visit."

A number of organizations in Belgium and Sweden sent similar letters to the UK embassy.

Arabic Version