Restrictions on religious processions set to take place next week in Bahrain could be enforced in the wake of terror threats.

The Jaffari Waqf (Endowments) Directorate urged participants to take precautionary measures and forgo the traditional processions that will line the streets on Tuesday in commemoration of the death anniversary of Imam Ali, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It follows deadly mosque bombings in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which the Islamic State (IS) has taken responsibility for.

“As a result of the exceptional circumstances this year, we urge those going out to commemorate the death of Imam Ali to limit the processions to the inside of ma’atams,” read a statement yesterday.

“These measures will be for this year only, taking into consideration the procedures and instructions that have been announced for mosques and other places of worship.

“We want to ensure that citizens exercise their right to follow their rituals under the maximum level of security and peace of mind.

“Bahrain has religious freedom where people can practise their religion, which Bahrainis have long been used to exercising to celebrate religious occasions surrounding the Prophet Mohammed and his family under security, safety, freedom and tolerance.

“The Jaffari Waqf has tried its utmost to ensure that citizens can continue to practise their religion as close to normal as possible.

“However, recent events in neighbouring countries make it imperative for everyone to take precautionary measures and on an exceptional basis to protect participants,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Jaffari Waqf acting director-general Abdullah Al Shaikh met leaders of 35 Shi’ite mosques yesterday.

“We met 35 leaders of the most important mosques which conduct Friday prayers and communal prayers on Fridays,” he told the GDN.

“We informed them of the security measures put in place by the Interior Ministry and asked them to co-operate so that everything can move according to plan and things can be under control.

“We will also meet muezzins from other places, but we chose these ones because they were the most important for this Friday,” Al Shaikh pointed out.

He said while there was an interest in volunteers being trained for security, it would not be in place for at least a fortnight.

“Volunteers will need at least two weeks to be trained,” he asserted.

“So for this Friday you can’t do anything in time with volunteers, but the Interior Ministry will be prepared.”

Reports have emerged that Bahraini cleric Shaikh Turki Al Binali, a senior figure in IS, has used social media to warn that Bahrain would be targeted this weekend, following a deadly mosque bombing in Kuwait.

Saudi suicide bomber Fahad Suleiman Abdulmohsen Al Gabbaa has been identified as the man responsible for the June 26 attack, which killed 27 people and injured 227.

A suicide bomber disguised as a woman blew himself up outside Al Anoud Mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, killing himself and three others on May 29, while a suicide bombing at a Shi’ite mosque in Qatif city killed 21 people on May 22. - TradeArabia News Service