HE the Interior Minister holds a meeting with Community Centres (Mattams) officials

On this occasion, HE the Interior Minister conveyed to the attendees the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the symbol of our national identity, patron of our prosperous development, and the greetings of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and his keenness to enhance community interactions as a solid foundation of government work.

The Interior Minister expressed thanks to the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Chairman of the Islamic Endowments Council, for the council’s cooperation and coordination. He noted that this year’s Ashoora season comes amid exceptional circumstances marked by security tension due to the Iranian attacks against the Kingdom of Bahrain and the brotherly Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

During the annual meeting with heads and officials of Community Centres (Maatams) in the governorates, HE the Interior Minister addressed two main issues: Ashoora season and the latest developments in the arrest of agents of Wilayat al-Faqih linked to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This follows the arrest of 41 individuals working to spread the ideology of Wilayat al-Faqih, including key agents in Bahrain, and the arrest of 15 individuals connected to the main agents, representing field operatives who were working to carry out inciting instructions by attempting to influence citizens, especially youth, to push them into involvement in acts criminalised by law. They employed methods of social infiltration by planting cells to advance the agendas of illegal entities.

The Interior Minister referred to the latest Public Prosecution statement, which stated that the defendants had committed numerous crimes affecting the country’s security and community safety, as well as financial crimes. They collected funds without a licence, some of which were transferred to Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon to support and finance terrorist organisations there. It was also established that some defendants benefited personally from the funds they collected.

The Interior Minister explained that Wilayat al-Faqih is a political project wrapped in a religious cover, adding that political allegiance among followers of Wilayat al-Faqih is no longer linked to the country in which they live, but rather to the ruling jurist in Iran. He noted that the arrested group of agents had been secretly working to change the reality of Shiite Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) in Bahrain, achieve Iranian expansion in the name of religion, and create a wide base in Bahrain’s cities and villages loyal to Iran and its leadership represented by the Wali al-Faqih. This was done by focusing on youth, controlling Community Centres (Maatams), sermons, lessons, and financial assistance, and instilling obedience to the Wali al-Faqih.

The Interior Minister said that Wilayat al-Faqih had created among some people what could be described as “parallel nationalism”. He affirmed that dual loyalty is unacceptable, stressing that Bahrain is a sovereign country and that its ruler and leader is HM the King.

He added that the matter is clear and that greater awareness is required to prevent any influence on the thinking and loyalty of youth and to thwart this plot, which seeks to change Bahrain’s identity.   

In the same context, HE the Interior Minister noted that Ashoora this year comes amid tense security conditions and blatant Iranian attacks. He highlighted the responsible role of the heads and officials of the Community Centre (Maatams), and those in charge of them, in maintaining mourning rituals over the years, strengthening public safety, preserving the occasion's religious and civilised nature, and ensuring that social peace and stability remain a priority. He said this reflects community awareness and national responsibility, and called on everyone to comply with laws and regulations to enhance participants' security and safety.

The Interior Minister affirmed that no room would be left for anyone seeking to politicise the occasion, violate public order and the law, raise flags or chant slogans linked to regional agendas and organisations that contradict the nation’s principles and identity. He noted that the state protects and supports the practice of legally guaranteed religious rituals, while taking necessary action against anyone who violates the law and exploits religious occasions to serve political objectives.

He stressed that mourning for the Wali al-Faqih is prohibited and punishable, addressing the attendees by saying that their mourning and that of their fathers represent the Hussainiya rituals observed in Bahrain, which are historically older than theories, interpretations, and the approach of Wilayat al-Faqih.

At the end of the meeting, heads and officials of the Community Centres (Maatams) praised the support extended to the Ashoora season by HM the King and the backing of the government, led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. They valued the role of the relevant official authorities in providing all necessary services to ensure the success of the Ashoora season, while preserving social cohesion and stability and maintaining the spirit of cooperation and brotherhood among members of society.