Bahrain :-
The Baháʼí Faith is present in Bahrain, with the first Local Spiritual Assembly elected in Manama around 1963.
National gathering
In 2021, the Baháʼís of Bahrain hosted a gathering to commemorate the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing. The event was attended by government officials, religious leaders, academics, and journalists.
Video on national TV
The Baháʼís of Bahrain produced a video featuring young people from different backgrounds singing about inclusivity, oneness, and service to others. The video aired on national TV programs during the country’s National Day celebrations.
Around 1963 the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahrain was elected in the capital of Manama.
In a radio program broadcast nation-wide, Jalal Khalil, a member of the Office of External Affairs, spoke about a devotional gathering that has been held monthly by the Bahá’ís of Bahrain, bringing together social actors at the national level.
During an interview in a widely viewed national TV program, Mr. Khalil emphasized the principle of unity in diversity by drawing on the metaphor of the human body to highlight the interdependence of humanity.
“Each organ and cell in the human body,” he said, “has its specific function and composition. What makes the human body perfect is the unity and cooperation that exists between these organs and cells. In the same way… humanity can work together. And this diversity must be a source of beauty and richness.”
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Kingdom of Bahrain is officially registered with the state, recognizing it as the governing body for the Bahá’í community in the country.
Dr. Badi’ Jabri, Vice President of the Baha’i Association in Bahrain, said that the Baha’i Assembly, which was recently licensed, is a civil institution that represents the Baha’is in the Kingdom of Bahrain and manages their social and religious affairs.
They say that Baha’i Assembly do not hold any religious status or position and do not receive any fees for their membership. The Bahai Assembly will care for the educational and moral aspects of children and youth and instill the values of patriotism and coexistence with everyone.
They say that all major religions have the same divine and spiritual source, and that the teachings of all prophets are one in essence and come from the same Creator.
Baha’is believe in the previous divine books and believe in the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad and the prophets before him.Authorities detained a number of clerics over the content of their sermons during the commemoration of Ashura in September; all were subsequently released without charge.
In March the criminal court sentenced 167 individuals to prison terms ranging from six months to 10 years for their participation in the 2016 Diraz sit-in held by supporters of Isa Qassim, identified by media as the country’s leading Shia cleric. On July 30, authorities placed Shia cleric Sheikh Isaal al-Qaffas in solitary confinement in Jaw Prison for protesting the execution of two Shia.
The prison permitted inmates to conduct observances in small groups in their cells from 8:00 to 9:00 each night. Some representatives of the Shia community continued to state that the higher unemployment rate and lower socioeconomic status of Shia were a result of discriminatory hiring practices.
According to 2018 U.S. estimates, Muslims make up 73.7 percent of the total population, Christians 9.3 percent, Jews 0.1 percent, and others 16.9 percent (Hindus, Baha’is, Sikhs, and Buddhists).
Most estimates from NGOs state Shia Muslims represent a majority (55 to 60 percent) of the citizen population.
Muslim religious groups must register with the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Endowments (MOJIA) to operate.
The MOJIA oversees the activities of both the Sunni Waqf and the Jaafari Waqf, which are appointed by the king with recommendations from the president of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs.
The government-run and -funded Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) oversees general religious activities taking place within the country as well as the publication of Islamic studies school curricula and official religious texts. The council is comprised of a chairman, a deputy chairman, and 16 religious scholars, eight Sunni and eight Shia, most of them prominent preachers or sharia judges.
The king has sole legal authority to allocate public land, including for religious purposes, although he may delegate this authority to government officials, including the prime minister.
According to the government, the SCIA provides financial assistance to the six registered hawzas (Shia seminaries); other hawzas choose to be privately funded. The government does not permit foreign donors to contribute to privately funded hawzas.
Non-Muslims may marry in civil or religious ceremonies; however, all marriages must be registered with a civil court. The constitution says the state shall strive to strengthen ties with Islamic countries. It specifies the succession to the position of king is hereditary, passing from eldest son to eldest son. The royal family is Sunni.
Organizations wishing to collect money must first obtain authorization from the MOJIA.The press reported on July 27 that the government executed two men, Ahmad al-Mullali and Ali Hakim al-Arab, both Shia citizens, for crimes related to the 2017 shooting of a police officer .
In 2016 authorities arrested, convicted, and sentenced al-Qaffas to 10 years imprisonment for involvement with what the government referred to as the “Bahrain Hizballah terrorist organization.” In December the public prosecutor charged al-Qaffas with insulting the king and inciting hatred against the government.
On July 9, the High Criminal Court sentenced Shia cleric Mulla Mohammed al-Madhi to one year in prison for “insulting the companions of prophet Muhammed” in a sermon he delivered during Ramadan.On August 30, a criminal court sentenced nine individuals (including two brothers) to five years in prison for belonging to an Iraqi Hizballah group.
On August 30, Jaw Prison authorities banned inmates from gathering in large groups to commemorate Ashura in the corridors, according to NGOs. The government reported 596 licensed Sunni mosques and 91 Sunni community centers; authorities increased the number of licensed Shia places of worship to 754 mosques, while the number of ma’atams (Shia prayer houses, sometimes called husseiniyas in other countries) remained the same at 618.
In April the Al-Wifaq opposition society reported 11 Shia mosques out of 30 mosques destroyed or damaged in 2011 had not been repaired or reconstructed. Others were transformed into public parks or completely removed.
The government stated that foreign residents applying for citizenship were not required to report their religious affiliation. Shia politicians and community activists, however, continued to say the government’s naturalization and citizenship process favored Sunni over Shia applicants. They said the government continued to recruit Sunnis from other countries to join the security forces, granted them expedited naturalization, and provided them with public housing while excluding Shia citizens from those forces.
According to Shia leaders and community activists, the government continued to provide Sunni citizens preference for government positions, including as teachers, and especially in the managerial ranks of the civil service and military. Human rights activists reported continued discrimination against Shia in education.
Several Hindu and Sikh temples operated throughout the country. The Shri Krishna Hindu Temple was reportedly more than 200 years old and was occasionally visited by high-level government officials.U.S. government officials, including the Secretary of State, the Ambassador, and other embassy representatives, met with senior government officials, including the foreign minister and minister of justice and Islamic affairs, to urge respect for freedom of religion and expression.
The Ambassador and embassy staff members visited various houses of worship and attended religious events during the year, including the observation of Ashura, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Christmas, and Diwali. At these events, they discussed issues related to religious tolerance with participants and emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to religious freedom.