Manama: Security has been stepped up in the Manama suq to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of people taking part in Ashoora processions and other activities over the next eight days.
New screening equipment is being deployed, while armed police and sniffer dogs trained to detect explosives will also be on patrol with crowds of around 100,000 people expected to converge in Manama on Sunday night.
The numbers could rise to up to 160,000 people on October 24 – the climax of the 10-day religious event.
Security concerns are heightened following Islamic State (IS) bombings at Shi’ite mosques in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait earlier this year.
Ashoora has particular significance in the Shi’ite Muslim calendar, with ma’atams (Shi’ite community halls) around the country taking part in processions at villages and in the capital.
The event mourns the death anniversary of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and is characterised by ritual processions through the streets of Manama and other villages.
It takes place throughout the first 10 days of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
“New screening equipment has been deployed by the Interior Ministry with inspections before and after processions,” Public Processions Commission head Nader Burdastani told the GDN.
“Police dogs will be also brought in to sniff for explosives, while armed policemen will be stationed outside the processions area as community police patrol inside.
“We don’t need security detectors at ma’atams, it causes panic unnecessarily and we have volunteers who can stop people entering until inspected by community police.
“No volunteer has the right to touch anyone or search them, this is something that the police handles.”
Mr Burdastani, who co-ordinates processions by members of Bahrain’s Persian community, urged members of the public to co-operate with police.
“We are telling people to not park inside the processions area and have put up cement barricades, but people still manage to come in and make things hard on the police – who then have to remove their vehicles,” he said.
“Each car will be treated as suspicious and will be towed away, we don’t have time for such unacceptable behaviour.
“Whether it is the IS or other terrorist groups, we have to ensure that any threat to people – expected to reach between 100,000 and 150,000 – to be eliminated throughout Ashoora, but people have to help us.”
However, he stressed that expatriates were always welcome to observe Ashoora activities.
“Everyone is free to come,” said Mr Burdastani.
“Expatriates are welcome, as they have always been, and there are lectures in English and tours by volunteers for those interested.
“No harm will ever happen and there are several expatriates who come every year and leave untouched, people are friendly and things are normal.”
Meanwhile, Mr Burdastani said ambulances and fire engines would be
stationed at strategic locations in the event of an emergency, in addition to a 24-hour clinic being opened.
“The place will be cordoned off during processions, but emergencies will be easily dealt with,” he said.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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