MANAMA, Bahrain (Dispatches) -- A prominent Bahraini Shia cleric has publicly condemned the Al Khalifa regime’s escalating crackdown on Shia scholars and religious institutions, describing the government’s policies as “a form of tyranny and aggression in governance.”
Hojatoleslam Sheikh Adel al-Shula, speaking on the regime’s takeover of Shia religious affairs and its harassment of Shia scholars, said the Al Khalifa regime’s domination over institutions that should remain independent—including Jaafari endowments, Hussainiyas, and all mosques—is unacceptable. 
He also condemned measures taken against religious discourse, the duty of preaching, Husseini pulpits, and charitable activities, stressing that all such actions are both un-Islamic and illegal.
The cleric stated that the measures are void because they contradict the principles of Shia jurisprudence and violate documented legal agreements and commitments made by “the regime’s leaders” to Shia religious authorities not to encroach on the independence of their rituals and beliefs. 
He said Bahrain is experiencing “a form of tyranny and aggression” through its policy of seizing control over Shia affairs and persecuting Shia scholars.
Sheikh al-Shula specifically condemned the trial of dozens of detained Shia scholars by the Al Khalifa regime, likening it to the trial of Sheikh Ali Salman on charges of conspiring with Qatar. 
He noted that the Al Khalifa regime has exploited U.S. and Zionist aggression against Iran to direct accusations against religious scholars and put them on trial for allegedly embracing the concept of “Velayat-e Faqih” (Guardianship of the Jurist) and for confiscating the people’s political rights—actions he described as an assault on Shia religious rights and an exploitation of the region’s security situation.
The trial of dozens of Shia scholars and clerics has drawn widespread criticism, with observers noting that the charges against the defendants lack sufficient support and could deepen the gap between the ruling authority and an important segment of Bahraini society. 
The court session held on August 19 lasted more than 13 hours, with judges and defendants present in separate halls and some witnesses appearing via video link with covered faces. 
Defense lawyers raised numerous questions about witness credibility, and Sheikh Hani al-Bina, in his defense, emphasized that the case cannot be seen merely as a trial of a few individuals, claiming it targets the Shia community and identity of Bahrain.
The crackdown has extended beyond the courtroom. Human rights organizations have documented more than 600 arrests or summonses since February 2026, with the campaign intensifying during the Ashura season. 
The death in custody of Sayed Muhammad al-Mosawi in March 2026, whose body reportedly bore marks of torture, remains an open wound for the Shia community.