Open Sasa’s shrine: National Accord launches campaign to reopen religious shrine closed by Bahraini authorities

The hashtag #Open_Maqam_Saasa topped the trending list in Bahrain, with social media pioneers calling on Bahraini authorities to reopen the shrine.

Others believed that the shrine should be one of Bahrain’s tourist attractions.

Zainab said: “The oldest religious building in Bahrain is hundreds of years old, about 1380 years old. It should be a symbol of religious tourism in a very beautiful way. Open the shrine of Sa’za. It is not for history, then it is a matter of God’s recommendation for mosques, because they are the most beloved to God. places (may God be exalted in the houses of the ears and may his name be mentioned therein).

The tweeters accused Bahraini authorities of “giving Shiite Muslims the ability to build and renovate holy shrines and places of worship for all Muslims, while promising to respect religious freedom and build churches and places of worship for non-Muslims.” As they say.

For his part, Sheikh Maher Hammoud, head of the International Union of Protest Scholars, called on the authorities in Manama to reopen the Sasa Mosque because its closure “deepens the illusion and falsifies the will of the people of Bahrain.”

In 2012, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs described it in a statement as a “sinful attack on the shrine of Sheikh Sassa Bin Sohan”.

At the time, the council affirmed that “these actions are categorically rejected and cannot be tolerated”, pointing out that “Islam rejects all forms of vandalism, aggression and violation of the sanctity of Muslims”.

The council called for “religious scholars, imams and preachers to play their role, which the Islamic religion has assumed upon them, by condemning these acts and educating people about their seriousness and sanctity,” calling on the Muslim population of Bahrain to “be vigilant.” Danger of violating sanctities.”

At the time, the council announced that under the direction of its chairman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa, it would repair the damage caused by the heinous attack on the shrine of Sheikh Sassa bin Sohan at the council’s expense. , and it has been informed that the maintenance file has been sent to the head office to monitor the matter and complete the work as soon as possible.

However, according to social networking pioneers, the process of repairing the damage has not happened.

For its part, the Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights said on its Twitter account: “Until 2014, the Sasa Shrine was subject to 6 attacks, including vandalism, tomb breaking and offensive words written on the walls. An ancient wall inside the shrine even had offensive phrases written on it.” It is carved into a rock with some hadiths and readings.

The organization said: Eight years after the promises were made, the Bahraini authorities have not maintained the temple, abandoned it, closed it and prevented citizens from visiting. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Donations needs immediate action and pressure to protect the said shrine and reopen its doors to the citizens.

The organization called on the Bahrain Commission for Culture and Antiquities to “act in accordance with the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and World Cultural Heritage as one of the shrines of Sasa bin Sohan”. The most important religious historical monuments in the kingdom because of its symbols and tradition.”

The mausoleum and mosque of Sasa bin Sohan is located in Asghar village, south of Manama city.

The Mosque and Shrine of Sasa Bin Sohan Al-Abdi is one of the oldest Islamic monuments in Bahrain, as the shrine is a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world.