The Covid Experience: Dispatches from Asia

Submissions by Country/Territory

Bahrain

Abdul Hameed

Every year, thousands of Shia Muslims from around Bahrain attend commemoration ceremonies in Manama marking the birth of their faith. The pilgrimage in 2020 was expected to be one of the largest religious gatherings following the outbreak of the virus. In the first 10 days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic New Year, Shias mark Ashura, a time of spiritual and historical mourning, commemorating the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein at the battle of Karbala in 680. Meanwhile in Bahrain, Shia worshippers had called for all ceremonies to be broadcast live and for the faithful to pray at home or to wear masks and keep in distance if praying in public (mattam) restricted by Government.

Abdul Hameed

Manama
BAHRAIN