Shafaqna Pakistan- The Shia community in the Emirates is prohibited from holding simple religious gatherings in their homes during Muharram.
As the month of Muharram begins, reports from the UAE indicate a significant and unprecedented increase in surveillance and restrictions on Shia mourning rituals in the country.
These measures range from monitoring religious gatherings to shutting down some religious centers. This tightening of regulations has raised concerns and drawn reactions from religious activists and human rights organizations.
Imposition of strict regulations in Dubai and Sharjah
In the UAE, local and unofficial sources report the closure of the Al-Rasool Al-A’zam Mosque and the Yusuf Al-Mahfouz Hussainiya in Abu Dhabi, along with the imposition of strict regulations in Dubai and Sharjah. According to these directives, permits for non-local speakers and eulogists have been severely restricted or halted altogether, program durations have been reduced to about 30–40 minutes, and any sound transmission outside mosque and Hussainiya buildings has been banned.
Furthermore, the installation of flags, black coverings, and public Ashura displays is permitted only within the interior of religious premises. Reports have also emerged regarding restrictions on private home gatherings and live online broadcasts of ceremonies.
Sources: IUVM Press , Shafaqna English
