Statement No. (2) Issued by the Organizing Committee of the “Popular Day of Rage – November 8”
Responding to the Call of Leading Jurist Ayatollah Qassim: A Religious and National Basis for Upholding Rights and Unifying Efforts
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
The organizing committee of the “Popular Day of Rage” extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to the Bahraini towns that have announced their readiness to respond to the November 8 occasion. The committee commends their media and field activities, which express loyalty to religious scholars and detainees, as well as adherence to religious identity and national dignity.
The committee calls on all other cities and towns across Bahrain, and on all segments of society, to recognize the responsibilities of this stage and prepare for this occasion in a manner that reflects a unified stance in defending the faith, Islamic identity, and political rights; rejecting injustice and discrimination; and renewing demands for the legitimate national and political aspirations of our proud Bahraini people, foremost among them the right to self-determination.
November 8 is an important occasion to defend the sanctity and standing of religious scholars, honour the sacrifices of martyrs and acknowledge the suffering of detainees, and express rejection of anything that undermines human dignity and rights.
The organizing committee emphasizes that the trial of senior religious scholars, and the fundamental flaws that marred it in both form and substance, raise serious questions about the guarantees of justice and the independence of the judiciary. Indeed, the trial clearly reveals that the judiciary in Bahrain has become a pliant instrument in the hands of the Al Khalifa ruler. Accordingly, the committee declares its rejection of any unjust rulings that may be issued against them, warning of the dangers of politicizing judicial institutions and the repercussions that undermining the standing and rights of religious scholars could have for society as a whole.
The organizing committee of the Popular Day of Rage further emphasizes that, in its interpretation of the case, the trial of religious scholars on the grounds of their belief in *Wilayat al-Faqih* (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) does not affect only the individuals concerned. Rather, it raises a broader issue concerning the right of members of the Shiite community to adhere to their religious school, express their religious identity, and practise their beliefs without persecution, discrimination, or any infringement of their rights. In its broader implications, this makes the case a trial of the beliefs of the entire Shiite community.
Accordingly, the various religious, national, and social forces and figures have a responsibility to adopt a clear position rejecting discrimination, demanding justice, and warning against policies that deepen divisions and undermine the prospects for redress and stability.
In light of this responsibility, the organizing committee regards responding to the call of leading jurist Ayatollah Qassim as a religious and national basis for upholding rights, unifying efforts, and raising voices against injustice and decisions that target the foundations of the Shiite community’s existence in Bahrain.
Therefore, the committee calls on the people to participate widely in the November 8 event, making it a united stance in support of religious scholars and detainees, in defence of the faith and identity, and in rejection of injustice and discrimination.
O proud people of Bahrain, November 8 is a date for loyalty and steadfastness, an occasion to renew our pledge to religious scholars, detainees, and those forcibly displaced, and a voice against injustice and discrimination.
Let us make this day a forceful yet responsible expression of unity in our position and clarity in our demands. Let the word of truth prevail in defending the faith, dignity, and justice, and let the rights and national and political aspirations of our people remain present in our hearts and reflected in our positions.
The Organizing Committee of the “Popular Day of Rage”
October 20, 2026
