Following the bomb attacks targeting Shi’ite mosques in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain officials have told women to stop attending mosques in the country.
Gulf Daily News reports that the Jaffari Waqf (Endowment) Directorate chairman, Sheikh Mohsen Al Asfoor, told mosques across the country of the new precautionary measure that will be enforced.
On Friday, a suicide bomber disguised as a women blew himself up outside Al Anoud Mosque in Dammam, killing himself and three others. Two of those killed were civilian guards, Mohammed Hassan Ali bin Isa and Saeed Abdel Jaleel Jumaa al-Arbash, who stopped the man from entering the mosque.
It was the second attack on mosques in the Kingdom inside a week after 21 people were killed at a Shi’ite mosque in Qatif city on May 22. Both attacks were claimed by terrorist group, ISIL.
“We urge women not to pray in mosques because of the recent developments especially after the mosque attacks in Saudi Arabia,” urged Shaikh Al Asfoor.
“Such security measures are taken for the safety of everyone because it is difficult to place checks on women who come to pray in mosques.”
Al Asfoor also contacted ma’atam (restaurant) owners to report any suspicious activities or behaviour to police during religious festivities taking place this week to mark mid-Shaaban month.
Sunni Islamic scholar Sheikh Salah Al Jowder also urged Sunni women not to attend mass prayers at mosques as a precaution.
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