The Government announced that, as part of its commitment to fully implement the recommendations of the BICI Report, work has begun on rebuilding twelve places of worship that were demolished during the unrest of February and March 2011. Of the twelve, construction work has already commenced on five. The land has been fenced for the remaining seven and the construction work will commence very shortly.
The BICI found that five places of worship located on lands and having both a royal deed and a building permit were demolished during the unrest. Construction work on rebuilding these Shia places of worship has already commenced. These are Masjid Al Imam Ali, Masjid Om Al Baneen, Masjid w Maatam Al Imam Al Hadi, Masjid Al Imam Al Ali, and Masjid Fatima Al Zahraa.
The Jaffaria Waqf, an independent religious organization dedicated to charitable purposes, announced that the legal and technical status of seven of the demolished places of worship had been finalized, the land had been fenced, and construction work was to commence shortly.
The reconstruction of all twelve places of worship will be paid for by the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments.
Commenting on these directions, the Jaffaria Waqf Directorate expressed their deepest thanks and appreciation to His Majesty the King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa for the directions of the reconstructions of the mosques, and thanks to Ali Saleh Al-Saleh the Chairman of the Shura Council and the President of the National Commission, as well as his Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowment for their fruitful cooperation and expediting the procedures into finalizing this matter. This will contribute in creating a positive atmosphere for national reconciliation and enhance the spirit of affability among all Bahraini people.”
The timetable for reconstruction had been speeded up as both the National Commission charged with the Implementation of the BICI Report and the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs had expressed urgency to implementing the BICI recommendation concerning demolished places of worship.
Reconstruction of the remaining demolished places of worship would begin soon once the necessary legal questions were resolved, including the issuance of royal deed, building permit and status of land and structures. These include seven more places where technical procedures needed to be completed, nine places of worship which needed to have the status of their territory modified, and six places of worship on private property which needed the status of the land and structures clarified.