Destruction of Shia mosques during the 2011 Bahraini uprising

[2] The government of Bahrain made it clear that “they had engaged in dismantling structures which had been erected without legal authorisation.” However, the widespread demolitions were reprisals for Shia involvement in the protests against the ruling Sunni discrimination against their community.

[7] In May, senior Bahraini Shiite clerics, including Isa Qassim, condemned what they called "the shameless destruction of mosques.

"[3] The US State Department said it was "concerned by the destruction of religious sites" and in a policy speech about the Middle East on May 19, President Obama mentioned "Shia must never have their mosques destroyed in Bahrain.

"[10] New York based Human Rights Watch said the government's sudden interest in mosque licences when it was busy with security issues was suspicious.

[10] Human Rights First noted that the demolitions had triggered demonstrations in other parts of the Arab world and said they could exacerbate Sunni-Shia tensions throughout the region.