Twelvers are predominantly represented by the Baharna community living in the Eastern Province, with the largest concentrations in Qatif, and half the population in al-Hasa.
[5][6] Massacres have taken place by government forces using tanks and airplanes to obliterate the uprising of Shī‘a groups in the country.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the treatment of its Shia population has been a subject of scrutiny, with claims of a perceived status as second-class citizens.
Furthermore, the Saudi government has been accused of engaging in a propaganda campaign against Shia Muslims, employing derogatory terms such as "idolaters" and "mushriks.
"[10] Notably, the Saudi government has implemented a ban on marriage between Shias and Sunnis, fostering additional tensions between the two communities.
These multifaceted issues reflect the complexities surrounding the status and treatment of Shia Muslims within the Kingdom, warranting attention and analysis.
[14] In December 2005, workers maintaining water pipes 500 meters from the Imam Hussein Shrine unearthed a mass grave containing dozens of bodies, apparently those of Shiites killed after the uprising.
In addition, Shia Islam is also practiced among the country's large Iranian community and other Muslim expatriate groups.
Regrettably, during this period, there were instances of misrepresentation and misinformation propagated by the monarchy, falsely implicating Shias in collaborating with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Bahraini authorities have been reported to engage in the harassment and physical attacks targeting Shia clerics, thereby curtailing their religious and social influence.
Furthermore, the government has been alleged to engage in the removal of black flags that Shias traditionally raise in proximity to their mosques and residential areas, which hold symbolic significance within the community's religious practices.