MANAMA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Bahrain has banned three Muslim 
clerics from preaching in mosques, accusing them of violating 
the "ethics and principles of religious discourse", in what 
opposition activists said was part of a crackdown on dissent. 
    State news agency BNA said the Ministry of Justice and 
Islamic Affairs and Interior Ministry of the Sunni Muslim-ruled 
kingdom had forbidden Sheikh Kamel al-Hashemi, Adel al-Hamad and 
Mohammed al-Mansi to preach in and around the capital Manama. 
    It said the three had ignored warning from authorities to 
stick to rules set for preachers. Bahrainis said at least two of 
them were Shi'ites. Majority Shi'ites led mass protests in the 
island state in 2011.   
    "Instead, they maintained their approach of violating the 
ethics and regulations of the religious discourse, using the 
same tone, method and language that does not befit the sanctity 
of the pulpit, thus prompting intervention to stop this 
violation," BNA quoted the ministry as saying, without giving 
details. 
    The main opposition Al-Wefaq group, in a statement posted on 
its website on Friday, condemned the decision.   
    "The regime is practising the ugliest form of restriction 
... on freedom of speech and ... freedom of thought and belief," 
it said. 
    It said such measures were "part of a systematic approach to 
avoid giving the Bahraini people their political rights to build 
a democratic system based on justice and equality". 
    The opposition says the government has stepped up a 
crackdown on opponents ahead of elections expected later this 
year, which it has threatened to boycott unless the government 
gives assurances that any vote reflects the will of the people. 
   
    Last month, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs  
petitioned courts to temporarily suspend the activities of three 
opposition groups for violating Bahraini laws or their own 
internal regulations.    
    In January, a court ordered the dissolution of the Islamic 
Scholars' Council, an association of senior Shi'ite Muslim 
clerics, declaring it illegal, saying it was not an officially 
registered body. 
    Many Shi'ites complain of political and economic 
discrimination, a charge the authorities deny. 
    Bahrain, a key Western ally and home to the U.S. Fifth 
Fleet, blames Shi'ite Iran for unrest and says it has made many 
reforms since 2011. 
    Last month, Bahrain ordered U.S. Assistant Secretary of 
State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski to 
leave the country after he met leaders of Al-Wefaq. 
    Earlier this month, Bahraini authorities charged Al-Wefaq 
leader Sheikh Ali Salman and his political assistant, Khalil 
al-Marzouq, with holding an illegal meeting with a U.S. 
diplomat.  
 
 (Reporting by Farishta Saeed; writing by Sami Aboudi; editing 
by Andrew Roche) 
 ((Sami.Aboudi@thomsonreuters.com)(+97143918301)) 
 
Keywords: BAHRAIN CLERICS/