Bahrain Preacher: “Celebrating National Day is a Sin”  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Google marked Bahrain's National Day with this Doodle. Photo credit: @JustJa3far
Bahraini blogger Manaf Al Muhandis tweets from a sermon before Friday prayers in Bahrain, in which the preacher declares that celebrating National Day is a sin.
He says:
في خطبة الجمعة لعادل الحمد، يقول لك أن العيد الوطني حرام كحرمة الخمر. #البحرين
— Redbelt (@Redbelt) December 13, 2013
During the Friday prayers sermon, the clergyman Adel Al Hamad, said that celebrating national day is a sin (haram)- as serious as drinking alcohol.
He adds:
عادل الحمد يقول أن الوطنية وهم، وما يصير تجتمع الناس على حب وطن لأن الله لا يجمع قلوب المؤمنين بالكفار على شيء واحد. #البحرين#من_صجه
— Redbelt (@Redbelt) December 13, 2013
Adel Al Hamad says that nationalism is an illusion and that people cannot be united on the love of the nation because Allah (God) doesn't unite the beleivers and the infidels under one cause
During the sermon, Al Hamad also touches on Bahrain's relationship with Iran. Al Muhandis tweets:
عادل الحمد يقول في "حكم العلاقة مع إيران" أنها دولة تسب الصحابة. وأن أي شخص غير سني فاقد العقل ومجنون. #البحرين
— Redbelt (@Redbelt) December 13, 2013
Adel Al Hamad says regarding the rule on the relationship with Iran is that it is a country which curses Prophet Muhammed's companions. And that any person who doesn't follow the Sunni sect of Islam, is a person who is crazy
Al Muhandis adds:
ويقولون لي ليش تصلي في النصف. ستاند أب كوميدي شو ببلاش يا ناس والله.
— Redbelt (@Redbelt) December 13, 2013
Many ask me why I pray at Al Nusuf (mosque). It's a free stand-up comedy show
He shares this video on Instagram, where the preacher says that dancing and drumming to mark National Day is haram.
Bahrain marks its National Day on December 16.