Manama scheduled the vote for November 24 shortly after banning all members of the opposition from holding parliamentary seats.

Friday’s protests were reported in a number of predominantly Shiite towns and villages, including Al Daih, Sehla, Abu Saiba and Shakhura.

Holding up posters of Bahrain’s highest religious authority, Sheikh Isa Qassim, protesters also condemned Manama’s recent clampdown on annual Ashura commemorations.

Dozens of Bahrainis, including Shiite religious figures, were summoned or detained during this year’s Ashura season, which involves a 10-day mourning period over the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS).