Bahraini forces have destroyed a number of mosques in continuation of its aggressive crackdown on pro-democracy protesters

Bahraini forces have destroyed a number of mosques in continuation of its aggressive crackdown on pro-democracy protesters ahead of another day of nationwide anti-government demonstrations.

At least 28 mosques and religious institutions have been destroyed in the Gulf state since the crackdown on protests began in Mid-March, opposition group, Al Wefaq, told Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford.

The Justice Ministry, however, said it was tearing down the mosques because they were not licensed.

Bahraini forces also reportedly vandalized the mosque in Diraz late on May 12.

The Manama regime forces have so far raided dozens of mosques, schools, sacred sites and even graves in persisting efforts to crush anti-government opposition.

Adel Al-Moawda, deputy Chairman of the Bahraini Parliament, denied the report that mosques were being destroyed. "The mosques that have been demolished, most of them are not mosques," Al-Moawda told Al Jazeera. "There were only expansions of mosques in some private territories. Very few numbers of mosques, which are illegally built, have been demolished."

Earlier, Al Jazeera revealed that medics who worked to assist wounded protesters have been targeted, with hundreds facing arrest and investigation by the regime. Bahraini police also carried out raids on girls' schools, detaining and beating them, during its crackdown, secret filming by Al Jazeera's Stratford revealed.

Meanwhile, a Bahraini revolutionary movement has called on all people in the Persian Gulf island nation to participate in the “Day of Sacred Defense” protest rallies following Friday prayers.

The demonstrations will mark a new phase in the ongoing revolution to oust the ruling al-Khalifa family, activists of Bahrain's 14th of February revolutionary movement said in a letter.