Salafis attacked Shia communities as they commemorate the 7th day of mourning for Hassan Shehata in Kuwait. Hassan Shahata was a well-known Egyptian Shia cleric who was killed in a mob attack in his home last week. Shia Muslims usually hold memorials for their deceased on the 3rd, 7Th and 40th day following their death.
The Shia community in Kuwait held a memorial for Hassan Shahata in the private Islamic center of Hussainia Ashour when Salafis attacked them outside the center. A number of attendees were injured during the attack. The injured were transported to a local hospital for treatments.
The center is an important center in which Shia Muslims gather for religious and cultural programs. Some influential Shia clerics, scholars and Kuwaiti Emirs were attending the memorial. The police were called and they arrived at the location but did not take serious actions to stop the conflict. As witnesses reported, the police forces attempted to support the attackers and not the victims.
Many Salafis, like Wahhabis, are known for their hatred of Shia Muslims and Salafis have killed many Shia in different countries. Kuwait has a growing radical Salafi population. Shia Rights Watch is concerned about the Shia population of Kuwait. Kuwait is known for its free society and very few violations of Shia rights have been reported in this country. SRW asks the authorities of Kuwait to investigate the incident and take immediate action so that this will not lead to more Shia rights violation in this country.
