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Ezidi Leader Thanks Shia Muslims for their Support

anwarAnawr Muawiyah, the leader of Ezidi community in Germany thanked Shia Muslims for their support. In his interview with Alarabiya TV stated Sunni and ISIS killed our men, kidnapped our children and sold our women but Shia businessmen bought 40 of the women and returned them to their families. He continued Shia are only group that stood with Eizidis in Iraq.

In its briefing on Capitol Hill, SRW, hosted Dakhil Shammo Elias founder of American Ezidi Center in US and create opportunity for this community to share their pain and issues in Iraq with audience. All minorities who have been targeted by ISIS must unite and support each other in their fight against this terrorist group says Mustafa Akhwand, director of SRW.

Bloody Eid in Pakistan

Shia of Pakistan had bloody Eid al-Adha as 11 Shia Muslims killed and 47 wounded in different explosions. Explosions took place in busy markets places in Hazara Town as people were shopping for Eid celebrations.

Number of vihicles and shops were damaged as the result. Shia targeted killings have long history in Pakistan where the government fails to protect this population

Two explosions in Pakistan’s Balochistan kill 10 Shias

At least 10 Pakistani Shia Muslims have been killed and dozens injured in two explosions in the Balochistan, police reports.

The first explosion took place in the Hazara Town area, close to a girl’s high school in the city of Quetta, leaving five Shias dead.

According to police officials, at least 17 people have been also wounded.

The second bombing took place in the northwestern region of Kohat, leaving at least five people dead.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

Besides these attacks, on Thursday October 2nd, seven people-mostly Shias- were killed, and at least 11 were wounded when an explosive device hit a passenger bus outside the city of Peshawar.

15 Shia Soldiers Killed and 15 Wounded

Gunmen killed 10 Iraqi Shia soldiers in two separate attacks on Saturday in Diyala province northeast of the capital Baghdad, a military source said.

In the first attack, five soldiers were killed and 15 wounded when gunmen assaulted a military checkpoint north of the provincial capital of Baquba, the source said. Elsewhere north of Baquba, five members of a Shia militia allied to the army were killed when gunmen attacked one of their positions.

Suicide Car bomb Attack Kills 17 in Iraq

A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden armored vehicle into houses used by Shia militiamen north of the Iraqi city of Samarra, killing at least 17 people, police and medical sources said Tuesday.

The police officer said the militiamen were monitoring the river to prevent Islamic State fighters coming from the east from crossing over to the west bank.

Samarra is a mainly Sunni city that is home to one of the holiest Shia Muslim sites in Iraq which is guarded by large contingents of Shia militiamen.

Suicide Attack in SW Pakistan, killing 3 and wounding 17

A suicide attacker has blown himself up in a Shia neighborhood in southwestern Pakistan, in the Hazara Town neighborhood in the city of Quetta, killing at least 3 people and wounding 17 on October 4th.

The police chief says the bomber detonated his explosives when he was stopped by a police at a checkpoint.

The neighborhood is dominated by Shiites and has experienced bombings and suicide attacks in the past by anti-Shia groups. .

Shia are not Majority in Bahrain, Claims Bahrain’s Ministry of Information

samera_rajab_60_0interview with DW news agency, Sameera Rajab, representative of Bahrain’s ministry of information, claimed Shia are not majority of population in Bahrain. She furthermore explained that there is no evidence that most of the Bahrainis are Shia and media outlets manipulated the truth.

In June 2014 she had expressed her support for ISIS and stated that name ISIS is used in media as a cover up for Iraqis’ will of freedom and democracy. In 2013 she criticized US Department of State’s human rights report in Bahrain and said “The report includes texts which are totally far from the truth, adopting a manner that fuels terror and terrorists targeting Bahrain’s national security”.

Sameera’s claim is against all researches that sate Bahrain is a Shia majority country led by Sunni minority. Bahraini government has revoked citizenship of number of Shia human rights activists since Arab Spring. Also it eased the citizenship process for non-Shia foreigners in order to change the population demograpgy.

Bahraini government openly rejects history and population of Shia in this country in order to justify its human rights violations toward this population, says SRW.

Shia School Children Targeted in Syria

A bomb exploded while children dismissed from a Shia school in Shia neighbourhood of Aktameh, Homs. 

Immediately after the first explosion, when people gathered to rescue the children, a suicide bomber detonated killing 18 and wounding 56 people.

SRW strongly condemns killing children in Syria. Minors in Syria have been mostly affected as many lost their care givers, residence and access to education and nutrition.

Attention to Shia Hajj Pilgrims

American Shia Citizens are urged to call or email The United State Embassy in case of any discrimination by Saudi authorities during Hajj.

American Muslims enjoy more protection during this Haj year thanks to many Muslim NGO s that joined Muslim Advocates in their collective efforts to put pressure on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the State Department to help keep American Muslims safe during Haj. In response State Department agreed to Counsellor’s General on call staff in Saudi Arabia and met with Saudi officials to discuss the issue with them.

Consulate General in Jeddah

Phone: 012-667-0080

Email: JeddahACS@state.gov

Embassy in Riyadh

011-488-3800

Note: If you are using your US number or you relative calling on your behalf from US you need to dial country code 966 before calling.

Example: +966 12 667 0080

Shia News Wire_#8

October 02, 2014

Briefing “Understanding the ISIS Threat” by SRW and MPAC

 Shia Rights Watch and Muslim Public Affairs Council successfully had their briefing on ISIS and its threat on the Capitol Hill on Monday the 29th.

The briefing focused on U.S policy to degrade and defeat ISIS including the recent airstrikes in Syria. Also the panelist addressed the issue of Americans and Europeans traveling aboard to join ISIS. The second panel focused on the testimonials from three different targeted populations in Iraq. Representatives from Shia Muslims, Iraqi Ezidis and Christians had an opportunity to share their experience and pain with audience.

Number of congressman’s staffers, university professors, human rights activist and religious leaders were among audience.

For both Christina and Ezidi leaders it was the first time that two Muslim NGOs have invited them to express their pain along with others. SRW believes all minorities and impacted communities must come together in order to defeat extremists. This organization is thank full to MPAC for their co-sponsorship and hopes to see more NGOs join the coalitions against terrorists.

Nabeel Rajab Arrested Again

Nabeel Rajab, a prominent human rights activist, was arrested upon his return from advocacy human rights tour to Europe yesterday. Sources believe he was arrested because he has tweeted that number of Bahrainis who had joined ISIS come from state security institutions.

Nabeel has served three years in Bahraini prison for his advocacy activities and was released recently.

Bahraini government has always oppressed Shia Muslims and its recent arrests of peaceful advocates such as Nebeel Rajab and Mariam Al Khawaja emphasizes that this kingdom does not intend to commit to its promises regarding reforms. toward freedom and democracy.

Violence Peaks as the Day of Arafa Approaches

Violence peaks in Iraq as the day of Arafa (عرفة) gets closer. Three cars exploded in Shia area of Baghdad. The explosions killed 13 and wounded 39 according to local hospital.

Arafa is a day when Shia Muslims travel to Karbala, Iraq to visit shrines. Thousands of Shia are expected to visit Karbla on Saturday. Although ISIS and other anti-Shia groups have tried to target the shrine sin Iraq, the Iraqi civilians have protected their religious sites.

SRW urges Iraqi forces to protect pilgrims who travel to this country on especial occasions. So far many Shia pilgrims have been killed while visiting this country.

 Muslim Americans have More Protection this Haj Year

American Muslims enjoy more protection during this Haj year thanks to many Muslim NGO s that joined Muslim Advocates in their collective efforts to put pressure on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the State Department to help keep American Muslims safe during Haj.

Saudi authorities have failed to protect safety of American Muslims, especially Shia groups who attend Haj.

During 2013 Haj season a Shia Muslim group from Dearborn. The pilgrims where assaulted threatened. Saudi authorities did not take any action to protect this groups, instead forced witnesses to delete their phone recordings of the attack.

Shia pilgrims have been under pressure from Saudi kingdom and other anti-Shia groups. Number of them have complained being attacked, searched, insulted and degraded by Saudi guards when praying or visiting historical sites.

SRW, which is one of the signatory, of the Muslim Advocates letter to Kerry hopes this year Shia Muslims enjoy more freedom and protection.

State Department agreed to Counsellor’s General on call staff in Saudi Arabia and met with Saudi officials to discuss the issue with them.

Shia School Children Targeted in Syria

A bomb exploded while children dismissed from a Shia school in Shia neighbourhood of Aktameh, Homs.

Immediately after the first explosion, when people gathered to rescue the children, a suicide bomber went off killing 18 and wounding 56 people.

SRW strongly condemns killing children in Syria. Minors in Syria have been mostly affected as many lost their care givers, residence and access to education and nutrition.

Saudi Bans Quran Copies accompanied by the Pilgrims According to Dar al-Akhbar

Saudi government banns Muslims to take their personal Quran into the Mosque. Previously this government prohibited Shia and other sects of Salam to have their prayer books and Turbah ( prayer stone) during Hajj.

Turbah is a small piece of soil or clay, often a clay tablet, used by Shia Muslims during prayer to symbolize earth.

Every year Shia pilgrims complain that their prayer stone and prayer books have been demolished by Saudi authorities at the airport upon entering this country. According to Dar al-Akhbar news website this year Saudi bans Quran copies accompanied by the Pilgrims. SRW believes Saudi kingdom is violating every pilgrim’s rights and freedom of religion. Hajj is one of the most universal gathering of Muslims and each sects must be allowed to practice Hajj accourding to their believes.

 

UN Complaint