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Shia News Wire_#4

August 12, 2014

Another Success: Shafi Sultan Mohammed al-Ajmi Under US Sanctions

SRW is grateful to all Shia rights activists who helped this organization and others in pressuring governments and agencies to recognize Shafi Sultan Mohammed al-Ajmi, a Kuwaiti cleric, as a Shia rights violator who passports and funds terrorist groups. The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on him and two other key terrorist financiers under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 as of August 6th/2014. Treasury.gov stated “Al-Ajmi operates regular social media campaigns seeking donations for Syrian fighters and is one of the most active Kuwaiti fundraisers for ANF.  In July 2014, he publicly admitted that he collected money under the auspices of charity and delivered the funds in person to ANF.  Al-Ajmi also acknowledged purchasing and smuggling arms on behalf of ANF”. Al-Ajmi is responsible for slaughter of many Shia families in Syria by founding and encouraging Anti-Shiism. Defenddemocracy.org also reported” The latter al-Ajmi has implied that he supports slaughtering captured Shi’ite fighters, women, and children in Syria and had his preacher’s license suspended in August for radical invective on Syria and Egypt”.

SRW appreciates The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s action to pressure and punish human rights violation enablers. As this organization repeatedly reported al-Ajmi has encouraged hatred toward Shia Muslims in Middle East and such preachers must be recognized and stopped in order to see peace in that region.

Furthermore SRW hopes to see International Human Rights Court hold al-Ajmi and others responsible for their Shia killings.

Closure of Shia Satellite Channel Offices in Iran

SRW condemns the closure of the Shia satellite channel offices in Iran and arbitrary arrest of their employees.

As Iranian secret services has increased arrests, attacks, prosecutions, intimidations and government-backed raids against media professional and media organizations under the supervision of a popular Shia scholar, Ayatollah Sadiq Shirazi, status of Hamid Taqi-Poor is still unknown.

Masood Behnam and Hamid Taqi-Poor who had been arrested on August 3rd because of their Shia news coverage for a number of Shia media outlets.

Masood Behnam who was arrested from the hospital while he was receiving medical treatment for respiratory illness and diabetes, was released after 10 day of unknown status on August 12th. However Hamid Taqi-Poor who was arrested from a Shrine in Mashhad, Iran, is still in prison with no charges. His family is concerned about him since they are not allowed to see him or get any update from his situation and location.

SRW invites Iranian authorities to respect freedom of expression and religion and release Shia prisoners who are arrested because of their religious activities such as Taqi-Poor. Also, this NGO hopes Iranian authority reopens the closed offices as they are not involved in any political matter and their mission is solely religious teachings that are free of violence and discrimination.

According to International Bill of Human Article 9: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”; Article 10: “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him”; And Article 19: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

All mentioned articles are also supported under Islamic Law that Iran is running based on.

SRW Renewed its Calls for the United States to Add Pakistan to its List of “Countries of Particular Concern”

Shia Rights Watch has renewed its calls for the United States to add Pakistan to its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” after the murder of two Shia Muslims in a barbershop in Karachi on August 5, 2014. These two men were shot by gunmen on a motorcycle who are believed to be members of the Taliban-affiliated group Ahl-e-Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat (ASWJ).

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom wrote in their annual report “The previous and current Pakistani government failed to intervene effectively against a spike in violence targeting the Shia minority community”. This has been manifested in this latest attack and violates religious freedoms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Shia Rights Watch condemns the actions taken by these assailants, as well as the inaction of the Pakistani government. Shia Rights Watch calls on the Pakistani government to put a stop to the murder of Shia civilians.

Bahraini Shia Show Solidarity with Jailed Shia Scholar

On Sunday August 10, 2014, a large number of Bahraini Shia took to the streets on the island of

Sitra to show solidarity with Sheikh Nimr al Nimr who has been in Saudi Prison for two years. Sheikh Nimr was attacked and arrested while en route to his home in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qatif region on July 8, 2012. The Sheikh was charged with disturbing the country’s security, giving anti-government speeches, and defending political prisoners.

These charges have earned the sheik a death sentence which has sparked outrage among the international community.

Amnesty International censured Saudi Arabia repeatedly over a host of human rights violations, including the oppression of the Shia minority. Shia Rights Watch has been a vocal critic of the Saudi government, citing article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which prohibits the arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile, to condemn the arrest and sentencing of two Shia protestors earlier this year.

Update: The finer sentence that was supposed to be handed down on August 12, 2014 has been postponed.

Bahraini Shia Show Solidarity with Jailed Nimr al-Nimr

On Sunday August 10, 2014 a large number of Bahraini Shia took to the streets on the island of Sitra to show solidarity with Sheik Nimr al Nimr who has been in Saudi Prison for two years.

Sheik Nimr was attacked and arrested while en route to his home in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qatif region on July 8, 2012. The Sheik was subsequently charged with disturbing the country’s security, giving anti-government speeches, and defending political prisoners. These charges have earned the sheik a death sentence which has sparked outrage among the international community. He was scheduled to be sentences on August 12th but it was postponed by the Saudi authorities.

Who is Sheik Nimr al-Nimr?

Sheik Nimr Baqr al-Nimr is an independent Shia sheik in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province called Al-Awamiyah. Sheik Nimr is popular among the youth in the area, and is also an active critic of the Saudi government. He has been a sheik in the area from 2008 or before according to wiki-leaks cables obtained from the American embassy in Riyadh. Educated in Syria and Iran, Sheik Nimr’s popularity derives from his appeal to the impoverished Saudi Shia community and those who wish to see improved relations between the Saudi government and the Shia community. The sheik’s popularity prompted fears in the Saudi government that he would spark uprisings in the country as evident in his first arrest by Saudi authorities in 2009. It is likely for this reason that when protest broke out in the eastern province in 2011, the Saudi government wanted to arrest him again. The sheik’s bold stance during the 2011-2012 protests led to him being described by The Guardian as a leader of the protests. While the Saudi security response was violent, Sheik Nimr urged the protestors to resist police bullets with “the roar of the word”, advocating a strategy of non-violent resistance.

International Response

The actions of the Saudi government have sparked fierce condemnation from the international community. Amnesty International censured Saudi Arabia repeatedly over a host of human rights violations, including the oppression of the Shia minority. Shia Rights Watch has been a vocal critic of the Saudi government, citing article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which prohibits the arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile, to condemn the arrest and sentencing of two Shia protestors earlier this year.

In addition to the actions being taken on the ground, online campaigns have been launched as well to garner support for the release of Sheik Nimr:

  • There is currently a petition circulating to demand the release of the sheik here
  1. http://www.alnimr.tk/
  • There is also a facebook page devoted to raising support for the release of the sheik here
  1. https://ar-ar.facebook.com/pages/Free-Sheikh-Nimr-Baqir-Al-Nimr/125044634358004
  • Hashtags #FreeSheikNimr and #SaveAyatollahNemer are circulating around social media as well

The uprisings that occurred in 2011 resulted in the arrests of over 900 people, with 300 remaining in jail today. There are currently around 30,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabian prisons today.

“Did You Know” Campaign

At noon on Thursday July 31st, Haley Bibbee and Skye Thompson, two SRW interns, went out to Farragut Square of Washington, DC to carry out their “Did You Know” campaign. Through the campaign, they wanted to inform the public of what was going on in other parts of the world to the Shia minority and the universal human rights that were not being granted to them.

The campaign consisted mainly of two parts: a poster board including religion demographic breakdown for six countries (Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Lebanon) and a handful of over one hundred playing cards with Shia facts written on them. Out on the square, they informed numerous people of things that aren’t broadcasted on the news, such as the multiple prayer centers that have been shut down and the complete banning of the religion’s teachings in certain countries. Many who stopped by got really invested in the topic and inquired about subject they felt mattered but hadn’t known about. The interns talked about what Shia is and how their community is being treated, making comparisons to the listener’s own affiliations, anywhere between their own religion to their political stances and down to their race, so that they could sympathize with what these people were going through in other parts of the world. Out of all of the people that they talked to, the only people that had truly known of the facts written on the cards were those that were originally from those countries and the Middle East region.

When they returned from their time out on the square, they came back with the realization that Americans never trouble themselves with what is going on outside of the United Nations unless it has something to do with a fellow American. They said that this is the reason why we must go out and talk to people about these things, because if we don’t, they will never know.

Ashraf Hussain and Hameed Hussain Killed in Karachi

On August 5, 2014 yet another unpunished attack on the Pakistani Shia community occurred. According to the Ahlul Bayt News Agency Ashraf Hussain 50, and Hameed Hussain 35 were shot and killed outside of a barbershop in Karachi. The assailants who are believed to be members of the Taliban-affiliated group Ahl-e-Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat (ASWJ) arrived at the barbershop and opened fire, killing both of the men at the scene. This is the second such loss for the Hussain family who lost another relative to similar violence just a few days ago.

This violence is concerning for the international community, as it sets a dangerous precedent for the protection of religious minorities throughout the world. This United States has not placed Pakistan on its list of countries of particular concern in regards to religious freedom. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom wrote in their annual report “The previous and current Pakistani government failed to intervene effectively against a spike in violence targeting the Shia minority community, as well as violence against Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis”. What the USCIRF states here has been manifested in this latest attack and is a violation of the religious freedoms outlined in Articles 3, 18, and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Shia Rights Watch, a Washington, D.C. based advocacy organization for the protection of Shia Muslims throughout the world condemns the actions taken by these assailants, as well as the inaction of the Pakistani government. Shia Rights Watch calls on the Pakistani government to put a stop to the continuous murder of Shia civilians.

Shia News Wire_#3

August 1, 2014

Shia Islamic Center Closed in Iran

Beyt al-Abbas Center, a Shia Islamic center in Isfahan, Iran was forced to shut down by authorities in mid July. Authorities ceased operation of the center during the Ramadhan Iftar, claiming the center lacks licensure to operate. Members of the center state that they have applied for a license to operate multiple times during the past ten years and were denied each time. Activist and associates for the center criticized the local government to use the same excuse that Bahraini and Saudi governments are using to close down Shia religious centers.

SRW Interns to the Rescue

At noon on Thursday July 31st, Haley Bibbee and Skye Thompson, two SRW interns, went out to Farragut Square of Washington, DC to carry out their “Did You Know” campaign. Through the campaign, they wanted to inform the public of what was going on in other parts of the world to the Shia minority and the universal human rights that were not being granted to them.

The campaign consisted mainly of two parts: a poster board including religion demographic breakdown for six countries (Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Lebanon) and a handful of over one hundred playing cards with Shia facts written on them. Out on the square, they informed numerous people of things that aren’t broadcasted on the news, such as the multiple prayer centers that have been shut down and the complete banning of the religion’s teachings in certain countries. Many who stopped by got really invested in the topic and inquired about subject they felt mattered but hadn’t known about. The interns talked about what Shia is and how their community is being treated, making comparisons to the listener’s own affiliations, anywhere between their own religion to their political stances and down to their race, so that they could sympathize with what these people were going through in other parts of the world. Out of all of the people that they talked to, the only people that had truly known of the facts written on the cards were those that were originally from those countries and the Middle East region.

When they returned from their time out on the square, they came back with the realization that Americans never trouble themselves with what is going on outside of the United Nations unless it has something to do with a fellow American. They said that this is the reason why we must go out and talk to people about these things, because if we don’t, they will never know.

Anti-Shiism in Nigeria

On July 29th, the two mosques in the town of Potiskum in Nigeria’s Yobe State were targeted by bombers while people were praying. The first explosion in the Dogo Tebo area of Potiskum killed four Shia Muslims and the second explosion, that went off in the Anguwar Bolawa, area killing another two.

Boko Haram is a militant terrorist group that has carried out many attacks on Christians and Muslims in northeastern Nigeria. The group also kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in April.

 How ISIS is Changing History and How the World

Archealogical sites do not only symbolize the history of one nation, but the culture and antiquity of mankind. Associating historical sites to only one group of people deprives all others from thier shared heritage. Such associations enable oppresive governments such as Saudi Arabia to demolish the Al- Baqi Cemetary and terrorist groups such as ISIS to destroy a number of historical sites in Syria and Iraq.

Al-Baqi Cemetery , one of the most important cemeteries in Middle East, was demolished by king Ibn Saud in 1925 because of its association with Shia grave visitation beliefs. A number of important historical figures such as the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, companions and grandchildren are buried in this historical location. The cemetery marks important historical events from pre and post-Islam. UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre whose mission is to ”ensure the protection of…natural and cultural heritage” is yet condemned Ibn Saud’s action.

Now, ISIS, a terrorist group from the same Wahhabi ideology of king Ibn Saud, is demolishing tombs, mosques, worship centers, churches, cemeteries and museums. Yet again, the World Heritage Centre has failed to condemn their actions that deny humanity its right to preserve history and pass it on to future generations.

Syria and Iraq, both places with a rich past civilizations, are now lands of terror with minimal signs of their history and heritage. The silence and inaction of UNESCO and others is enabling and even pushing ISIS to continue its ludicrous agenda. Terrorist groups such as ISIS enjoy destroying history that conflicts with their own world views and the world’s collective silence and inaction allows them to continue their wanton destruction.

ISIS is Spreading Fear by Posting Violent Videos, but What does that Tell about ISIS?

A video, recently posted by a number of media outlets, shows how ISIS dehumanized and killed an unknown number of young men, transported by six trucks. The video was released around Eid, Islam’s most important holiday.

The men executed in the video are very young, in their twenties and thirties. The video shows them in different stages: huddled in trucks, laid face down on the ground while their hands are tied, dragged, slapped and shot one by one. In a different scene some are shot and tossed off a bloody slope into water.

The natural human reaction to such videos is fear and disgust. However, these videos reveals some important truths about ISIS itself. Violence and threats are the only tools that ISIS is using. They do not use or even try dialogue or persuasion. Wherever they go they only use threats followed by extreme violence. This violence and its dissemination is the result of fear. ISIS is still a small group that could be overpowered by saner factions in Iraq and Syria. ISIS must use fear to control because without it, they would not have the power to succeed in their ethnic cleansing. But instilling fear through barbarism will weaken them in the long run as fear turns to hatred.Shia’s most respected Imam, Imam Ali, says “violence is the spike of stupidity” and “whoever acts in violence will regret it”.

 

Shia News Wire_#2

July 25, 2014

Attack inside a Jail in Bahrain

In an attack inside a prison, the guards insulted Shia practices. Shia inmates who had arrested during a peaceful, pro-democracy protest were searched in Hawdh al-Jaff prison for their prayer stones and holy books, which were demolished by guards upon finding. They were also beaten and punished by withholding their suhoor during the month of Ramadan.
According to the activists, the health condition of the prisoners is poor and they are not receiving medical assistance to recover. Bahraini authorities have violated the rights of the Shia population, and this ill treatment has only escalated since the Arab Spring.

Baghdad suicide bombing kills at least 26

26 were killed and 33 were wounded in a car bomb at a Kadhimiyah entrance checkpoint. A car exploded overnight in the Shia populated area of Kadhimiyah, the site of shrine of Imam Kazim. The car explosion was said to be carried out by one named Abu Abdul-Rahman al Tunisi at a police checkpoint on early hours of Wednesday, July 23.

Four Shia Killed in Karachi, Pakistan

More Shia Muslims killed as Shia targeted killings continue in Pakistan. On Wednesday, July 23rd, four Shia were killed in Karachi. Mubarak Raza Kazmi, a Shia lawyer, was shot and killed. Also Huma Hussain, a Shia woman, was killed. The attackers also injured her husband Bilal Hussain. According to some sources, their young children were also injured. Ghulam Sakhi, a tailor and shop owner, was shot in the Manghopir area of Karachi and Syed Akhtar Abbas Kazmi Shah was reported dead in this city.

Attack on a Mosque in Iran

A mosque was attacked by unknown assailants in Bandar-e-mahshahr, Iran. According to witnesses, two unidentified motorcyclists with covered faces, approached a mosque in Taleghani Town, and threw an object (likely a Molotov cocktail) into the mosque, causing a fire. Although no one was hurt, the mosque was partially damaged. Bandar-e-mahshahr is in Khuzestan Province, in Southwestern Iran.

Wahhabis Defend Israel against Shia

While Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting in Gaza since the Israeli occupation began in 1967 and Gaza has been under military siege since 2006, lack of interest from Wahabbi funded neighboring governments left Palestinians without active diplomatic and political support resulting in the deaths of thousands Gazan’s and hundreds of Israelis so far. Arab States, much to the chagrin of the people they supposedly represent, have formed an unspoken alliance with Israel. This has allowed Israel to intentionally create a humanitarian crisis and keep the Gaza situation unresolved.

After decades of conflict, Wahhabi clerics are coming out and freely stating their hidden beliefs. A Wahhabi Egyptian cleric, Tala’at Zahran, calls on Egyptians not to support Palestinians against Israel. He claims “most Gazans are Shias and communists.” Zahran, who is also the representative of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), in response to the question “should we help the people of Gaza against Israeli military strikes or not?” said: They are Shia and using missiles against the innocent people of Israel, so Israel is forced to retaliate by bombing Gaza.

Although Zahran and others are factually incorrect about Palestinians being Shia and about who instigated the latest round of fighting in Gaza, he has made his point clear that Wahhabism prefers to defend Israel over Shia. Palestinians are Sunni Muslims, mostly Wahhabi favored, and there is some evidence that they were responsible for many Shia killings in Iraq. ShiaWave reported that Hamas is claimed to be sending fighters and weapons to ISIS in Iraq. Palestinians in general and Hamas in particular, are clearly not Shia and have no interest in Shiism.

Wahhabis imply that if Israel converted to Shiism, they would be defeated in no time, but for now, defending Israel is from Sunnis who they incomprehensively claim are Shias, is more beneficial than defeating it. This is just another example of how the spread of anti-Shiism by Wahhabis is claiming more lives.

Zakery: if ISIS established a government, would the world recognize it as lawful?

What would be world’s reaction to an Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) government? Although it would be very sad to imagine, what if ISIS actually established a stabile government? After all they have the motivation and support they need to accomplish their goal.

Some social media and news agencies published a map demonstrating ISIS’s 5 year plan. Although some experts such as Aaron Zelin, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, claim that this map is fake and only “an old image put out by fans of the group,” it is clear that this group does have a plan and a map for their actions, whether or not it has publicized.

Alarabiya has also published a picture of a passport designed by ISIS to be distributed to the many citizens living in cities bordering Iraq and Syria.

Furthermore, ISIS is known to be the wealthiest terrorist group in the world after they stole $450 million from Mosul’s central bank, took over oil-rich Deir Ezzor province’s oil fields in eastern Syria, and continue to sell Syrian oil to local Syrian and Iraqi businessmen, traffic in antiquities, and receive financial support from Saudi Arabia and some private donors.

Although many claim to condemn the acts of ISIS, the group has been able to attract youth, gain support of local Sunnis, at least in some parts of Iraq, and proudly take responsibility for its mass murders.

Now the question is, if ISIS actually establishes an official government, would the governments of the world establish diplomatic relationships with them? Would they buy oil from them after they take over most of Iraq and Syria’s oil production sites? Would they accept their ambassadors? Middle Eastern governments are already supporting ISIS but would American and European governments recognize an ISIS Sunni caliphate?

Surprisingly, lessons from how European and American governments have historically acted in the region seem to indicate that the answer is, YES.

When Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the leader of Wahhabism, the extreme sect of Islam ISIS practices, started spreading his hateful ideologies he was alone without the money or resources of ISIS. Most Islamic scholars and states rejected him because he advocated intolerance towards any non-Wahhabi, even other Islamic sects. He advocated the slaughter of Christians, Jews and Shia Muslims and the demolition of historical tombs, shrines and other religious sites. His hateful message resulted in the mass killing of 4000 Shia Muslims in Karbala alone in 1800. At first all condemned him, until he made an agreement with Al Saud and received Saudi military support. A book entitled “Hatred’s Kingdom” by Dore Gold is a very detailed source of how Wahhabism took over Islamic nations forcefully.

Soon after Saudi Arabia, the home of two of the most important Islamic cities, Mecca and Madina, adopted Wahhabism as their official religion and claimed to be the leader of Islamic nations. Saudi Arabia still practices this ideology based on hatred, and because of its oil wealth, it is a very good friend and ally of world’s most powerful nations such as Unites States. Also it is accepted by all Islamic countries as “the leader.”

ISIS is way more powerful than Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. They advocate the same message of hatred he advocated with a lot more support and money. Because history repeats its self, if ISIS actually stablishes a government, the chances are, the whole world will forget their slaughter, violence and hatred and start mutual relationships with them as if they never killed hundreds of thousands in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. And here is when human ethics and values are under question. Unfortunately politicians are better at pragmatism than leadership.

Shia scholar and father killed in terrorist attack in Abbottabad

Eminent Shia killed during terrorist attack in Karachi

Thursday, 10 July

Eminent Shia azadar Asif Karbalai was killed by terrorists near the Empress Market, Saddar Karachi, at midnight between Wednesday and Thursday.

Close-relatives told that Asif Karbalai was returning from the program of death anniversary of Bibi Khadija-tul-Kubra, Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) wife, which was being observed in the city by Shia organizations.

Shia scholar and father killed in terrorist attack in Abbottabad

Saturday, 12 July

Terrorists of outlawed Sipah-e-Sahaba shot a renowned Shia scholar and his father as they went to offer Friday prayers in Abbottabad in the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa Province.

Allama Waseem Shirazi and his father had gone to offer Friday prayer at the local Jamey Masjid in Hassan Town. On their way, terrorists opened fire upon them. Shirazi and his father were seriously injured and rushed to hospital where they died.

Despite Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, terrorist affiliates of banned Taliban, continue genocide against Shia. They have killed two Shia Muslims in Karachi during the holy month of Ramazan and now they ambushed another two in Abbottabad. Shia parties and leaders have condemned the targeted murders of Shia scholar and his father. They states that the military should also liquidate terrorists of banned Sipah-e-Sahaba, ASWJ and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Shia official of Karachi Water Board killed in terrorist attack in Karachi

Saturday, 12 July

Shia official of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was killed due to terrorist attack in Karachi on Saturday.

Terrorists of banned organization opened fire upon Manzar Abbas near Water Pump on Saturday afternoon. He was employee of KW&SB. His body was taken to a government hospital for treatment.

Shia News Wire_#1

07/11/2014

ISIS Destroys Mosques and Shrines in Iraq

ISIS destroys tens of Shia Mosques and Shrines as they continue to instill fear in Iraq. Particularly in the northern Nineveh province, ISIS has destroyed six Shia mosques as well as four shrines. SRW believes UNESCO must act fast as most of destroyed sites are important historical locations that belong to the history of all humanities, not just Shia Muslims.

Threat to a Shia Mosque in Turkey

A Shia mosque located in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul has been attacked. A Molotov cocktail was thrown into the Muhammadiyah mosque early morning on July 8th, causing fire, according to local activists. The same mosque was vandalized on the 9th of July. The mosque’s Imam, Mr. Hamza Aydın, has revealed he has been receiving threatening letters since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. The fire damaged the mosque significantly but no one was reported injured. SRW is following up with local authorities.

Leaked Security Documents Show ISIS Plots to Attack Shia areas of Lebanon

The Lebanese media reported Sunday that Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) militants plan to expand their reach from Iraq and Syria into Lebanon. The reports come from Ad-Diyar newspaper, to where the documents had been leaked, describing their plan to attack the Shia and Christian communities near the Syrian border of northern Bekaa Valley.

Another militant group, the Free Sunni Brigades in Baalbek, posted threats via social media towards the Shia groups that if they did not withdraw from Syria, they would soon be targeted, as well as Lebanon’s Christian sector, with their armed suicide bombers. Security forces have denounced both threats on credibility.

Joint Statement Condemning Chines Government’s Actions Against Muslims

FreeMuslim Association, Imam Shirazi World Foundation and Shia Rights Watch condemned Chines governments’ against its Muslim population. After meeting with Rebiya Kadeer, an active leader of Uyghur Muslims, the office of Ayatollah Shirazi issued an statement and asked Chines authorities to respect all ease the pressure on Muslims during the Month of Ramadan. Muslims in China are pressured to break their fast in the holy Month of Ramadhan. Some have even been issued a death sentence for their refusal to stop peaceful rituals. The Shia Rights Watch condemned the actions of government at this meeting and thanked the support of Shia religious leaders in respect to Uyghur people.

For Shia of Mosul Ethnic Cleansing is Just the Beginning

By Justin Schwegel

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 500,000 have fled Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city after the city fell to Sunni jihadist members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). ISIL has the stated goal of creating a radical Sunni Caliphate in Iraq and Syria and has called for the execution and expulsion of Shia Muslims from the territory they control.

Most of those who have fled are now internally displaced persons (IDPs) primarily in Iraq’s north and east. ISIL is best known for its numerous atrocities which include execution style murders and crucifixions. There have been innumerable reports of ISIS beheadings of Shia religious leaders and faithful as well and ISIL has destroyed Shia mosques and shrines wherever they are found. During their advances into Northern and Western Iraq, they have committed the mass execution of Shia Muslims.

Fear has driven the massive exodus from ISIL-controlled areas. The IOM places the total number of those displaced by ISIL advances at over 1 million IDPs throughout Iraq. Those fleeing Mosul and other areas of ISIL advance are a heterogeneous group composed primarily of Shia, but with Christians, Kurds and Sunni Muslims who oppose ISIL extremism.

However, for the Shia fleeing ISIL, ethnic cleansing is just the beginning of a tragic journey. There are numerous media reports that Shia who find themselves in towns under the ever-expanding control of ISIS are systematically hunted down and slaughtered. During an interview one Iraqi Kurd who was briefly held by ISIS said that those Shia who cannot be exchanged for prisoners are summarily beheaded.

Those who can escape ISIS territory have sought the relative safety of Kurdish lands patrolled by the Peshmerga. However, following the massive influx of refugees into the semi-autonomous region, Kurdish authorities have tightened restrictions, now requiring a local Kurdish sponsor to enter. This has left some families with nowhere to run. Local charities have been stretched to the breaking point by a lack of resources and the sheer number of those afflicted.

The rise to power of ISIL in Syria and Iraq is an international problem and one that was nurtured by Gulf States hoping for regime change at any cost in Syria. Likewise the threat posed to civilians in both Iraq and Syria is an international problem that calls for international cooperation and support.

Shia Rights Watch condemns the continued funding of terror groups such as ISIL and condemns the ethnic cleansing perpetrated by ISIl and affiliated militia in Iraq. Further, SRW recognizes that this crisis is international in nature and calls on the international community to take collective action to help safeguard refugees and internally displaced persons.

Shia Activist Killed

Shia activist Muhamamd Asif Karbalai has been shot in Karachi Sipah-e-Sahabanear Impress Market area of Sadar in Karachi.

Innocent Shia has been killed by the thousands inside Pakistan. The Pakistani government and law enforcement agencies have failed to protect their citizens and have taken no step to stop ongoing murders and attacks against the Shia Muslims in Pakistan.

Shia Rights Watch calls on the Pakistani government to protect Shia who are being innocently targeted and who have been attacks based on their religion. Also SRW calls on the Pakistani courts to bring to justice the terrorist who kill innocent, unarmed, Shia Muslims.

A Teenager Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison

A Bahraini court has sentenced Akbar Ali al-Kishi, a teenage protester, to 65 years in prison for taking part in anti-regime protests.

The young human rights activist has been arrested by regime forces several times since 2010 and was tortured in Bahraini prisons. In 2009, when Al Kishi was only 14 years old, he was wounded by shotgun pellets after Bahraini forces attacked a rally in the village of Sanabis.

What happened during that protest, and what is currently happening to Al-Kishi is against many Bahraini laws. More importantly Bahrain is a state party to the United Nations ICCPR which ensures the freedom of expression under Article. 19 and freedom of association under Article. 22. The case of al-Kishi also violated number of the articles in Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 3 (Best interests of the child), Article 37 (Detention and punishment), Article 40 (Juvenile justice), Article 13 (freedom of expression/ Freedom of speech), Article 19 (Protection from all forms of violence) are only some of them.

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