This Year’s Resolution, Full of Humanity

Its the last day of the year again….. As much as we all wished for a happy year last year, the year 2013 was not a very happy year for millions of our brothers and sisters in humanity. The year 2014 is another opportunity to change the world to a better place. The best action that is associated with New Year is making resolutions. Every year most people, at least those with plans for life, promise themselves to start doing something good or stop doing something bad starting this New Year Day.

However most of those resolutions are focused on one ‘self; such as starting a healthier diet, spending more time with family, saving money and so on. SRW believes resolutions should be inclusive; as humans we must promise to take actions to help those who need us.

SRW encourage all to make resolutions that are full of humanity. Promise yourself to take actions to free political prisoners, stop human right violations, return refugee’s to their homes, protect minorities, secure children, and become a voice for voice less populations.

While many of us have warm rooms to sleep in, delicious meals to eat with family, and exchange expensive gifts, life is very different for millions of people around the world. Many Syrian children are dying from cold in camps, Iraqi families are losing their care takers in bombings, Bahraini and Saudi Shia are being arrested, Pakistani Shia professionals are being killed, Shia in Malaysia and Indonesia cannot practice their faith, and thousands of Shia Muslims are fearful to admit their faith.

It is part of our human values to look after those who are less fortunate. Now, more than ever, our world needs wishes that promote freedom, democracy, respect and acceptance.

May the year 2014 be a year full of humanity, dignity and peace….

SRW wished best for all…

By Hawraa Zakery, Shia Rights Activist ……………………………..on December 31, 2013

Explosion Near An Elementary School

A car exploded near an elementary school in a Shia populated city of Um al- Ala’med in Hems. Nine people were killed and 30 wounded. Six children were among the killed.

Shia Rights Watch condemns Shia Muslim targeted killings especially the ones that target children and minors. The most inhumane acts are the ones that intentionally kill innocent children because of their parent’s faith.

Three Explosions

Shia Rights Watch condemns Shia targeted killings in Pakistan. Explosions in three Shia populated areas of Pakistan resulted in death of seven. Explosions in Karachi, Kurram and Rawalpindi also wounded ten Shia Muslims.

Shia killing has long history in Pakistan and the government failed to protect Shia Muslims of this country.

One Baby Every Hour

Every hour passes adds one baby to the Syrian families in their refugee camps as one baby is born every hour according to UN research.

So far 21,000 babies were born, most of which do not hold birth certificate. These babies are born in camps when their families have no healthy food, they siblings are dying due to cold and most importantly there is no promising future waiting for them.

While our children are enjoying their holiday season looking forward for expensive toys and wearing well-tailored cloths, Syrian children are starving from hunger, shivering from cold and crying foe their lost parents and siblings.

As a human rights activist I wonder where are all the children rights organization? Who is going to stand up for the most basic rights of Syrian children? Why the world is silent when they crying voice of children in Syria is being heard every minute?

By Hawraa Zakery, Shia Rights Activist on December 23, 2013

International Aim is not to Bring Peace to Syria

The war in Syria is unprecedented for many reasons. Fighters from 70 of the 196 countries in the world are fighting in Syria. More than two thirds of the world are taking advantage of the unrest in the Syria to fight. Some fight because they believe the Syrian government must be changed, but most are fighting because they believe it is their religious obligation to kill Shia Muslims. The conflict in Syria has become an opportunity for those who have wanted to kill Shia Muslims but, until now, had no way of reaching them.

According to telegraph news the number of international fighters has doubled in Syria. Now the number of confirmed foreign fighters has surpassed 11,000. The study did not specify whether this number included women who are fighting, either directly using weapons or by providing emotional support and sexual services to fighters.

If the fight was only about freeing the country from the current government, then why are cities that are populated by Shia Muslims, but unimportant strategically and militarily, (e.g. Nebel and Al-Zahraa) under constant siege? Why are Shia families the only ones being slaughtered? Why are Shia historical shrines being destroyed? Shia Muslims who are being killed in Syria have no ties to the government; many of them are not even Alawite as the government, President Assad’s branch of Islam. During the past decades while the Assad family ruled Syria, the government was not recognized as Shia, but secular. However, now that the chaos of civil war has created the opportunity to partake in ethnic violence, Assad’s government is classified as Shia to justify the targeted killing of Shia Muslims

It seems as though the international committee is willing to fight to last drop of blood not to let peace reach Syria. SRW hopes the world’s leaders who are to meet next month in order to find a solution to the war in Syria leave their political and religious disagreements aside and keep in mind the millions of Syrians who depend on them to return them to their homes.

Attack to Shia Muslim Populated Cities

Shia Muslim of Nebal and Al-Zahra have been attacked today again. This attack is done right after the terrorist groups issued a statement threatening to burn the Shia in these two cities. The cities are mostly Shia Muslim populated and has been under siege for more than a year.

No one knows the number of dead and wounded yet due to the siege. No media outlet has access to the cities and residences have very limited access to the rest of the world.

Extremists use the unrest in Syria to attack Shia population. Thousands Shia Muslims have lost their lives in Syria. Many Shia Muslims families have been slaughtered in front of their family members, and many other are being beheaded because of their faith. Syrian Shia Muslims are paying the price of international ignorance, says SRW.

Explosion in Karbala

Four explosions hit Karbala today one of which destroyed a hotel near Bab Baghdad ( Baghdad Door Entrance). There is no exact number of dead and wounded yet. Officials and NGOs are worried for the safety of Shia Muslims as they are walking to Karbala to hold Arbaeen festival in five days. Although Iraqi officials have papered to a long time to secure the areas which will be visited by travelers, anti-Shia terrorists did pass the check points. Ashura is another occasion in which many Shia are usually kills be terrorists attacks, yet this years Ashura had less explosions. The human rights activists are worried that Arbaeen festival is going to be used to take revenge and make up for calmer Ashura. Although about 10000 people have been killed this year alone in Iraq, very small number of human rights organizations and media outlet actually cover the violations in this country.

Syrian Shia are Threatened to be Burned

Residence of two Shia cities of Dlab and Al-Zahraa are threatened to be burned by extremists. These two cities have been under siege of anti-Shia terrorists immediately after the conflict in Syria. Siege and very limited access to the cities resulted in malnutrition of children, spread of diseases and poverty. Recently the terrorists issued an statement and threatened to burn the residences.

Shia Muslim of Syria have been one of main targets of the human rights violators who found Syria as a platform to take revenge as many Syrian Shia Muslims have to ties to the government, says Shia Rights Watch.

Attacks to Largest Human Gathering in Iraq

New attack target Shia Muslim communities as they are preparing for a religious festival next week. About 30 million Shia Muslim visit Karbala, Iraq by next week.

As part of this ritual millions of Shia walk for days to get to Karbala on the 40th anniversary of martyrdom on their third Imam, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. This walk towards Karbala has become the largest human gathering of the time as many Shia Muslims from around the world walk, some bare foot, to show their respect to humanity and human dignity. It is believed Imam Hussain and his family and young children were degraded and slaughtered because they did not accept an oppressor as the ruler of their time.

Now, Shia Muslims from around the world wear black for almost two month as part of Muharram campaign and go to Karbala to support Imam Hussain’s message of peaceful opposition to oppressors. This power full gathering has created opportunities for anti-Shia to kill Shia in big numbers. On Monday series of car bombs killed 92 and wounded about 200 people. No group has claimed the responsibility of the bombings but all who were killed are known to be Shia Muslims.

We all Failed

Bone chilling cold, is a reality of the winter in Syria. I lived many years of my childhood in Syria; a country I loved more than home. I have experience the cold, the wind and the chilly weather, but after all the cold, I knew I can go back home and enjoy watching winter form the window of my warm and cozy room.

So far at least 10 children died due to cold. Ten little souls who had potential to grow, live and laugh, but now they are under dirt and their parents are above it with broken hearts and crying eyes.

Some news outlets stated they don’t publicize the pictures so they don’t cause “psychological discomfort” for their readers…..

What a sad world we live in…..

What happened to humanity?

Where are humans?

We are worried about our “psychological discomfort” and ignore all the pain that our fellow human being go through?

Dear God, now that we don’t have mercy to find solutions for children in Syria, you show more mercy by reducing the coldness of winter, by watching after those little innocent children, by….

I know this is a test to evaluate humanity….and I know…we all failed……

By Hawraa Zakery, Human Rights Activist on December 17, 2013

Picture from express.co.uk

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