“Thank You” Letter to NY Times

Shia Rights Watch would like to thank The New York Times for their article published by Yasir Ghazi on June 18^th concerning a suicide bombing in Baghdad. As human rights violations against Shia Muslims are increasing worldwide, especially in the Middle East, it is critical that news agencies report ethically on the issues, investigate the roots of the problems, and share this information with the public.

The bombing at the Shia mosque in Baghdad is yet another example of the growing sectarian violence that threatens the lives of innocent Shia Muslims. These types of attacks have been on the rise in recent months and Iraq is now facing its deadliest period since 2008, when sectarian violence was at its peak. The targeted killings of Shia Muslims in Iraq must be stopped.

As such, Shia Rights Watch appreciates The New York Times’ commitment to spreading awareness of this issue. The agency’s decision to cover such news is proof of its ethical practice and adds to the credibility of the publication.

Attack to Shia Muslim Mosque

On Tuesday, June 18^th, two suicide bombers gunned down three guards and then detonated bombs at a Shia Muslim mosque. The attack killed 37 people and wounded 57 people in the mosque that is popular among Shia Muslim students from a local secular university. No immediate claims of responsibility were made, though this attack was the last of a three day series of secular violence. 15 people were killed in duel bombings in Taji and Fallujah the day prior to the mosque explosion and the day before that a car bombing killed 33 people and wounded more than 100 people across Iraq.

Suicide Bomber Targets Shia Mosque in Peshawar

On Friday, June 21, anti-Shia terrorists attacked a Shia Mosque inside the Hussaini Madrassa in Peshawar, Pakistan. The mosque was crowded as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers when three armed men shot a guard posted outside and stormed into the building. Once inside, one of the men detonated his suicide vest, killing 15 and injuring at least 22. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, although it is suspected that a Sunni extremist group based in the tribal areas outside Peshawar is responsible.

Shia Rights Watch strongly condemns this attack. Although most Sunnis and Shias live together peacefully in Pakistan, radical Sunni groups continue to carry out human rights violations against the Shia population.

More on “Arm the Rebels or not to Arm the Rebels?”

Last week Shia Rights Watch posted an editorial about the danger of arming rebels in Syria. More and more incidents are emphasizing the importance of making the right decision about making arms accessible to rebles.

Recent murder of a minor in Syria increased the fear among innocent citizen of Syria. According to The Telegraph online media, earlier in the month of June, 2013, a 14 year old boy was shot three times in front of his family for making a passing joke. The rebels shot the boy while the mother was watching.

Earlier the UN reported that rebels have used chemical weapons, which is a war crime. Now, they killed a minor and it is another war crime.

SRW asks is group of people violate the international law, should they be trusted with more access to arms? Can any government assure the innocent people that the arms are not going to threaten their lives and families?

The boy became a symbol of fear to many in country, but shouldn’t this be a symbol of what is to come if the rebels have easier access to weapons in a rise of violence?

More than 50 Shia Muslims killed in Iraq blast near mosque

Two suicide bombers targeted a Shia Muslim mosque in Baghdad on Tuesday June 18, 2013 one blowing himself up at a nearby checkpoint while the other slipped inside during prayers. The blasts killed more than 50 Shia Muslims and injured more than 100, Iraqi officials said.

Two police officers said the first bomber detonated his explosives at a security checkpoint near the mosque in Baghdad’s northern Qahira neighborhood in an apparent attempt to distract the authorities.

Amid the commotion, a second bomber slipped past concrete blast walls and into the mosque, where he blew himself up while worshippers were performing midday prayers, according to police officials.

Most of the casualties were among students from a nearby Imam al-Sadiq University for Islamic Studies. Police officials said the university’s Shia students usually perform their midday prayers in the mosque that was hit.

60 Shia Slaughtered in Hatla Dayr Az Zawr, Syria

Shia Rights Watch (SRW), headquartered in Washington DC, condemns the mass killing in Hatla, Dayr Az Zawr, Syria.

The SRW has been informed about the deaths of Shia Muslims in the Hatla, Dayr Az Zawr area of Syria and the growing pressure they are under every day. A total of 300 Shia Muslim families in the area are at risk of being killed. These families have been accused of being supporters of the Syrian government even though Shia Muslims have stated many times that they do not wish to be involved in the current Syrian unrest.

Terrorists are targeting the Shia Muslim worship centers (Husseiynia) and Islamic Mosques, kidnapping women and young children of the Shia Muslim families, killing civilians, and dumping the bodies in trash.

Syrian human rights organizations in London have reported the death of 60 Shia Muslims by groups such as “Jund Al Rahman” and “As-Sadiq Al Ameen”.

The Shia Muslims of Hatla have contacted SRW asking for immediate help.

So far SRW has been able to find the following victims of the inhumane killing of Shia Muslims in Hatla:

1. Batoul Sayed Hussein Al-Raja

2. Masoom Mohsen Al-Raja

3. 6 Years old Al-Raja

4. 4 Years old Al-Raja kidnapped

5. Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Raja

6. Omar Alhamady (70 years old)

7. 2 other member of Alhamady family

8. Mandil Alhamady (kidnapped)

9. Ali Mosleh AlHamady

10. Eisa khalaf Alhilal

11. Sayed Ibrahim Alsayer (kidnapped) Anti Shia terrorist killed his wife and 3 of his children in front of him

12. Ali Jasim Al-Mohammad

The SRW does not favor a side in the Syrian conflict, however it does believe that the rights of all minorities, including Shia Muslims unaffiliated with the Syrian government, should be respected and that no opposition groups or governments have the right to violate these human rights, especially to act on revenge. Shia Muslims are unaffiliated with any political group and should be respected and protected under the International Bill of Human Rights.

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Appeal of Conscience Foundation

We are contacting you on behalf of the Shia Rights Watch, Washington Based non-governmental and non-profit organization dedicated to defend Shia Muslims all around the world, to express our concerns regarding the World Statesman Award presented to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Many members of the Shia Muslim community are practicing their faith in secret to protect themselves and their loved ones from fear of being target by Anti Shia groups. Unfortunately many of these families had to leave their home because of the fear of being killed or abused by these groups. Many of them asked the government for protection but government denied any help and let the terrorist groups to continue attacking toward Shia Muslims.

It is important to note that the freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed in Article 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 18 of the International Bill of Human Rights to which Indonesia is a state party.

We understand that The Appeal of Conscience Foundation works on behalf of religious freedom and human rights throughout the world. We would like to request that all prior events be taken into consideration, including the March 2013 deadline for Shia Muslims to convert to “Indonesia’s majority religion (Sunni Islam)” to return to their homes, and to withdraw the award until the government of Indonesia recognizes Shia Muslims and grants them true freedom of religion. We hope you understand that the credibility of your organization is based on giving the right person the award that they deserve. Not to mention by giving this award to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will give the green light to continue discrimination in his jurisdiction.

There is more information on Shia Muslim rights violations in Indonesian attached in our 2012-2013 Shia Ethnic Cleansing in Indonesia report.

Sincerely,

Mustafa Akhwand

Director of the Shia Rights Watch

SBY AND THE WORLD STATESMAN AWARD

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonom, President of the Republic of Indonesia, was awarded the World Statesman Award for his role in promoting religious tolerance and freedom of worship in Indonesia.

Human rights organizations are up in arms, criticizing SBY for his acceptance of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation award while citing several cases of religious intolerance, including the March 2013 deadline for Shia Muslims to convert to “Indonesia’s majority religion (Sunni Islam)” to return to their homes.

“And this is something that no leader can do along,” SBY claims. “This is something that requires the collective work of a large pool of leaders, of all persuasion, and in all field doing their statecraft to lead and inspire those who follow them.” He claimed that the Indonesian government “would not tolerate any act of senseless violence committed by any group in the name of religion.

However, many members of the Shia Muslim community are practicing their faith in secret to protect themselves and their loved ones from fear of identifying themselves to anti-Shia Muslim groups while the Indonesian government continues to do nothing to stop them.

It is important to note that the freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed in Article 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 18 of the International Bill of Human Rights to which Indonesia is a state party.

There is a petition happening now to withdraw the award from SBY and can be found at https://www.change.org/petitions/sby-is-no-statesman-foundation-should-withdraw-world-statesman-award-to-indonesia-s-president. SRW urges all to sign the petition and stop this award that has been wrongly given.

By: Jocelyn Liberatore

Revenge: The New War Crime

Although rebels in Syria deny responsibility of attacks on Shia communities, recent human rights violations in the area are suggesting the opposite.

Shia Right Watch has been informed by its connections in Syria that Shia Muslims of the Hatla, Dayr Az Zawr area are under more pressure, especially after the recent events in Qusayr. There are more than 300 Shia Muslims families in the area and they constantly face the threat of murder, captivity and kidnappings.

Last week the wife and two sons of the Syed Ibrahim, a respected cleric of Hatla, were killed. His 15 year old daughter was then kidnapped with no signs as to her whereabouts.

Furthermore, more and more Islamic centers and mosques are being burned down in the area as the result of the anger toward pro government forces. Many women have been kidnapped and men and children have been killed and their bodies were dumped in the trash or in holes outside of the area. Not long ago a Syrian human rights organization located in London reported 300 women and children are missing from Shia populated cities such as Daraa, Idlib and Fou’a.

Shia Muslims of Hatla have contacted SRW asking for immediate help. SRW has previously contacted rebel representatives in the U.S. asking them to stop attacks on Shia civilians. The representatives stated that rebels are not involved in the Shia targeted killings in Syria. However, every time the Syrian pro-government forces gain a victory; Shia families are attacked in retaliation in Shia populated areas, even though they are not for or against any specific political group.

SRW does not favor any group in the Syria, however it does believe that the rights of all minorities, including Shia Muslims who are not affiliated with Syrian government, must be respected.

No opposition group has the right to enact revenge on Shia Muslims just because the Syrian government is known to be Alawite.

Shia Muslims are not affiliated with any political group and they should be respected and protected under the International Bill of Human Rights.

History in the Hands of Al-Khalifa

SRW condemns the Bahraini government’s decision to demolish and destroy the Shia Muslims’ places of worship, mosques, and historical sites.

Recently the government stated they are planning to close Abou Thir Al Ghiffari mosque and use the space to create public park.

Shia of Bahrain have expressed their concerns about their historical sites. The government has demolished numbers of the mosques since the Arab Spring. SRW’s first report on the Shia rights violation published in 2012 detailed the issue.

Demolishing historical sites is illegal, especially now that the government does it in order to disconnect the Shia and their history from their land.

SRW urges the department of historic resources to stop the government from erasing parts of history.

Shi have the right to practice their faith, they should be able to have their own mosques, and they must be recognized by the government.

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“Thank You” Letter to NY Times

Appeal of Conscience Foundation