Washington DC — Shia Rights Watch is releasing a report cataloging human rights abuses against the Shia Muslims Minority in Malaysia on February 11,2013.
The report details the atrocities committed by the Malaysian authorities against Shia Minority in this country.
Journalists, researchers, and human rights advocates interested in obtaining a hard copy of the report may contact the organization directly.
SRW, founded in Washington DC, in 2011, is a non-profit, non-governmental entity which defends Shia Muslim rights around the world.
The Unwelcomed Muslims in Malaysia
This February 14th, Celebrate Love or Mourn Tragedy?
Many reasons lend themselves to the significance of February 14th. Some celebrate it as Valentine’s Day. They wear red, give chocolates, roses, and exchange acts of compassion. Those who celebrate Valentine’s Day use it as the day to show their love and care towards one another.
In the other parts of the world, thousands of people demand their freedom and rights. February 14th is the anniversary of the Arab Spring in Bahrain. This year, Bahrainis commemorate the second anniversary of their protest. Two years ago, on this very important day, many came to streets showing their dissatisfaction towards authorities who have suppressed them throughout history. Protesters carried flowers as sign of peace; they demanded freedom, security, equality and democracy. However, the government responded to the peaceful assembly with bullets, gun shots, and tear gas. Pic by English RFI
Although media outlets stopped covering human rights violations in Bahrain, protesters have not stopped demanding their rightful requests. During the past two years of protest in Bahrain, many were arrested, and tortured. They fled from their homes and many lost their lives, yet they did not stop striving for their freedom.
This year, on February 14, 2013 the peaceful protest was responded in acts of violence by government authorities again, resulting in the death of a teenage boy.
As we celebrate love and compassion in western societies, our humanitarian cognizance remind us to care for those who grieve in the Middle East. We have to show the suppressed Shia Muslim of Bahrain that we care for them, love them and are working toward their freedom. At Shia Rights Watch we advocate for their rights, we raise their voice to the world and we report Bahraini governments’ human rights violations.
At SRW we hope to celebrate freedom and democracy next year in Bahrain on February 14th, 2014. May all citizen of the world show their love to humanity by stepping up and defending human right.
Series of car bombs killed 34 Shia Muslin in Iraq
Anti-Shia killed 34 Shia in Iraq on Friday, February 8, 2013, ccording to reporters. Two car bombs exploded in Street Market in Kadhimiya, Bahgdad killing 16 Shia and injuring 44. Another car bomb killed 15 in Hilla south of Baghdad in Vegetable Market . The third car bomb was exploded in the city of Kabala killing 3 Shia Muslims.
Attack on Shia Muslims in Iraq previously killed 22. Anti Shia groups are trying to bring the violence back in Iraq, and it is the job of the government to take responsibility in protecting citizens of Iraq and stopping the terrorist groups. SRW has warned before and is asking the Iraqi government again to put more effort toward protecting all the people in Iraq and stop exremist operation in the country.
Syria Sacrificing Human Rights for Freedom
Valuable outcomes can have high prices, but human rights should not be sacrificed to pay the price. There should always be respect for human rights; all sides of the fight should follow the international law of human rights. Unfortunately, in Syria all sides of the fight have been violating rights.
From the beginning of the unrest in Syria, Shia Rights Watch’s director, Mustafa Akhwand, has warned government of Syria and Free Syrian Army (FSA) to implement human rights and respect all minority groups in the country.
History reveals revolutions always attack lives of innocent people to satisfy people who seek power. Situation in Syria is little different; minority groups have been targeted from day one. Many Shia Muslims families flee from their homes due to the fear of being killed by extremist who believe killing Shia Muslims is a spiritual practice. Some Shia were hanged in the streets. Wahhabi extremists marked residents of Shia during daytime and murder them at night. Many worship centers and mosques were burned down or demolished because they belonged to the Shia sect of Islam. There are many reliable evidences including pictures and videos that unfold the horrible and inhumane activities in Syria, media however does not publicize them. Media was (and is) aware of the situation and discrimination against Shia Muslims but prefer to stay silent. It is not unrealistic to suspect and conclude that media is being financially fed by Anti-Shia extremists so they do not cover the reality of targeted Shia massacre in Syria and some other countries.
Shia Rights Watch, many times, condemned violence from either government or FSA toward minorities in the country, but still violence increases every day.
SRW met with a number of human rights and governmental organizations and sought their help to stop the violence however none agreed to announce official condemnation against Shia killings.
SRW hopes that this article reaches both sides of the unrest in Syria and encourage them to respect International Human Rights Law and protect all, including minorities.
4 Shia Muslims killed in Karachi, Pakistan
Once again, Anti-Shia terrorists targeted Shia Muslims in Pakistan and this time in the city of Karachi. According to an eye witness, Sayed Ali Hassan Naqvi, 48 years old, was killed while he was shopping. Asad ali naqvi was another Shia who got killed by terrorist, names of other two Shia who were killed in different incident are still unknown.
The Pakistani government still refuses to support Shia Muslims and bring anti-Shia terrorist to the court of law. There should not be any discrimination among any of the Pakistani citizen and all should be treated according to international human rights law.
Shia Rights Watch Calls on UN to Oversee the Peace Dialogue in Bahrain
Shia Rights Watch calls on UN to oversee the peace dialogue and reconciliation in Bahrain.
SRW calls on the General Secretary of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, to involve the UN in the dialogue and reconciliation in Bahrain and pressure all the negotiating parties to work toward success of this important mission.
The organization stresses the importance the of the rule of UN in saving the rights and freedoms of the Bahraini people at all levels of political, social and economic stages.
Also, the UN is asked to pressure the Bahraini government to reform policies and changes demanded by the protesters, especially in relation to halt the violence of the government authorities and the reduction of the repression and ongoing abuses, as well as the release of political detainees, and to compensate the victims of repression and abuse.
Letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon , Ref: Bahrain Peace Dialogue
Letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon , Ref: Bahrain Peace Dialogue
Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
Dear Secretary-General,
Your Excellency, the Secretary General of the United Nations,
At Shia Rights Watch (SRW), we, researchers, activists, and human rights defenders, who are following the human rights violations in Bahrain, believe it is essential for the UN to oversee the upcoming peace dialogue in Bahrain.
This dialogue is hoped to resolve issues involving the security and well-being of more than a million people, as well as the stability of a nation. Therefore, all necessary actions must be taken so both parties reach satisfactory results.
We wish to draw your attention to the importance of the UN involvement this time around since King Hamad has repeatedly failed to implement reforms. He did not respect his promises on major changes after the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) exposed numbers of violations. Unfortunately, still news and reports reveal that number of killings and violations have increased since the BICI report. Ironically, those who were responsible for the violations kept their jobs and in some cases awarded greater positions. As a result, it is crucial that the UN gets involved and oversees this upcoming dialogue and finds ways to reach peace in this country.
We do appreciate the United Nations’ commitment toward stability of Bahrain. There is no doubt that the supervision of the United Nations can be a great relief for the defenseless Bahrainis. We cannot stress enough how superintending this dialogue can save lives of thousands of suppressed people of Bahrain.
SRW hopes the involvement of the UN results in actual and truthful implementations of the peace talk and end human rights violations in this country.
Sincerely,
Mustafa Akhwand
Director of Shia Rights Watch
Mysterious Death of a Shia Woman in Saudi
Saudi Health Affairs confirmed the mysterious death of Saudi Shia woman after receiving corrupted blood, Alegt.com reports.
Tariq Al-Ghamdi, media spokesman of the Health Affairs in the East, said that the death of Amal Abdul Hadi Abdul Aziz Al-Mutairi occurred in mysterious circumstances. He added that the Director of General Health Affairs must form a committee of laboratory management and blood banks authorities to take remedial actions and identify the source of corrupted blood.
Photo: Layoutspark.com
He said the patient suffered from thalassemia, and received two units of blood almost a month ago. She had high temperature, high enzymes, liver dysfunction, kidney failure and clotting blood when entered emergency room and was transferred to the intensive care unit immediately.
Al-Ghamdi pointed out that Amal was provided necessary medical services and laboratory tests and it was found that she had malaria. It is unknown how the blood was infected by Malaria virus.
The authorities are concerned that this could be beginning of mysterious death among Shia Muslims.
S.R.W urges authorities to form a committee of human rights organizations along with S.R.W representative and also health care specialists to investigate the source of Malaria and other possible threats to the Shia who receive medical services in Saudi Arabia.
This kind of death was never an issue in Saudi and is a new phenomenon that could be dangerous and should be investigated immediately.
Suicide Bomb Takes Another 22 Lives From Shia Muslims Community in Iraq
Wednesday January 23, was a bloody day in Tuz Khormato, Iraq. A suicide bomb was exploded in a Shia mosque called Sayyid al-Shuhada as people were mourning for the death of a government employee who was killed in a drive-by shooting earlier. More than 22 were killed and estimated injured are around 50 to 90 people. Soon after the explosion police officers came to the scene and transferred the injured to a nearby hospital.
No one has claimed the responsibility of the attack yet. However it is clear that the attack is among anti-Shia targeted killings that systematically target Shia gatherings. Wednesday marked the fifth time this month that insurgents managed to carry out attacks, claiming more than 20 lives in a single day.
S.R.W condemns the killing of Shia Muslim and carrying terrorist attacks in a mosque where is supposed to be safe place for all.
SRW Demands Security for Samarra Pilgrims
Shia Rights Watch calls on the Iraqi authorities to work toward the security of pilgrims in the country, especially for the pilgrims in the city of Samarra, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hassan al-Askari, the eleventh Imam of Shia Muslims, on the eighth of the Rabīʿ al-Awwal of Islamic calendar.
Samarra is considered a holy city for Shia where three Shia Imams are buried. This city has always been a target for anti- Shia extremists and many have lost their lives going toward this city. Not long ago anti- Shia extremists destroyed the shrine of the Shia Imams in Samarra in order to stop pilgrims from visiting this city. This attack was the worst of its kind since the demolition of shrines of four Shia Muslim Imams in Saudi Arabia on 1 May by King Ibn Saud.
The organization condemns the recent attacks to Shia Muslim pilgrims. Anti–Shia groups have attacked un-armed pilgrims many times and caused financial and emotional discomfort for them. Iraqi authorities must remember that in this sensitive period, Shia pilgrims and their security must be assured in Iraq. The Iraqi government can reunite Iraqi citizen again by protecting their security and right to freedom of religion.
S.R.W asks Iraqi government to use all its power to secure the Samarra and punish all who cause problems for piligirims
