Shia Rights Watch Condemns the Terrorist Attacks Against Shia in Iraq and Pakistan

Shia Rights Watch Condemns of the recent terrorist attacks that targeted hundreds of Shia civilians in Iraq and Pakistan. Several official sources confirmed, in both Iraq and Pakistan, that targets were hundreds of unarmed civilians including vulnerable children and elderly who gathered to commemorate Arbaeen. Arbaeen is one of the very important Shia commemorations.
Terrorist organizations associated with extremist groups in Saudi Arabia and Qatar declared adoption of such crimes pursuant to political agendas and allow the killing of militant religious in attempt to filter them intellectually and ideologically.
More than ten people died and more than forty were left wounded after car bomb explosion in Iraq. 19 Shia pilgrims were killed due to a car bomb explosion when their bus passed about thirty kilometers from Quetta, capital of Balochistan in Pakistan.

Shia Rights Watch calls on the international community for urgent action to work to stop funding and arming terrorist organizations in Iraq, Pakistan and some other Muslim countries.

Bahraini Forces do not Hesitate to Target Children

Bahraini authorities do not hesitate to target children to disperse adults. Shia Rights Watch and other human rights organizations have repeatedly reported the intentional violent toward minors and children in Bahrain, yet no media outlet cover or even report the ongoing human and child’s rights violations in this country.

In the first day of the year 2013 Bahraini forces targeted a child younger than 4 years old with teargas in order to disperse adults from the area and prevent peaceful protests.

The flowing video capture by a witness is the best evidence of the ongoing human rights violations in Baharin.

S.R.W demands children rights organization to wake up and take action. No child should be have to face fear or be threatebed. Why has no one defended children of Bahrain?

WATCH

No Security for Shia in Pakistan

19 Pakistani Shia killed and 25 wounded in a car bomb in southwest Pakistan on Sunday December 30th, 2012. Four of the wounded are women. The car bomb targeted a bus carrying Shia Muslim pilgrims heading to Iran. The blast destroyed the bus and killed the passengers.

This is not the first time that Wahhabi extremist targeted Shia pilgrims. Many Shia Muslims have lost their lives in Pakistan especially in the year 2012. Pakistani authorities have promised to provide more security and escort Shia pilgrims; however Shia targeted killings have not stopped or decreased.

Shia Rights Watch has contacted the Pakistan embassy in the US and asked them to take responsibility of the security of the Shia but received no respond.

New Year’s Resolution, A letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

This letter is on behalf of Shia Rights Watch, a Washington DC based human rights organization defending the rights of Shia Muslims around the world.

As New Year arrives, we all make resolutions and as the president of the United States, your resolutions can make important changes in the world. In your Presidential Proclamation on the anniversary of the Declaration of Human rights on December 10^th/ 2012 you stated “we rededicate ourselves to fortifying civil rights in America, while reaffirming that all people around the world should live free from the threat of extrajudicial killing, torture, oppression, and discrimination”.

It is nice to see children have lots of rights in US. It is a pleasure to see women and men are treated equally, and the government tries it best to bring safety and freedom to people.

As New Year arrives, many children in US are sleeping in safety of their decorated homes, while they are sure their parents are around and they have security and freedom. Many parents are joyfully buying gifts for their children, malls and shopping centers are all decorated nicely and the whole country is full of joy and security. This is while thousands of children are scared to sleep and not see their parents in the morning anymore. Many parents cannot leave their homes because of the fear of losing their family. Many others are not sure if they would be able to afford next meal.

In Bahrain many children are in adult prisons. These children do not need to decorate their homes and receive expensive gifts to be happy; they need security and freedom, they need to get back to their families and be able to attend safe schools. Security and safety is the only gift they are waiting for.

In Syria, last year alone, hundreds of children lost their lives, many slept at night and never woke up, many had homes and parents at night and woke up having no food, drink, home or family. Many Shia prayer places were set on fire and hundreds had to fee from their country.

In Pakistan, hundreds of children lost their fathers and caregivers in Shia targeted killings. Many women and children were attacked while riding bus and returning from school to their families to celebrate end of the Ramadan Eid. Gunmen stopped the bus and checked the passengers ID cards and opened fire of them. In this incident alone 25 Shia were killed. Recently 16 Shia students were expelled from Karakoram International University because of their faith.

In Saudi Arabia Shia children cannot attend school or express their values fearing of arrest or expel. Security forces shot and kill Shia Muslims when they ask for freedom and equality and many Shia are suffering from cancer in oil reach areas.

In Azerbaijan Shia scholar, Muhamamd Cavid, was arbitrary arrested and his two young children and wife do not know where he is or what his situation is.

In Egypt and Malaysia Shia are afraid to practice their religion, because if they do they will be isolated from the norm.

While we can spend thousands of dollars decorating our city, spend fortune buying un needed gifts, and send greeting cards with “Peace on Earth” message, thousands of Shia Muslims are seeking shelter and security.

In your Presidential Proclamation you stated “we renew our promise that the United States will be a partner to any nation, large or small, that will contribute to a world that is more peaceful and more prosperous “however All these violations occurred while Bahrain is one of the United States’ allies, Pakistan and Egypt are non-NATO allies and also the US and Saudi Arabia have had full diplomatic relations since 1933.

It is expected to see some actions from the president of the United State to prevent and stop the violations but in fact not much successful actions were taken.

May the year 2013 be the year that every single child feels happiness, all parents feel secure, and all homes are a place where families can gather in safety and love.

We hope, in this New Year, all innocent prisoners set free, all parents have their child and all children have their parents with them.

S.R.W and Free Muslim Association believe in your New Year resolution you should keep in mind that many people around the world need you to work toward their freedom. Hand in hand, you as the president and we as human rights organizations, must ask governments to stop human rights violations and obligate media outlets to cover and report all violations.

We wish happiness and freedom for those all around the globe.

Contempt in Public – Bahraini Forces has Gone Too Far

A Bahrain citizen was slapped in street while holding his baby. Heidar Abdul-Rasul was sitting in his car with his baby when security forces approached him and asked for his Identification (ID) card. He did not have the ID, so the forces asked him to step out of the car. Heidar was slapped in face several time in front of his baby. He kept covering the baby’s face so he won’t be hart emotionally. The contempt was caught on video and Heider Abdul-Rasul was also interviewed by Lo’Lo’ TV.

The video can be watched on the following link.

Video

Note: program is in Arabic.

Thank You Ann Clwyd

Shia Rights Watch appreciates and acknowledges the smart and right decision of the Ann Clwyd. Ann Clwyd, a Labor MP sitting on the Committee for Foreign Affairs refused a Christmas present from Alice Samaan, Bahrain ambassador to the UK. Clwydsits on committee conducting an inquiry into human rights abuses in Bahrain. She sent the present back to the store and sent a letter to the embassy explaining her reason for not accepting the present.

She commented that she could not overlook the human rights violations, such as tortures imprisonments and widespread oppression, in Bahrain and cannot accept this present.

Shia Rights Watch appreciates her decision and believes that her honest and correct decision should be an example for others how are on the same committee or similar committees.

Similar gifts have kept many authorities and media outlets quiet regarding the human rights violations in Bahrain. We hope those authorities and media outlets rethink and make better decisions as Anne Clwyd did.

“The Guardian” revealed that Samaan sent similar gifts to about 10 other members of the British Parliament.” Apparently other members decided to keep the gifts.

S.R.W Thanks Ann Clwyd on behalf of all oppressed Shia around the world. May she become a role model for others.

We have also emailed Ms Ann Clwyd and thanked her for her brave action.

Non-Stop Violations of the Convention of the Right of the Child in Bahrain

Bahraini government has arrested and ill-treated many children since the start of Arab Spring. Shia Rights Watch included detailed report about the situation of children in this country in its 2012 Bahrain Report. Now after months the violations continue and no human rights or child’s rights organizations could help the arrested children. The media has stopped covering the situation and the Bahraini authorities are taking advantage of the world’s silence.

Many minors and children are spending their valuable time in jails instead of schools. Hussain Ali Al Saqqai, a 13 years old boy, Mohammed Abdulghani Al Shawaikh a 13 years old boy and Hussain Abduljalil Alhawaj a15 years old boy are children who have been arrested from Manama following clashes between protesters and police on December 7^th/2012. Al Saqqai and Al Shawaikh are in Juvenile prison in Isa Town while Alhawaj was detained for fifteen days at the Dry Dock prison with adults.

Other examples are Ebrahim Al Muqdad, a 15 years old boy, and Jehad Sadeq, a 16 years old boy. They were arrested on 23 July, 2012. The two young boys were subjected to ill treatment. They have been in detention for more than four months to this day. Their last court hearing was yet again postponed to December 25 because of the absence of the Ministry of Interior’s witnesses. The two boys are detained in an adult prison while being tried under Bahrain’s terrorism law.

Qasim Juma Al Kuwait, a 15 years old boy is another example of child’s rights violation. He was arrested on 12 December 2012, during a house raid. He is currently held in Dry Dock prison

S.R.W believes Bahraini government has gone too far in violating rights of human and specially children and minors. S.R.W urges U.S government and all human rights organizations to take action and ask Bahraini authorities to free all children and stop violating their rights. It is any human’s right to participate in peaceful protest and express their opinion. Bahraini government will only increase the un-satisfaction among its citizen by arresting innocent children.

Discrimination to the Right to Education for Shia Students in Pakistan

As anti- Shi’ism spreads across the globe, discrimination against Shia have reached the educational setting. The Karakoram International University has expelled 16 Shia students for a period of three years and dismissed one Shia student for life. The students are accused of participating in “illegal activities” which in this case is organizing Youm-e-Hussain Shia gathering program. The expulsion of the Shia Students resulted in sit-in outside the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly.

Rival wahabi sect tried to create disturbance all day long, turned the demonstration into fight which resulted in the death of two people, as JNN reports.

KIU announced its closure for two days. “The decision has been taken in the wake of violence in the city a day earlier,” said a statement issued from the university.

Gilgit has a bloody history of sectarianism. Shia have always been victims of violence and human rights violations in this area. Government forces have failed to protect Shia and spread peace.

S.R.W condemns the escalated violations toward Shia and believes education is one of the basic human rights. No one should be able to take away this right from any minority group.

Violations Continue in the “Bahrain’s Martyrs Day”

December 17th has been marked, by the Bahraini people, as “Bahrain’s Martyrs Day” following the extra-judicial killing of two Bahrainis during the 1990’s uprising. Bahrainis use this day to show their support for freedom and democracy.

Authorities increased checkpoints and expanded patrols across Manama before demonstrations to mark an annual commemoration of “Bahrain’s Martyrs Day” on December 17^th. They also sealed off most of the main streets leading to the capital Manama to prevent the Shia Muslim from protesting. Despite the opposition of the government, hundreds of people joined the protest.

Authorities fired tear gas, used stun grenades and arrested protestors in attempt to break up the protest. The Interior Ministry said it made a “number” of arrests. Among the arrests was Shia Muslim rights activist Yousef al-Muhafedha and the arbitrary arrest of Haji Majeed.

According to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights as many as 27 peaceful protestors were arrested, three of which were women.

The complete lists of their names are:

Women:
1. Khadija Al-Ghanami – Dair
2. Fatima Al-Ghanami – Dair
3. Mona Abduljalil – Sanabis

Men:

1. Hassan Ali Abd-Ethnashari – Duraz
2. Mohammed Jawad Abdulkarim – Duraz
3. Yasser Abdulhussain Al-Haddad – Duraz
4. Ahmed Al-Omran – Al-Hoora
5. Yaser Al-Haddad – Al-Hoora
6. Adel Salem – Al-Hoora (released)
7. Jabir Al-Haddad – Al-Hoora (released)
8. Said Yousif Al-Muhafdha – Manama
9. Hussain Al-Kkhoor – Manama
10. Reyadh – Manama
11. Haj Majeed – Dimistan/Ras Ruman
12. Abu Jameel – Al-Qadam
13. Hassan Jaber – Dimistan

14. Hussain Abbas – Al-Musallah
15. Abdulzahra Mohammad – Aali
16. Elyas Hussain – Manama

17. Fayadh Mohammed Jaffar – Barbar
18. Hussain Ahmed – Barbar
19. Mohammed Redha Juma – Muhazza
20. Ali Redha Juma – Muhazza
21. Ali Abdulemam Fakhar – Daih
22. Sayd Haidar Ali Al-Ghuraifi – Nuaim
23. Yaser Al-Shuaikh
24. Khalid Sultan Al-Mutawa – 28 years –

Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa gave a speech on December 16th stating that: “Bahrain is a country of Law and Freedom,” yet violence and human rights violations continue in this country and the government is the only violator, as protestors carry no weapon and have been protesting peacefully. S.R.W condemns the anti-Shia act of Bahraini authorities and asks them to immediately free all innocent prisoners and stop fighting pro-democracy protestors. The government must start a dialogue with its people and put an end to human rights violations immedietely.

Targeted Shia killings Take More Lives

Extremists open fire on the car of the custodian of a Shia Mosque in Karachi.

In another Shia targeted killing, Syed Bahawal Shah and his nephew Syed Baqar Shah were gunned down while seated in their car in Pakistan.

Shia targeted killings in Pakistan have increased: may Shia have lost their lives, and the rest are concerned about the security of their family members in society. However authorities have failed to protect the security of Shia Muslims in this country.

S.R.W condemns the violence against Shia Muslims and asks the Pakistani authorities to take immediate action and protect all Shia from targeted killings.

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