Ambassador of The Republic of the Azerbaijan

No: 426

Date: December 6. 2012

The Honorable Elin Suleymanov

Dear Ambassador

Please accept my greeting on behalf of Shia Rights Watch. I am writing to you because of our concern regarding the arrest of the Mr. Cavid Muhammadi in Baku on the October 17th, 2012. Şeyx Cavid Muhammadi is an Islamic activist who focuses non-violence and peace in the community According to our sources he was arrested on the mentioned date in Baku near the Al-Azraq mosque without any explanations. His families are unaware of his situation and there is no clear reason for his arrest.

Our request from you is to kindly investigate his arrest and update us on his situation and place, so we can inform his friend and family of his wellness.

As you may know, Shia Rights Watch is the world’s first independent organization, dedicated to define and protect the rights of Shia Muslims around the world. SRW is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization headquartered in Washington, DC, USA. The organization’s operations rely on research and advocacy to highlight and monitor infractions on Shia human rights. In order to protect these rights, we conduct investigations and publish reports and articles detailing the current atmosphere of human rights for Shia Muslims.

With respect we would like you to investigate the arrest and give us update regarding his situation, our organization look forward to see your administration action to free innocent man and prevent human Rights violation.

Sincerely,
Mustafa Akhwand

Director of the Shia Rights Watch

Ambassador_Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan_President

First Lady_ Azerbaijan

Cavid Memmedhesen prisoners of Conscience in Azerbaijan

Shia Rights Watch calls Azeri authorities to disclose the destiny of a clerk and human rights activist Cavid Memmedhesen Muhemmedov. The local activist was arrested in a top secret and sudden operation by security forces for unknown reasons on October 17^th, 2012. Eye witnesses have reported that Azeri security forces arrested Mohammad from his own house near Masjid al Azraq (the Blue Mosque), in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Shia Rights Watch expresses its deep concerns for such an arbitrary arrest. Azerbaijan is a country is least Shia rights violations. S.R.W is concerned that the mentioned case is a beginning of new movement toward Shia rights violations in this country.

Shia Facing new Restrictions and Discriminations in Egypt

On November 25th, 2012, Shia were prevented from entering mosque to commorate Ashura. Every year many Shia go to Al-Hussain mosque to commemorate Ashura, however this year they were prevented in doing so. Some were even arrested. The authorities claim the arrest was because they did not have their ID card. Shia were identified by their black shirts they wear as a sign of the day of Ashura. They were questioned, arrested and/ or prevented to join the event.

Egyptian Shia have never felt safe to practice their faith in public. Recently anti-Shia Salafi groups have gained straight and oppose Shia’s believes in their statements. This year they attacked Shia beliefs by preventing them from practicing Ashura rituals.

Anti-Shia Salafis have always targeted Shia in their celebrations and they are increasing their authorities in Egypt. S.R.W believes Shia rights are being violated in this country and asks the government to interfere and give Shia their basic human rights.

Shia Pilgrims Target of Car Bombs in Iraq

Three bombs exploded today, Thursday the November 29^th, near Shia tents housing Shia pilgrims in Baghdad. According to the officials the bombs killed at least 29 and wounded as many as 90 people. All the shops in the area were damaged as well.

The attacks started with a roadside bomb and then a car bomb exploded targeting emergency personnel and the helping crowd. The bombing waves have increased in Iraq, especially in Shia pilgrims’ populated area since the beginning of the Muharam.

Muharam is a Shia holy month when Imam Hussain, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, and his family were killed by anti-Shia Muslims. The Shrine of Imam Hussein is a place for worship in the city of Karbala and more than three million people visit it every year in this month.

Around the same time, another bomb exploded under a bridge in the city of Karbala killing five and wounding about 13 pilgrims.

There are reports of couple more car bombs that targeted military bases and police stations.

S.R.W condemns the violence against Shia pilgrims and invites all anti-Shia groups to respect the rights of others.

Targeted Attacks to Shia Commemorating Ashura in Pakistan

A roadside bomb killed seven people, including three children, and injured at least 30 on November 24, 2012 in northwestern Pakistan.

The groups of more than 100 Shia were preparing to observe the holy day of Ashura when a roadside bomb went off and dispersed the crowd.

Every year many Shia lose their lives in the Asura commemoration. Anti- Shia groups attack and kill Shia who observe Ashura- the martyrdom of the Imam Hussain- by suicide or road bombs. However the threats and attacks do not prevent Shia from celebrating this day. According to one of the witnesses. Shia Muslims join the commemorating groups more than before to show their appositions to Anti- Shia groups.

Bombing at Muharam Commemorations in Pakistan

A suicide bomber killed 23 and injured at least 62 people including 8 children on November 22, 2012 in Pakistan.

The bomber targeted Shia Muslim commemorating Muharram on Wednesday in the city of Rawalpindi, next to the capital of Islamabad. The bombing followed two others which resulted in death of one and injuring several citizens near a Shia mosque in the city of Karachi.

Shia Muslims commemorate the holy month of Muharram in which the tragedy of Ashura happened. On the day of Ashura, Imam Hussain – the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson- was tortured and killed along with his family and young children in a very inhumane forced war.

Every year, in the month of Muharram, a number of bombings take place resulting in the death of many Shia, especially in Pakistan.

The guardiannews.com of United Kingdom reports Anti-Shia groups openly accepted the responsibility of the bombings and admitted they are at war with Shia and will continue attacking them.

Muharram and More Shia Rights Violations in Bahrain

Since the beginning of the month of Muharram Bahraini government have arrested number of Shia clerics.

Muharram is the month in which Shia commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the Prophet’s grandson. Imam Hussain and his family were killed in a very inhumane situation is Iraq. Since then, Shia commemorate this month by wearing black, postponing weddings, and holding gatherings in mosques and Islamic centers.

Bahraini government has arrested Shia clerics to prevent gatherings in this month. The authorities also collected Muharram banners from streets and asked many scholars to go to court and sign a pledge not to attend Ashura gatherings. Mohammad Hadi Al-Ghuraify, the head of the Al-Ghuraify Islamic center said these acts will not resolve the issues going on in Bahrain. We will continue until we regain our dignity and freedom, he continued.

Bahraini Shia have lost all their human rights due to government’s unfair treatments. Many Shia were killed, arrested and tortured since the beginning of the unrest in Bahrain, yet, most media outlets are not covering the facts about Bahrain.

S.R.W recommends Bahraini authorities to stop Shia rights violations and to not increase unrest in their country by attacking the Shia belief

Bomb Attacks in the First Public Commemoration of Ashura in Yemen

Anti-Shia groups killed at least three and injured many in a bomb attack in the Shia populated area of Sanna while Yemeni Shia were commemorating the day of Ashura in public for the first time in half a century. Shia are minority in Yemen and cannot practice their faith in public, however this year they decided to take the next step in defending their rights and commemorating Ashura in public.

Anti-Shia terrorist have always targeted Shia rituals in countries such as Pakistan and Iraq and now Yemen is a new target for them. S.R.W condemns this inhuman act and asks all groups to respect each other and spread peace instead of hatred.

Car bomb killed more than 25 Shia Muslim in Iraq

Anti-Shia terrorist killed Shia Muslim in Iraq. According to SRW reporter in Iraq, three car bombing have killed more than 25 Shia Muslim in the Shuala, Graiat and Hurriyah district. As usual, terrorist have targeted worship centers while people were leaving the building.

The attacks came two days after the Day of Ashura — the tenth day of the Islamic lunar month of Muharram — which is the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The violence against Shia Muslim during these days did not just stop in Iraq. Countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia witness same situation of killing Shia or discriminating and preventing them to practice their faith.

SRW Letter to the Embassy of the Islamic Republican of Pakistan

Shia Rights Watch contacted the Pakistani ambassador, Sherry Rehman, regarding the increased Shia rights violations in this country. In a recent letter to the Embassy of the Islamic Republican of Pakistan, S.R.W asked the Pakistani government to stop and prevent human rights violations toward Shia population in the country. Shia have been suffering from many human rights violation in the past years in Pakistan. Some of the circumstances include:

· Public massacre in different cities,

· Anti-Shia attacks in Lahore and Karimabad that resulted in death of Nasir Ali alias Kallu, Ahsan Abbas Naqvi, Syed Zia Mehdi and poet Dr Shabihul Hassan Rizvi,

· Car bombs in Parachinar resulting in 80 deaths and 45 wounded,

· Anti-Shia attacks to buses near Gilgit and killing of 25 Shia passengers,

· Killing and stabbing of innocent residence of different areas.

Director of the S.R.W highlighted that increasing sectarian violence has killed and murdered hundreds of Shia and government is yet to take any action.

The organization recommended the Pakistani government to:

Investigate the targeted killings of Shia immediately,
Increase security forces in Shia populated areas: protect all Shia, especially women and children, against human rights violations
Cooperate and consult with human rights organizations to end the violations,
Condemning the violations in the country’s official media,
Initiate trainings to increase tolerance among citizens and especially authority forces.

The letter was sent to the embassy a month ago and the organization did not get any response back from the embassy.

The letter can be found under the LETTER section of the Shia Rights Watch web site.

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