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.

SRW Letter to the Embassy of the Republican of Indonesia

Shia Rights Watch contacted the Indonesian ambassador; Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, regarding recent Shia rights violations in this country. In the recent letter to the Embassy of the Republican of Indonesia S.R.W asked the Indonesian government to stop human rights violations toward Shia community in this country. Shia has been suffering from many human rights violation in past year in Indonesia.

Some of the violations are:

· The organization mentioned some of the violations in the letter including”

· The burn down of Shia homes,

· Killing and stabbing of innocent residence,

· Relocation Shia form their village,

· Sunni clerics and some police officers signing a public statement declaring that Shia Islam is heretical,

· And forcing Shia to converts,

Director of the S.R.W emphasized that Indonesia is a state party of the UN and ICCPR, therefore this country is obligated to follow International Bill of Human Rights and must respect all human under the law.

The organization recommended the Indonesian government to free all innocent Shia clerics, respect Shia rights and religious freedom, rebuild the homes and schools of the Shia residence, and insure security and freedom for all.

The letter was sent to the Embassy on first week of November 2012 and the organization did not get any response from the embassy.

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

Embassy of the Republican of Indonesia

Letter Number: 353

Dear Ambassador Dr. Dino Patti Djalal,

On behalf of Shia Rights Watch, I am writing to highlight the ongoing human rights violations toward Shia Muslims in Indonesia and to ask for immediate action to stop the violations.

Indonesian Shia citizen are facing an unfair treatment in this country. In most recent months Shia faced burn down of their homes, schools and village. The militants have attacked their communities, murdered their loved ones and relocated many of them to unpleasant shelters. Shia clerics have been charged, accused and arrested multiple times.

In February 2006 Sunni clerics and some police officers signed a public statement declaring that Shia Islam was heretical,

In December, 2006 Shia were prevented from attending Ashura celebration by militants,

In January 2012 Shia houses and a local school at the Nangkernang was burned down and caused 500 residents to flee,

In April 2012 a Shia cleric, Tajul Muluk, was charged with “unpleasant misconduct”,

In August 2012 two men, Hamama and Tohir, lost their lives in the attack on Shia community in Sampang,

In the same month, anti-Shia group prevented Shia students from traveling to their home town, Sampang, to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families,

There were reports of stabbing and gas bombs by anti-Shia groups in Shia populated areas,

Most recently those who took shelter after the burn down of their homes were asked to sign statements saying that they were willing to convert to Sunni school of thought.

The above incidents are examples of Shia rights violations taking place in the Indonesia. Indonesia is an Islamic country that is expected to follow Islam’s message of peace and respect and non-violence, instead Shia Muslims are being suppressed every day in the name of Islam!

The government has not shown any support toward the anti-Shi’ism that is going on in the country. The neglect of the official authorities have strengthened the Anti-Shia groups and suppressed Shia further more.

In accordance with international and Indonesian law, the government is responsible for protecting the human rights of all its citizens and promoting coexistence and non-discrimination. SRW stands in solidarity with Shia in Indonesia and urges the government to hold the Shia rights violators accountable for their actions and promote the rights of Shia in this country. To this end, SRW recommends the Indonesian government to:

Stop anti-Shia activities and respect basic human rights of Shia regarding their religious freedom;
Increase protection and guarding of areas in which anti-Shia attacks have occurred;
Investigate instances of anti-Shia attacks and bring justice to culprits;
Free and drop charges against Shia scholars such as Tajul Muluk and prevent similar cases from happening in the future;
Put a stop to anti-Shia fatwas and religious documents;
Rebuild the homes and ensure security and education for Shia of the area.,

Bahrain Authorities Arrest 7 Shia Muslim

Bahrain Government continues violations toward Shia citizens in the country. On Wednesday, November 7, 2012, Bahraini authorities broke into many Shia Muslim houses and arrest more than 7 Shia Muslims. SRW urges the government to stop the violence and release all the detainees. It is the right of any citizen to demand freedom of speech, freedom of expression and rights to seek a equality.

The list of the Shia Muslim detained from their house are:

1.Ali Alaradi
2.Sayed Hassan Alavi Saeed Khalaf
3.Aymen Jamil alhavag
4.Kafah Awaji
5.Moosa alHuri 17 years old
6.Mohammahd Khalil Ibrahim Alhalvaji 27 years old
7.Jaffar abdul shahid alsettrawi

Bahrain authorities are known for their behavior of arresting Shia Muslims without any reason and breaking into Shia Muslim houses. SRW demands the United Nation and humanitarian organizations protect Bahraini Shia Muslims.

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