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.

31 Shia Muslim Activists Lost Their Citizenship in Bahrain

Shia Rights Watch (SRW) condemns the Bahrain government last action toward majority Shia Muslim population.

Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of 31 Shia Muslim activists, among which are three clerics: Hussein Mirza, Khaled Mansour Sanad and Alawi Sharaf.

Bahrain government continuing to violate human rights by restricting Bahraini citizen’s practices.

Shia Rights Watch urges national human rights organizations to act toward stopping Bahrain authorities violation of human rights.

Bahrain government should give back these activists their citizenship and release all activist arrested

List of People who had their citizenship revoked.. Click Here

Religious scholar killed in Pakistan

Pakistani Shia are under constant victimization but Pakistani authorities deny help to Shia Muslim citizen.

Religious scholar Allama Aftab Haidar Jafari was killed while unidentified men opened fire on his car.

Mirza Shahid Ali is a second Shia Muslim who was also killed.

Allama Aftab Haider Jafri was a leader of the Jafria Alliance.

Shia Being Forced to Convert in Indonesia

Anti-Shia activities are growing in Indonesia. Earlier, Shia Rights Watch reported the burn down of many Shia civilians’ homes in Sampang. Eye witnesses reported that the Anti-Shia group slaughtered some Shia Muslims and injured 7 others before burning 10 of their houses. Hundreds of Sampang Shia were forced to take shelter at the sports center after the incident.

Immediately SRW urged Indonesian authorities to protect the life of its Shia civilians, in respond, the Indonesian government guaranteed the safety and security of the Shia in the area.

Now, once again the human rights of the Shia are being violated in this country. It is reported that Shia refugees, who are currently taking shelter at a sports center, were forced to sign statements saying that they were willing to convert to Sunni school of thought. Kontras Surabaya coordinator Andy Irfan said that the Shia were forced to sign such statements on Nov 1/ 2012. The statement says the Shia followers were willing to return to “the right path”.

This act violates the article number 18 of the International Bill of Human Rights that states:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Indonesian Shia must enjoy freedom of religion as it is guaranteed for all under the stated Bill.

Shia Rights Watch, once again, urges the Indonesian government to respect the law and protect the Shia from violence and human rights violations.

43 Years Old Asiyeh al Madih Killed in Bahrain due to Poisonous Tear Gas

Shia Muslim in Bahrain are still the target of inhumane treatment despite being the majority population. The government of Bahrain, by support of Saudi Arabia, continues targeting innocent people.

According to Bahrain center for human rights until now 96 people have been killed and many others injured in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain.

Poisonous tear gas used by Bahraini forces against Shia has killed 43 years old woman in Jid Hafas.

The victim, killed on Sunday November 4, 2012 was identified as Asiyeh al Madih, 43, after a tear gas canister hit her while walking in a street during an overnight attack by regime forces in Jid Hafas.

Gilit activist Ashiq Hussein killed in Karachi

According to Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies, one of the activist who worked on settling Shia population in Gilgit was killed by Anti-Shia terrorist in Karachi.

40 years old Ashiq Hussein was one of the people trying to stop the violence against Shia Muslim in the area.

SRW Holds the United Nations Responsible for Their Silence Toward Bahraini Government’s Inhumane Actions

Shia Rights Watch hold the United Nations responsible for their silence toward Bahraini government’s inhumane actions against unarmed citizens. The United Nations and the international community at large have responsibility to protect and defend the suppressed Bahraini citizen who are losing their lives and dignity everyday in the country, especially the village of Al Eker.

Several reliable sources in Bahrain confirmed that Bahraini security forces and the so-called Peninsula Shield Saudi sieged the village of Al Eker along with some other villages in recent weeks.

The village was locked down after the government accused the peaceful protesters of the death of two policemen. Sources could not find any connection between peaceful protestors and the death of the policemen.

Since the lock down residents are not allowed to enter, exit or go to work. The authorities do no allow any medical help to be provided to injured. Sources reveal houses were raided, causing physical and emotional discomfort.

Shia Rights Watch condemns the illegal and inhumane acts of the Bahraini government . All humans must have access to their basic human rights. Bahraini government is violating the citizens rights by killing and arresting them.

United Nation and other human rights organs are silent and S.R.W urges them to act immediately and help all Bahraini citizens, especially the residents of Al Eker.

10 Shia Muslim killed and 26 wounded in Iraq

(Shia Rights Watch)- Violence in Iraq seems unwilling to cease. Unfortunately most of the attacks are against the Shia population. In a Shia majority country such as Iraq, Shia Muslims still face violence and aggression from Anti- Shia groups.

According to reporters, three Car bombs killed at least 10 Shia Muslims and wounded 30 in Shia districts in Baghdad on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

The bombs exploded in a Shia neighborhood, northwestern Baghdad, and Kazemiya.

Anti-Shia terrorist do what they can to keep fear among the Shia population in Iraq, unknowing that every single blood that been lost, makes the Shia in Iraqmore resilient in facing terrorist.

Shia Muslims in Iraq try their best to keep the peace in the country but unfortunately, the government of Iraq does not put effort to keep its Shia population safe and start a Anti-Terrorist task force.

Shia Rights Watch have asked the Iraqi government to protect the Shia Muslims and their right to live in peace without worrying about the next bomb explosion in their neighborhood.

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