SRW Letter to Kofi Annan

Shia Rights Watch calls Kofi Annan to protect Shia in Syria.

Shia Rights Watch addresses UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan in a letter calling on him to establish equity in dealing with Shia issues in Syria. The organization calls Annan for an immediate support for Syrian Shia from the systematic sectarian killings authorized by Saudi clerics and covered by Saudi and Qatari media.

The full letter of Shia Rights Watch to UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan:

The International Envoy to Syria Mr. Kofi Annan,

Mr. Envoy of United Nations and the people that admire peace, we would like to reveal to you the fact that has always been darkened and distorted by media outlets owned by Saudi Arabia and Qatar: the fact is Shia in Syria are the target of terrorism.

Since the beginning of the crackdown in Syria and in the pretext that Shia there belong to the same sect of President Bashar al Assad, Shia residents have always been the target of all terrorist groups that are ideologically and logistically supported by Saudi Arabia; these extremists have come to Syria with tens of top Saudi clerics statements authorizing the killings of Shia considering them as “Atheists” until killings became merely based on identities and names that would reveal any sectarian affiliation.

Mr. UN Envoy,

It’s time for the international society to take full, serious and immediate responsibility in supporting unarmed citizens against the constant and systematic attacks that aim to vacuum the country from its Shia residents, display tens of families, and go on sectarian killings against hundreds of men, women and children. Any possible support is urgent now.

Besides that, we seek an international delegation that works on making peace and halt all shapes and sources of terrorism in Syria.

Great success to your mission,

Shia Rights Watch

Helping Shia Got Him Killed

Jamaal Al- Wahsh, son of the Palestanian martyr Ali Wahsh, who the street in Hijjrah near Sayyida Zainab region was named after; Shaheed Ali Wahsh, a sunni married to a shi’a woman from Lebanon. They have mature children. He’s been living among his 2 brothers and relatives who have joined the rebels. However, he has some tendency towards the Shi’a people and feels their suffering from the FSA militia. During the current crisis when some shi’a families were displaced, he did his best to help protect them and their properties, while protesting against his brothers and relatives when terrorizing shi’as living in their area .

On the 1^st of Sept. 2012, I read on the rebels’ web pages that they severely killed a person called (Jamaal Al-wahsh) as being working against the revolution, although he was the son of their role model. At that time I hadn’t known him yet. So the story passed easily.

On the 3^rd of Sept. 2012, I was called by the lady who was working with me in the humanitarian relief project, asking me to come for an urgent case needing immediate help and accommodation. When I went east of the Haram, I found a woman seems to be miserable with her elder son (about 25 years old). When I asked, they replied that their father had been killed by the rebels before 3 days and they fled away carrying nothing with them. I had to register their father’s name. To my surprise when I asked, they said “Jamaal Al-Wahsh”. So I was curious to know the whole story, and they narrated the above story that he has been murdered severely by his 2 brothers and relatives as he was helping the Shi’a displaced people and nothing more than that. So we did the duty towards them.

Qasim-Syria

Shia Rights Watch Calls to Spare Syrian Civilians

Shia Rights Watch calls all sides in Syria to avoid and spare unarmed civilians from the ongoing bloody conflict and to show more commitment to the laws of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Geneva Convention.
SRW also stresses that these laws have granted the protection of the life of civilian persons in time of war and moreover criminalize those who target civilians’ dignity, life, security or who torture them and cause them physical and spiritual harm, or who arrest them as hostages.
Shia Rights Watch also alarms that legal and jurisprudential cases will be suited against those found guilty in attacking civilians and violating their human rights, especially since the laws of the Geneva Convention do not abandon the right of chasing criminals over time.
The organization calls for the respect to rights of religious, sectarian and ethnic minorities and to stop attacking them under any proclaims or reasons.

Shia Pilgrims Kidnaped in Syria

48 Iranian pilgrims were kidnapped on August 4^th, three of which were murdered during an air attack yesterday, Monday the 6^th. Rebel spokesman, Moutassam al-Ahmad, threatened to kill the rest, if the Syrian Army does not stop its resistance.

A bus load of Iranians pilgrims were abducted by gunmen. The pilgrims were returning from the Seyedeh Zeinab’s Shrine in Zeinabia outside of Damascus. They were kidnapped on suspicions of being military personnel.

Sources reveal that many of the so called rebels are in fact Al Qaeda forces who are fighting in the name of the Free Syrian army.

This anti-Shi’ism extremist group intentionally targets Shia and Alawite populated areas and pilgrims. Many Shia have been kidnapped or murdered in the last several months in Syria.

Shia Rights Watch condemns the act of anti-Shi’ism and asks all parties to stop violence against any minority including Shia in Syria. SRW advocated non-violence since violence cannot be the answer to the disagreements. If revolution is for everyone, why are Shia being targeted?

Save the Lives of Shia Muslims and Shrines in Syria

Washington,DC (July 20, 2012), According to our sources in Sayedah Zainab, Syria, 10 kilometers outside Damascus, thousands of Shi’a Muslims are in danger of massacre by the Free Syrian Army and groups affiliated with them. Shi’a Rights Watch has learned from many Shi’a Muslims living in the area that the Anti-Shia terrorist have threatened to massacre all the Shi’a in the area unless they flee.

Most of the Shi’a living in the area are refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries. The Shi’a community there flourished by building hospitals, schools, hotels, and shops. The Shi’as living in and around the area of Damascus have played no part in the ongoing violence that is occurring in Syria between the rebels and the government.

We call on the United Nations, the United States, and members of the United Nations Security Council to immediately interfere to stop the imminent massacre of thousands of innocent Shi’a Muslims living around the holy shrine of the granddaughter of the Prophet Mohamed where a suicide bomber blew up an explosive laden car near the shrine weeks ago killing some and damaging the shrine itself.

The Anti-Shia terrorist armed groups have previously stated their anti-Shi’a positions which led to the killing of dozens of Shi’a including 23 Iraqis killed in the past ten days and the beheading of others. Several Shia scholars where killed including Syrian born Afghan Sayed Naser Alavi, who was killed April 13, 2012 .

We specifically call on Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to use their influence on the Anti-Shia Terrorist group to stop the massacre of Shi’a Muslims who have no involvement in the conflict between the Syrian government and the rebels. They have played no role in supporting either side.

We call on U.N. observers to travel to the area and prevent the Anti-Shia terrorist and their affiliates from harming innocent Shi’a Muslims and their holy places.

We especially call on the international media and international community to immediately dispatch reporters to the region in order to prevent the ensuing tragedy by gaining international attention.

Threats of genocide have also come from outside Syria from people who fund the Anti-Shia terrorist. A former member of the Kuwaiti Parliament, Osama AlMunawer (Salafi Extremists) has promised to destroy the shrine of Sayedah Zainab, which holds the remains of the granddaughter of Prophet Mohamed. AlMunawer made this statement on his twitter account July 18. The Kuwaiti government is responsible for AlMunawer’s statement as he holds its citizenship. The international community is requested to pressure Kuwait to hold such criminals to account.

We strongly condemn these terrorist actions against the Shi’a community in Syria and call for urgent action for the protection of these communities.

Car Bomb Near Sayyeda Zaynab,Syria

A suicide bomber blew up an explosives-laden car near a revered Shia shrine in the Syrian capital Thursday, the state news agency says.

The bombing occurred at a parking lot near the holy shrine of Sayyidah Zaynab, which houses the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed’s granddaughter..

At least 14 people were injured. It was not clear whether the shrine was the bomber’s intended target.

State media showed photographs of a large crater and mangled, charred cars in the parking lot.

Source:CNN.com

Anti-Shia Killed Another Shia Religious Figure in Syria

Shia Rights Watch (SRW) strongly condemns the terrorist attack targeting Shia figures in Syria. SRW, also urges United Nation to put more effort in protecting Shia in the country knowing that Shia always are known for supporting peace and nonviolence in the area.

On Sunday May 13, 2012, Anti-Shia terrorist attack the Imam of the Ruqayya mosque, Sheikh Abbas al-Laham, in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The attackers killed al-Laham while he was heading from the evening prayer in the mosque to his home.

He is one of the several religious figures killed in the country in recent months.

Al-Laham’s assassination came a day after the head of the UN supervision mission described the situation in Syria as calm.

Anti-Shia Terrorist Attack Sayed Naser Alavi and Kill him

Breaking News: According to SRW (Shia Rights Watch) reporter in Syria, Anti-Shia terrorist attack Sayed Naser Alavi. Alavi was killed by an unknown armed person who opened fire on him in front of his house while he was heading for the Hosseynieh. He was taken to a hospital right away but due to fatal gunshot wounds, he could not survive and died on the way to the hospital.

Seyyed Naser Al-Alawiyeh was a Religious / Social activist who used to help families and individuals suffering from recent Syrian unrest.

Shia population in Syria are facing hard times since neither government or anti-government accept them. Shia Rights Watch already sent the letter to Kofi Annan regarding the protection of Shia are living in Syria. It is unfortunate that such incidents happen in Syria and the world has kept silent. Shia in Syria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are victim of inhumane treatment that are supported by anti-Shia groups who deny any religious rights and freedom of living.

The closure of Al-Dar Newspaper

It has been our pledge to engage with the political system in Kuwait to ensure that rights, freedom, democracy are upheld. Preserving freedom of expression and freedom of the press, as outlined in Articles 36 and 37 of the Kuwaiti Constitution, is important to all Kuwaitis and indispensable for ensuring free debate and government accountability.

The Freedom ofexpression, regardless of opinion, is one of the fundamental human rights guaranteed by the constitutions of free and democratic countries. Given Kuwait’s commitment to democracy and a free press, the Ministry of Information’s decision to close the Al-Dar newspaper, is surprising. The paper reflects the opinion of a large segment of the people of Kuwait.

This decision might damage national unity among Kuwaitis. There is also concern that it may not stop with the closing of the newspaper, but may result in the suppression of individual speech as well. Such actions would alarm international organizations sponsoring the issue of free media and human rights.

Kuwait Set to Act Against Shia Newspaper Al-Dar

KUWAIT CITY: A Shia newspaper in Kuwait faces trial for its use of the term “invasion” to report on the Saudi troop deployment in Bahrain to help quell protests, its editor and local media said on Tuesday.

“So far we have not received official notification, though we heard that we have been referred to the public prosecution for criticising Saudi Arabia,” Al-Dar newspaper editor Abdulhussein al-Sultan told AFP. Local media reported that Kuwait’s acting information minister, Roudhan Al-Roudhan, ordered the action after meeting with Sultan and asking him to stop articles that could damage relations between Arab states in the Gulf.

The meeting came after Al-Dar published a front-page article on “Saudi invasion” of Bahrain, Sultan told AFP.
“Roudhan conveyed wishes of the political leadership not to indulge in issues that undermine Gulf ties,” the editor said. “We always say yes to the emir’s wishes.”

Sectarian tensions between the majority Sunnis and the minority Shia community in Kuwait have soared over the uprising in Shia-majority Bahrain which is ruled by a Sunni royal family.
Sunni Islamist MPs vowed at a public gathering on Saturday to file to question the prime minister in parliament for not sending troops to Bahrain and accused Shiite Iran of meddling in Bahraini affairs.
Kuwait has so far remained silent and it remains unclear whether its troops have been sent to Bahrain, as announced by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates whose forces were deployed on March 16.
Bahrain’s army chief said on Monday that Kuwaiti navy units have joined other Gulf forces deployed in Bahrain for joint exercises.

Despite the lack of clarity, Kuwaiti Shiites have staged a rally to thank the government for not having sent troops to Bahrain in support of Manama as it cracks down on the kingdom’s mainly Shiite demonstrators.

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