February, 13 – 19, 2016
Saudi Arabia
Due to rising tensions stemming from the execution of cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, Saudi authorities have shut down the Rasoul al-Azam mosque in al-Ahsaa- A Shia mosque. The mosque was shut down to prevent Sheikh Hussein Radhi from holding prayers after he publicly criticized the Saudi government and to limit Shia Muslim gatherings.
Russia
Two people have been proclaimed dead and seventeen have been declared injured following a car bomb released at a police check-point at Derbent in the southern Russian Republic of Dagestan. Dagestan is the only known area with notable Shia population in Russia. The bombing killed two police officers and the seventeen injured includes police personnel as well as civilians. The blast was reported to be so strong that it completely incinerated four cars in the parking lot by the police check-point. This police check-point was the sight of an armed assault in which unknown individuals opened fire, wounding one police officer. Despite ISIS claiming responsibility for both of these attacks via twitter, blame is being placed on a local terrorist group called ‘Yuzhdag’ (short for Southern Dagestan).
As attack to Shia communities is on raise, SRW is concerned for the safety of Russian Shia. Dagestan is home for many Shia Muslims and we urge Russian government to take necessary actions to prevent future attacks.
