We'll continue to pray irrespective of consequences
Sayed Mohammad Al-Nasser, Jumaa Imam in Khobar city,
said that Saudi Shia will continue performing Jumaa prayers whatever
the consequences are and that they are waiting for a royal resolution
on the closure of Shia mosques.
Al-Nasser, a leading Saudi Shia scholar of Al-Khobar city, East of Saudi Arabia,
said that "performing Jumaa prayers is our natural right as Muslims
and as citizens loyal to their land and religion."
During Jumaa prayer which was held in a house in Al-Khobar,
Al-Nasser condemned the religious discrimination among citizens
where Sunnis are allowed to perform prayers in their masjids
and Shia are not allowed do the same thing.
Authorities had already closed five Shia masjids in Khobar city where about 20,000
Shia citizens live there according to unofficial sources.
Saudi authorities(wahabis) do not allow their Shia citizens to build their own masjids nor have
their own cemeteries in areas outside Qatif, Al-Hasa and
Najran where they are majority.
The official bodies in Eastern Province Governance and
the Ministry of Religious Affairs do not provide reasons for the ban on Shia.
Royal Decree
Al-Nasser said that Shia citizens are waiting for a royal decree
by King Abdullah to resolve the issue of continuous closure of Shia masjids.
High level Shia delegation from Khobar met King Abdullah on July 19 to brief him
about the closure of Shia masjids and he promised to look in to
the subject matter but so far there are no positive results.
Al-Nasser pointed out that some of the local officials encourage Shia,
who visit them for complaint, to perform prayers in Sunni masjids
instead of granting permission to build their own.
Al-Nasser said "we request one of the Sunni masjids to allow us use their masjid
during Ramadan but they refued unless we get a permission from Emara or Awqaf."
As a result, Shia citizens built a large tent to perform prayers during Ramadan.
Authorities called Hajj Abdullah Al-Muhana, the custodian of the tent,
and forced him to sign an undertaking to remove the tent or he will be sent to jail.
Al-Nasser said that we are currently waiting in an anticipation
to hear from the officials to resolve pending issues.
Human Rights Watch said in a report released recently,
that Saudi(wahabus) is practicing Systematic Discrimination
and Hostility toward Saudi Shia Citizens.
State discrimination against Shia extends to realms other than religious freedom.
The report cites discrimination in the education system,
where Shia may not teach religion in class and Shia pupils
learn from Sunni teachers that they are unbelievers.
Sayed Mohammad Al-Nasser, Jumaa Imam in Khobar city,
said that Saudi Shia will continue performing Jumaa prayers whatever
the consequences are and that they are waiting for a royal resolution
on the closure of Shia mosques.
Al-Nasser, a leading Saudi Shia scholar of Al-Khobar city, East of Saudi Arabia,
said that "performing Jumaa prayers is our natural right as Muslims
and as citizens loyal to their land and religion."
During Jumaa prayer which was held in a house in Al-Khobar,
Al-Nasser condemned the religious discrimination among citizens
where Sunnis are allowed to perform prayers in their masjids
and Shia are not allowed do the same thing.
Authorities had already closed five Shia masjids in Khobar city where about 20,000
Shia citizens live there according to unofficial sources.
Saudi authorities(wahabis) do not allow their Shia citizens to build their own masjids nor have
their own cemeteries in areas outside Qatif, Al-Hasa and
Najran where they are majority.
The official bodies in Eastern Province Governance and
the Ministry of Religious Affairs do not provide reasons for the ban on Shia.
Royal Decree
Al-Nasser said that Shia citizens are waiting for a royal decree
by King Abdullah to resolve the issue of continuous closure of Shia masjids.
High level Shia delegation from Khobar met King Abdullah on July 19 to brief him
about the closure of Shia masjids and he promised to look in to
the subject matter but so far there are no positive results.
Al-Nasser pointed out that some of the local officials encourage Shia,
who visit them for complaint, to perform prayers in Sunni masjids
instead of granting permission to build their own.
Al-Nasser said "we request one of the Sunni masjids to allow us use their masjid
during Ramadan but they refued unless we get a permission from Emara or Awqaf."
As a result, Shia citizens built a large tent to perform prayers during Ramadan.
Authorities called Hajj Abdullah Al-Muhana, the custodian of the tent,
and forced him to sign an undertaking to remove the tent or he will be sent to jail.
Al-Nasser said that we are currently waiting in an anticipation
to hear from the officials to resolve pending issues.
Human Rights Watch said in a report released recently,
that Saudi(wahabus) is practicing Systematic Discrimination
and Hostility toward Saudi Shia Citizens.
State discrimination against Shia extends to realms other than religious freedom.
The report cites discrimination in the education system,
where Shia may not teach religion in class and Shia pupils
learn from Sunni teachers that they are unbelievers.
No comments:
Post a Comment