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Bekijk Volledige Versie : Shia Scholar Imprisoned by Saudi Security



Victory
19-03-09, 12:26
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The shadow of the bludgeon is being viciously restored over the Shia citizens of Saudi Arabia by the kingdom’s security apparatus in the aftermath of the Baqee clashes. On February 24, violent confrontations between Shia pilgrims and the Saudi religious police and security forces took place in the close vicinities of the Holy Mosque in Madina.

Some 2,000 Saudi Shia citizens had gathered to mark the commemoration of the death of the Holy Prophet of Islam in Madina in late February, but were instead battered down by the fanatical Wahhabi Muttawa’ah (moral police) aided by the Saudi security forces. At least four pilgrims were killed and hundreds injured, many of whom with critical injuries, when they were attacked with guns, knives and sticks

In the aftermath of the clashes, the Saudi security apparatus imposed several restrictions on many towns and cities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province -- the kingdom's main oil-producing region where Shias constitute 75 percent of the population.

In order to quell tensions and to repair the damaged image of the monarchy’s, now proven, phony interfaith exploits, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia invited a delegation of Shia community leaders. This was however, a mere public stunt aimed to bring a measure of calm to the situation. Just ten days earlier, the Saudi king had refused to meet a Shia delegation after he announced a “reform” agenda.

Caught in the cross hairs, the Saudi kingdom had to be seen to be ‘receding’ some ground so as to regain control over a tricky situation that could have so quickly boiled over. More importantly, from the kingdom’s perspective, sustained protests in the aftermath of the Baqee clashes risked to expose the deep-seated suppression faced by Shia citizens within the kingdom to the eyes of the world.

Having made it past that hurdle, the kingdom has begun a systematic process of chastising the Shia community by making an example of its leaders.

On 8th March 2009, reports surfaced that Saudi internal security had made Shia citizens sign pledges that they would not establish congregational prayers.

Earlier today (16th March 2009), news sources from Al-Awwamiyyah in the Eastern Province confirmed that popular Shia leader Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr had been imprisoned at the hands of the Saudi security apparatus.

The security authorities raided the Sheikh’s home on two occasions this morning following which no further information about his whereabouts could be confirmed.

The imprisonment of Sheikh Al-Nimr was expected following his harsh words directed towards the government in which he condemned the aggressions against Shia citizens in Madina. Sheikh Al-Nimr had also challenged a government directive that prevented Shias from performing congregational prayers on Friday in Al-Awwamiyyah.