Jais arrests 50 Pakistani Shia Muslims
See also:
1. 10th October 2016.
At 10.55 am two men aged 54 and 32 years old (father and son) were arrested at their home in Jalan Jasmin, Felda Kemendor, state of Melaka for preparing to organize ashura gathering. They were interrogated under Section 63 Enactment Sharia Criminal State of Melaka 1991. If found guilty they will be fined up to RM5000, or three years jail or both. Melaka banned Shi’ism on 24th September 2015. Media Report: http://www.bharian.com.my/node/200861
2. 13th October 2016.
Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission through his chairperson, Razali Ismail criticized intimidation and arrest against Shias in Malaysia. He emphasized on freedom of religion: “This right shall include the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice and freedom, either individually or in community with others in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.” Media report: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/358958
3. 14th October 2016
A standardize Friday sermon throughout state of Selangor spread hate speech against Shia adherents calling them deviants and reminding listeners to obey the 17th October 2013 religious fatwa banning Shia in Selangor. Media report: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/359041
4. 17th October 2016.
70-100 people from local NGOs such as Pertubuhan Kebajikan Silaturahim Malaysia (Si’rah Malaysia) The Mosque Organization of Masjid Al Husna Bandar Sunway (led by Mohd Hazizul Mohd Ghouts) and The Mosque Organization of Surau Munawarah (led by Mohd Fairuz Ahmad Jahari) demonstrated and intimidate small community centre for foreign students (mostly Iranians) in Sunway, state of Selangor. They demand the closure of the community centre and bring along banner reads: “Eradicate Shias from Malaysia” during the demonstration. They even report the centre to State Religious Authorities and Police. Media report: http://www.hmetro.com.my/node/174810?m=1
Shia Rights Watch Updates
See SRW updates to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor International Religious Freedom 2015 Report, which the Bureau released on 10.8.16
‘Sunni-Shi’i Rapprochement:
Internal Contradictions’
Hamid Mavani
Abstract
Ecumenical initiatives to promote Sunni-Shi’i reconciliation and
mutual respect have failed to take root because they do not tackle
the incendiary issues that prompt each branch to view the other with
disdain, if not as outright apostates or unbelievers. I argue that this
will not change until the main fault lines in their worldviews, communal
self-understanding, sacred narratives, history, theology, and
philosophy are confronted head-on.
If this cannot be done, then all proclamations of Muslim unity and
brotherhood/sisterhood under one ummah will remain hollow and
lack substance, because each side’s internal discourse would remain
unchanged. Any type of mutual tolerance and coexistence prompted
by expediency and power dynamics cannot be expected to be deeprooted
and long-lasting. The United States, along with such other
local and foreign players as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, and
Syria, have instrumentalized Sunni-Shi’i sectarianism to promote
their own myopic vested interests. The result is clear for all to see:
an exponential increase in Sunni-Shi’i antagonism.
The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 33:1 (2016), 133-47
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The Centre for Academic Shi’a Studies (CASS) invites you to an evening with the Malaysian academic writer and human rights activist Mr Mohammed Musa (also known as Faisal Tehrani).
Mr Musa specialises in comparative literature and human rights and has published over 20 books, some being banned in Malaysia. Mr Musa will be speaking about the human rights situation in Malaysia, specifically the situation of the Shia community, including other religious minorities in the country.
Date: 13th April 2016.
Time: 6:30 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM with refreshments).
Location: The Al-Khoei Foundation, Chevening Road, London, NW6 6TN.
Please confirm your attendance by RSVPing at events@shiaresearch.com
Kind regards,
Siddika Gulamhusein.