Abdulkareem al-Hawaj at Imminent Risk of Execution after Recent Judgment

19 September 2017 – On 11 September, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Abdulkareem al-Hawaj, leaving him at imminent risk of being executed. With all of his appeals exhausted, al-Hawaj faces execution as soon as King Salman ratifies his sentence, which could happen at any time.

Washed up: Malaysian launderette refuses non-Muslim customers

“For Muslim customers only. Leave your shoes outside,” The owner of a self-service laundrette in the historic town of Muar in the Malaysian state of Johor likely had little inkling of the hornet’s nest he would stir up by putting up a sign barring non-Muslim from using his services.

See also ‘Malaysian launderette owner stirs Asian hornet’s nest’.

Saudi Arabia on brink of flare up as HRC chief blasts Bahrain VOB.ORG

The situation in Saudi Arabia is deteriorating sharply due to the ill-conceived policies of the ruling Al Saud family. In the past week, the regime arrested scores of prominent figures including religious scholars who had supported the regime in the past. They include Salman AlAwdah and Aa’edh Al Qarni.

Saudi Arabia: Religion Textbooks Promote Intolerance

Saudi Arabia’s school religious studies curriculum contains hateful and incendiary language toward religions and Islamic traditions that do not adhere to its interpretation of Sunni Islam, Human Rights Watch said today. The texts disparage Sufi and Shia religious practices and label Jews and Christians “unbelievers” with whom Muslims should not associate.

See also The Guardian
and AEI

Shia as Internal Others: A Salafi Rejection of the ‘Rejecters’

Conflict and polemic between Sunni Muslims and Shiites have a long history. In the contemporary era, this polemic has been accentuated by the conflictual situation in the Middle East, and it is also colouring the minority Muslim situation.

HRC urged to investigate war crimes in Yemen, UN Special Rapporteurs challenge Bahrain’s dictator VOB.ORG

HRC urged to investigate war crimes in Yemen, UN Special Rapporteurs challenge Bahrain’s dictator In a report published on Tuesday 5th September, the UN human rights office challenged the U.N. Human Rights Council, which meets this month, to agree to look into atrocities committed during what it called an “entirely man-made catastrophe”.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism in August, 2017 – Shia Rights Watch

Scores of violations bear witness to the continued systematic targeting of the Shia Muslim population around the world. The breaches of human rights range from arrest and detainment to sexual abuse and torture in prisons, and as seen this month, mass execution.

السعودية تصدر تعليمات لكتابها وأجهزة اعلامها بعدم توجيه أي انتقادات او هجمات على ايران وأبناء المذهب الشيعي.. والوفد الدبلوماسي السعودي سيزور طهران خلال أيام لإعادة “ترميم” السفارة السعودية تمهيدا لافتتاحها في غضون اشهر معدودة

دبي ـ خاص بـ”راي اليوم”: علمت “راي اليوم” من مصادر سعودية عالية المستوى ان الديوان الملكي السعودي في الرياض، عبر مستشاره الإعلامي، وجه امس تعليمات صارمة

See also The Economist.

Anti-Shia Bias Driving Saudi Arabia Unrest

“We were too scared to leave our homes, and most of the shops were shut down or burned,” a resident of Awamiya, in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern province, told me this month. “Anything that moved became a target.” He was referring to the deadly clashes over the past three months between Saudi security forces and residents of this Shiite-majority town.

Saudi Arabia’s hidden war

The Saudis have now destroyed the last building in the heart of a Shia town in the east – the centre of growing unrest which the authorities are blaming on ‘terrorist’ groups. Meanwhile dozens of people have died in the clashes and thousands are being displaced as their homes are…