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Saudis arrest 5 Shias for celebrating Imam birthday
[Iran Press TV Latest] Saudi security forces have arrested five members of the country's Shia minority for commemorating the birth of a revered Shia Imam. The five identified as Abdullah, Hossein and Jafar Nasser al-Ali along with Hossein al-Hemad and Yousef Mohammad al-Shela were detained in the eastern Al-Ahsa region of the country, Shia online reported on Tuesday. The men all in their twenties were detained upon the orders of the governor's office for celebrating the birth of Imam Mahdi. The 12th and last successor of the Prophet of Islam is believed to be the prophesied redeemer, who will bring peace and justice to the world. Wahhabism, the hard-line interpretation of Islam that has ruled hand in hand with the al-Saud family since the kingdom was founded some eight decades ago, considers the country's Shia minority as infidels. Shias regularly complain they have been banned from working as officers of the religious police, teaching classes on religion, and a number of other jobs. Outspoken Shia critics have even been jailed. The kingdom is particularly critical of the minority's practice of celebrating the birthday's of Shia figures and their mourning rituals. Last year, the country's top cleric Abdul-Aziz al-Shaikh deemed celebrating anniversaries, birthdays or mother's day as against Muslim 'righteousness.' The Grand Mufti said celebrating such events would make Muslims like followers of other faiths including Jews and Christians.
That was the lamest Rantapalooza ever ... Posted by: Fred 2009-08-05 |
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