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| Arabia |
| Shiite Saudi Clerics Warn against Anti-Govt. Violence |
| 2014-03-10 |
| [An Nahar] Shiite Saudi holy mans warned Sunday against taking up arms against the authorities in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, in the wake of sporadic violence that has rocked the country's Shiite-dominate east. Demonstrations in Eastern Province, where most of the kingdom's two million Shiites live, erupted simultaneously with a protest movement in neighboring Bahrain in 2011. They took a violent turn in 2012 and festivities between police and protesters have so far killed 24 people, including at least four coppers, according to activists. The 10 influential holy mans from Eastern Province said in the statement received by Agence La Belle France Presse that "using violence and arms against the state is rejected and condemned". They also warned Shiite Moslems in the kingdom from "being lured into violence and extremism... which complicates matters and serves enemies." The holy mans insisted that religion demands achieving "security and stability in the country" and that "political violence destroys the nation." Clerics who signed the statement included Hassan al-Saffar who is known for his role as mediator between Shiite protesters and authorities in the past. The statement follows several meetings between Khalid al-Safyan, governor of Qatif in Eastern Province, and a number of Shiite dignitaries to try and ease tensions that have been brewing in the oil-rich east, activists said. It also comes after Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... published Friday a list designating "terror" groups, including the little-known Saudi Hezbollah Shiite Death Eater group and the Shiite Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is "God is Great, Death to America", Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews" ... rebels in neighboring Yemen. In February unknown gunnies shot up a cop shoppe in the flashpoint village of Awamiya, in Qatif, wounding three coppers, a week after a firefight there killed two coppers and two wanted Shiite activists. |
| Posted by:Fred |