Sectarian Attack on the Shi'a of the  Arabian Peninsula

The Committee   for  the  Defense  of  Human  Rights  in the  Arabian Peninsula

( CDHRAP )

DATE : 18 / 02/ 2007  

NO : 128/ H / 2007

It is taken away that Saudi Regime could not stop the religious extremism against religious denominations who do not adhere to the very strict Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence , particularly the Shi'a minority who continued to subject to officially sanctioned discrimination of various forms condoned by the government and the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars ( Ulama ) who stand opposite the branches and schools of Islam who do not adhere to the very strict Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence .

Previously , local and International organizations issued statements and reports condemned the Saudi practices .Despite the allegation of Saudi government officials who called for tolerance and moderation, and made public pronouncements condemning religious extremism , but Saudi's record ,however ,shows these public proclamations of support for the promotion and protection of tolerance and moderation to be disingenuous .

The received reports about the persecution  of Shi'a in Arabian Peninsula shows that truth .

It is obvious that the harassment against Shi'a was increased in the last period because of the political situation in Iraq where an international campaign has launched to withstand Shi'a .  

Recently , some Shi'a pilgrims from the Eastern Province who came to perform the Hajj( pilgrimage to Mecaa ) were subjected to beating and assault at the hands of Saudi insecurity forces . Also the Saudi authorities continued to arrest , and detain Shi'a citizens because of their participation in demonstrations support Islamic resistance against Israel in Lebanon .

The Saudi regime subjugate the press and media to publish rousing news and articles against Shi'a through financially backing satellite television channels also provided guidelines to Arabic and Western newspapers

The most dependence of Saudi regime is on the religious establishment and government-sanctioned pulpits who issued expiatory and rousing Fatwas and mosque preachers, whose salaries are paid by the government used strong anti-Shi'a in their sermons particularly who live in Arabian Peninsula , insinuating that Shi'a are not loyal to their respective countries.

CDHRAP call international human rights organizations and world  governments to condemn human rights violations against Shi'a committed by the Saudi regime .

The Saudi regime should bear an obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to religion .