Statements

ISCHRO Index: jordan27082006est (Public)

ISCHRO Demands the Release of Shiite Scholar

27 August 2006

The International Shia Cultural and Human Rights Organization (ISCHRO) demands that the Jordanian government release Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Ali Al-Tabataba'i Al-Hassani immediately and without condition and to compensate him for any harm to his health and damages that might have occurred due to his detention.

Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i is a well-known scholar who has completed the highest degree of Islamic theological studies (technically labelled Ijtihad).  He is the author of numerous books and has studied under numerous prominent Shiite scholars such as Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khu’i , Grand Ayatollah Abd Al-Ala Al-Sabzwari and Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi.  An Iraqi by birth, Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i settled in the United Kingdom after Iraq’s Bathist regime issued a death warrant ordering his execution.  In the United Kingdom, Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i was responsible for establishing several religious and charitable organizations as well as being occupied with his scholarly work.

Recently, Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i made a pilgrimage to the various different religious sites in Iraq.  When returning to the United Kingdom he travelled to Jordan and due to his prominence was invited to give lectures at a religious ceremony.  In his talk, Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i encouraged the Jordanian minority Shiite community to build Mosques and Husainiahs (religious centres) which was allegedly the reason that led to his detention by the Jordanian security forces.

Shiites comprise around 2 percent of the population of Jordan.  Jordan is a predominantly Sunni country and the government shows little concern regarding minority rights.  Many members of Sunni terrorist groups active in Iraq and other countries are Jordanian, including the notorious Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi.

The detention of a Shiite Grand Scholar by the Jordanian government is a blatant disregard for the world Shiites and Shiite scholarship and a lack of respect towards non-Jordanian nationals.  It is important to point out that Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i is a resident of the United Kingdom and his detention in Jordan is illegal.  Furthermore, Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i currently suffers from a severe heart condition that had led to him being hospitalised in London on several occasions in the past.  The Jordanian government has refused the family of Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i access while in detention and has not given any information regarding his health to them.

The International Shia Cultural and Human Rights Organization is concerned about the health and illegal detention of Grand Ayatollah Al-Tabataba'i and calls on the Jordanian government to respect Shiite scholars and release the Grand Ayatollah.  It is important that the Jordanian government does not use the current political situation in the Middle East to achieve its political aims through the abuse of basic human rights.  The Jordanian government must also respect the freedom and rights of the minority Shiite population and not prevent them from establishing religious gatherings and constructing religious centres.