Statements
ISCHRO Index: arabia11082007est (Public)

ISCHRO Criticizes Saudi Treatment of Shiites 11 August 2007 

On the 6^th of August six Iraqis adhering to the Shiite faith were detained, tortured and

abused by the Saudi religious guards while on a pilgrimage to Mecca, one of Islam’s holiest cities.  They were released when one of those detained made a call for assistance to a family member on a mobile phone smuggled into the detention centre.  The group of six comprised of US and British citizens.

The Saudi religious guards known as mutawi`ah are a government organization responsible for enforcing the Wahhabi branch of the Sunni creed in the Gulf country.  The Wahhabi ideology regards any construction of shrines or historical buildings associated with Prophet Muhammad and saints as polytheism. Every year, Shiites face harassment from the mutawi`ah during their annual and other pilgrimages to the city of Mecca and Medina.  The population of Saudi Arabia comprises of 20 to 25 percent Shiites belonging to the country’s ancient tribes and inhabit the kingdoms oil-rich regions.  Despite their indigenous status and their significant numbers they have no rights in regards to their religious practices and have no say in government matters.

Medina is home to what used to be the shrines of Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra, four Shiite Imams and several other saints.  Mecca also housed shrines of several of Prophet Muhammad’s companions as well as historical sites associated with early Islam.  Until the first quarter of the twentieth century, the city displayed magnificent shrines and historical buildings dedicated to these individuals and their memory. After the takeover of the kingdom by the Ale Saud family in 1925 with the assistance of the Wahhabi devotees, a widespread campaign began for the destruction of such shrines and historical buildings.

Today traces of the shrines have been completely destroyed but Shiites continue to flock to the sacred areas every year for their religious rites.  Pilgrimage to Mecca is an obligatory act in Islam for a person who meets the conditions and visiting of shrines highly encouraged among the Shiites.  The Saudi police and religious guards keep strict control over the sites through fencing and placing of religious spokesmen to continually discourage the Shiite pilgrims.

The harassment of the country’s Shiites and Shiite pilgrims has been common place in the country.  The Iraq war has brought the situation to world attention though there is still not enough attention being paid to the human rights abuse that take place in regards to Shiites within the country.

The six Iraqi detainees claimed that they were arrested because of the way they performed their prayers, which comprises of a number of postures that are associated with Shiites.  They were beaten while the women and children accompanying them watched in horror.  One of the detainees is said to be the son of one of the Iraqi parliament representatives.

The International Shia Cultural and Human Rights Organization condemns the detention and beating of the six Iraqi Shiites and demands that the Saudi government compensate them for their physical and emotional stress.  Furthermore, the Saudi government should admit to its treatment of Shiite minority within its own country and Shiite pilgrims that visit the country.  It should then take steps to remedy the situation.  The government of other countries that regard such treatments as against human rights should raise the specific issue of the Saudi Shiite minority and Shiite visitors to the country in their meetings with Saudi officials.

International Shia Cultural and Human Rights Organization (ISCHRO)