Shia religious leader shot in face by IS terrorists in Australia

 An Australian Shia religious leader, who was shot in his face by IS terrorists outside a Shia Islamic prayer center in Sydney’s west, was targeted as he locked up the building following a night observing the holy ritual of Ashura, according to a community member.

 

Witnesses said that a number of people had driven past the Islamic center on Rosedale Avenue in Greenacre just hours before the shooting, chanting in Arabic that “IS is coming” and “IS will stay”.

 The cleric is an Iraqi Shia who is a leader at the center, was shot in the face and shoulder as he was locking up the center about 1.15am on Monday.

A prominent member of Sydney’s Shia community said a group of “extremists” had been targeting Shia Muslims trying to enter the center to observe Ashura, adding that a number of attacks had been carried out on the center in recent days by extremists and “supporters of IS.