Pakistan: Shia Scholars Hold Meeting to Protest Violence Against Shia Muslims
A protest meeting was held yesterday at the Small Imambargah under the leadership of Moulana Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi, condemning the oppression and brutality faced by Shia Muslims in Pakistan.
The event commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran, and Moulana Azam Hussain Zaidi served as the moderator.
Moulana Syed Afzal Hussain Kazmi stated that Pakistan, which claims to be an Islamic nation, is actually witnessing actions against Islam under the directives of the ISI. He highlighted the continuous targeting of minorities, with attacks on their Imambargahs, gurdwaras, and temples, while openly killing Shia, Hindu, and Sikh communities.
Moulana Afzal Haider condemned the violence against peaceful protests in Parachinar, demanding the immediate arrest of police officials responsible for oppressing scholars. He emphasized that the oppression is not limited to Shia Muslims but extends to Hindu and Sikh brothers as well, who are also victims of terrorism.
Moulana Azam Hussain Zaidi urged that the Shia community has consistently raised its voice against injustice and it is now their duty to express solidarity with their Pakistani brethren through protests.
Moulana Muhammad Reza Ilya noted that when Shia scholars and organizations held peaceful demonstrations in Pakistan, the police attacked unarmed civilians, resulting in injuries to scholars and the martyrdom of two Shia youths. He pointed out that the world recognizes the systematic violence perpetrated by terrorist organizations against the Shia community, while Muslim nations remain silent bystanders.
In his presidential address, Moulana Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi stated that Shia individuals are being martyred in Pakistan’s Parachinar province, with terrorist attacks occurring in mosques and Imambargahs. He criticized the Pakistani government for being a mere spectator, yielding to terrorist organizations. He expressed that the government’s failure has allowed these groups to dominate, and highlighted the hypocrisy of the Pakistani government, which fails to protect Muslims while allowing violence against them.
Moulana Syed Saif Abbas further emphasized that Shia Muslims are being targeted globally, despite their peaceful reputation. He described the United Nations as increasingly ineffective and called for countries opposed to terrorism to withdraw their ambassadors from Pakistan, which he labeled a breeding ground for terrorism. He demanded that just as Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains are granted Indian citizenship, Shia Muslims fleeing from Pakistan should also receive citizenship in India.
Following the meeting, Moulana Syed Saif Abbas sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister via the District Magistrate and another to the United Nations. The protest saw the participation of numerous attendees, including Moulana Afzal Hussain, Moulana Nafees Akhtar, Moulana Muhammad Mashriqeen, Moulana Rahbar Askari, and many others.
