SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – The Shia minority in Indonesia are being assaulted and killed by the extremely violent Saudi backed Wahhabi sect. It is now clear that the Saudi oil money is used to propagate the intolerant Wahhabi ideology in Indonesia and as a consequence the Shia’s are the direct target of this violent sect. Naila Zakiyah, a teacher at a Shia school for girls in the city of Bangil, East Java, recently said to Asia Times journalists that "In light of recent events, we are naturally worried about the safety of our students... We feel discriminated against. Before this year's Ramadan, the Wahhabi controlled mosque across the street broadcasted their sermon twice a week. They had their loudspeakers directed towards our school. They were shouting that Shia teaching is misguided and that spilling our blood is halal [permissible under Islamic law]. It is said that those who are attacking us are being funded by money from Saudi Arabia. In 2007, for example, 500 people demonstrated in front of our boarding school; the Saudis gave each person $2."
When Asia Times reporters visited the neighbouring Wahhabi mosque, Wahhabis showed them anti-Shia pamphlets and said that they couldn't talk to their Shia neighbours "in a subtle way anymore". They added, "If they don't want to convert, then we have to use violence. In our opinion, they are kafir [unbelievers]. We will not be at peace with them until we die, even if our lives are at stake. They have already insulted Islam! If the police do not take action against the Shia’s, we will resort to violence.” According to Asia Times in late December 2011, a mob of over 500 Wahhabis drove 300 Shia’s from their houses in the village of Nangkernang, Madura Island. Countless dwellings, including a boarding school and a mosque were destroyed.
The article revealed that local authorities sided with the attackers. Only one person was charged for the attack on the village and was sentenced to a symbolic three months in prison. At the same time, local Shia religious leader Tajul Muluk was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to two years in prison, despite repeated protests from Amnesty International and other international human rights organisations. After the attack, some villagers cautiously returned, only to face even more devastating terror few months later. On August 26, 2012, around 30 Shi'ites were traveling from Nangkernang village when they were confronted by Wahhabi mob armed with swords and machetes. According to Indonesian press, two people were murdered as they attempted to defend women and children. When journalists investigated, villagers said, members of the mob had taken some Shia children away from their parents. The mob also set fire to several homes, including one belonging to Tajul Muluk.
The journalists visited the village in October, defying an explicit prohibition by the local police. After crossing the rice fields in the middle of the night, they managed to meet representatives of the Shia community. "Now we are afraid to say or to show that we are Shia," said one. "Here, two communities are living side by side. Not all attackers came from the outside; some were from our own village." After the brutal attacks, more than 170 people left central Madura for a refugee camp in the city of Sampang. Even in there, a converted stadium was out of reach for most independent journalists, and it took great efforts to negotiate their entry. Refugees were clearly in despair. They all wanted to return home, but the government insisted that they would be relocated. Indonesia's minister of religious affairs has left little doubt about his sympathies. "Converting Shia Muslims to the Sunni Islam followed by most Indonesians would be the best way to prevent violent outbreaks," he said.
Source: Asian Times
