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| Metro Detroit Shias say they were attacked by Salafis at hajj in Saudi Arabia |
| 2013-10-23 |
| A group of metro Detroiters visiting Saudi Arabia for the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage, said they were attacked and threatened with death last week by a group of Sunni men from Australia because they are Shias, a minority sect within Islam. One of the members of the group was strangled until his face turned blue and women in the group were threatened with rape, according to people who witnessed the attack last week. They allege that authorities in Saudi Arabia did not take their complaints seriously and deleted a video one of them had made of the incident. A U.S. State Department official told the Free Press on Monday: "We are concerned by reports that a group of U.S. citizens was attacked ... at a campsite for Hajj pilgrims located outside of Mecca. We take these reports seriously and are committed to the protection of U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad." Time to launch a Crusade? Oh, never mind.... Maybe State can issue a sternly worded warning to would-be hajjis planning trips to SA, telling them the US will not be responsible, etc... While Shias from metro Detroit have reported being harassed before on hajj, last week's incident was much more extreme and frightening, members of the group told the Free Press. The Salafis asked one of the Shia men if he was Shia, recalled Seyed Mothafar Al-Qazwini, a nephew of Imam Al-Qazwini. "He responded 'yes.' He was immediately attacked by three men, one grabbing him in a choke hold, the others punching him in the face." Al-Qazwini said the leader of the Salafis then shouted "Kill them all. Kill the Shia." Suehaila Amen of Dearborn said the attackers also yelled "Kafir" at the Shias, an insult that means "infidel" or "non-Muslim." Some of the Sunnis then ran to the women's tents, telling them "if they do not leave in 15 minutes, they will rape them all," Al-Qazwini said. During the attack, the leader of the attackers referenced a 7th century battle in Karbala, Iraq, where a leader revered by Shias was killed along with many of his family members, said Al-Qazwini. The leader told the Shias, according to Al-Qazwini: "We will make this day like the day of Karbala. We will kill all your men and take your women as captives." And after that, take on the entire infidel world! Jihad! Derka Derka! |
| Posted by:Anguper Hupomosing9418 |
| #5 It is a cultural thing, it is not for us to judge what is happening in the Magic Kingdom. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2013-10-23 23:58 |
| #4 Didn't know Shiias went on the Haj. |
| Posted by: Ebbineng Unavique7057 2013-10-23 19:16 |
| #3 they should of worn their mecca suicide bomber hat instead of the detroit tigers cap. |
| Posted by: airandee 2013-10-23 18:35 |
| #2 "Shias from metro Detroit have reported being harassed before on hajj" Maybe it's not because you're Shia; maybe it's because you're from Detroit. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-10-23 15:50 |
| #1 Tell it to someone who cares. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-10-23 15:47 |