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[Picture: President of Majlis-e-Ulama Shia Maulana Sayyid Ali Raza Rizvi (Left) and General Secretary of Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen Pakistan Maulana Raja Nasir Abbas (Right)]
Majlis Ulama-E-Shia (Europe) – A Religious Organisation of Shia Scholars in Europe which represents the Shia Muslims originating from the Subcontinent wrote a letter to the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki strongly condemn the actions of the government forces against foreign religious students in the Holy city of Najaf. Following is the letter.
22nd May 2014
To Mr. Nouri al-Maliki
The Prime Minister of Iraq
Majlis-e-Ulama Shia (Europe) is a Council of Religious Scholars in Europe representing Shia Muslims originating from the Subcontinent.
Since its inception in 1993, the Council has played an active role in strengthening the Shia Muslim community by facilitating wider communities to come together both on an intra-faith and inter-faith level.
The Council under its subsidiary organisation the Imamiyyah Council is also the leading umbrella organisation for Mosques and Ulama in Europe.
It has been brought to our attention through media and our representatives in the Holy City of Najaf that on the 19th of May, 2014 Iraqi Government Forces entered Nazlah, an area where Foreign religious students predominantly reside in Najaf and arrested almost 300 students in the most disrespectful and despicable manner. Many of our senior students that reside have been there since the time of Saddam. Their description of the incident was shocking and many were reminded of the treatment given to students under Saddam.
There are over 700 Pakistani students studying in Najaf. Most of these students have a legal status and a vast majority of the 300 students that were arrested also had legal leave to stay in Iraq. Many of them were willing to produce their papers to the law enforcement agencies that were arresting them. However, they were not allowed to do so. A plea was made not to be arrested in their private clothing but this was rejected and many were beaten in front of their wives and children, and were subsequently dragged on to the streets.
Nazlah is regarded as the most deprived area of Najaf. When it rains in Najaf the rain water flows into the houses of the people living in that area. The sewerage water of Najaf also troubles the houses of the people living in that area. With the least amount of monthly income, these students have never demanded anything from the Iraqi Government except the leave to remain in Najaf for education. Despite the heat of Najaf and extreme living conditions, these students only go to Najaf out of their love for Imam Ali (AS) and to gain knowledge. In return, they are being treated worse than they would ever be treated in a non-Muslim country.
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) has said:
الملک يبقی مع الکفر ولا يبقی مع الظلم
“The government of a disbeliever may last but the government of an oppressor does not last.”
We welcome and fully support the condemnation of this incident from the offices of our Maraji‘ in Najaf. We also strongly condemn the actions of the government forces against foreign religious students. We expect an apology from the law enforcement agencies as a matter of urgency. We also demand a compensation for the victims and assurance that this ill behaviour will not be repeated in the future. We all must stand united against oppression.
Sincerely,
Head Office
Majlis e Ulama e Shia Europe