Debate on Sectarian Issues in Saudi Arabia

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Through a national newspaper, Sheikh Salih AlFouzan, member of the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia, supported the statement of Sheikh AbdulAziz Al AlShaikh over what has been recently stated by Sheikh Yusuf AlQaradawi.AlQaradawi, who is the Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, had stated earlier last week that “the revolution in Syria had revealed the truth about Hezbollah and its Shiites who were possessed by the devil”. “I stood against the senior scholar in Saudi calling for supporting Hezbollah, but the Saudi scholars were more aware and wiser than me because they knew them for what they really are” said Dr. AlQaradawi.He, also, called for launching a war against the Syrian Government after the intervention of the Lebanese, Shiite Hezbollah in the civil war in Syria. He claims that “Shiites are preparing their weapons and spending money to make massacres in Syria and kill Sunnis”.Last Thursday, Al AlShaikh, Head of the Council of Senior Scholars, commended the statement of AlQaradawi, and thanked him saying “we appreciate his attitude which is not odd of him. It is recalling us of the attitudes of great scholar through history when they turn back to the right track whenever they recognize the rational attitude”.Sheikh AlFouzan agreed upon Sheikh AbdulAziz Al AlShaikh’s statement over the recent events in Syria and Hezbollah’s intervention. He declared that Shiites are known for their enmity to Islam and Muslims since ancient times.Moreover, he indicated that “even though they had pretended to be Muslims and seeking rapprochement with the Sunni sect, this actually was to deceive others for achieving recognition of their false doctrine”. Sheikh AlFawzan, also, claimed that Shiites only aim to conspire against Islam and Muslims then they would overthrow them as their ancestors did stressing that Shiites are known for standing by the infidels against Muslims.Such abusive statements and attitudes by radical Sunnis against Shiites in general are frequent and repetitive. Shiites refuse those generalizations against them, and consider such statements as discriminative, sectarian and hatred inciting.Sheikh Hasan AlSaffar, a prominent Shiite leader form Qatif on the east of Saudi Arabia, expressed his regret over some religious scholars’ statements which agitate people against other. He attributed the increase of disputes in Arab societies to their long subjection to the influence of political tyranny and foreign ambitions.AlSaffar, on his Friday Sermon on June 13, 2013, emphasized the seriousness of turning political disputes into sectarian ones which could deteriorate nations. He, also, urged the communities to band together and dedicate their efforts for achieving reform and development in order to avoid long-term sectarian conflicts.Moreover, Dr. Sheikh Faisal AlAwwami, a well-known religious speaker, stressed that Muslims must be aware not to get drifted by the waves of sectarian incitement which is sweeping the Islamic world these days. He insisted on the importance of promoting coexistence discourse which eventually will prevail.In his weekly article “Confronting Sectarianism” published at the Saudi AlSharq Newspaper, Jafar AlShayeb, a human rights activist and a Shiite public figure form Qatif, affirmed the necessity of ignoring all calls that incite sectarianism, and confirmed the need for being wise and rational in order to prevent falling into the detestable swamp of sectarianism. He pointed out that the executive authorities should discipline the violators who trigger sectarianism through actions and statements which totally break down the national unity."Writers, clerics and TV interviews are all talking about how evil the Shiites are”, AlShayeb said on another statement to the Financial Times. “It is not any more about Hezbollah.”/129