(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Dozens of Egyptian Salafi mobs surrounded the home of a senior Shiite Muslim in Egypt's Giza province following that he was hosting a religious ceremony, raising fears of a repeat of the anti-Shia violence that left four Shiites dead earlier this summer in the same house.
"Dozens of residents backed by extremist Salafi clerics in Zawyat Abu Musalam village surrounded the home of Farahat Mohamed Ali, a Shiite," an eyewitness told Anadolu Agency.
"They showered him with insults after rumors spread that he and his coreligionists were inside the house just for celebrating the birthday of eighth Shiite Imam Al-Ridha," the eyewitness added.
The mob surrounded the house for 30 minutes, with several people hurling stones at. When they heard that police were coming, the eyewitness said, the crowd began to disperse.
Last June, a similar mob attacked the same house, killing four Shiite Muslims, including a prominent Egyptian Shiite figure 'Sheikh Hassan Shahata'.
Ali later told AA that a number of villagers had surrounded his home, including neighbors that he knew personally, and attempted to storm it.
"I called the police and when the mob knew the police were coming, they left," he said.
Anti-Shiite rhetoric has recently been on the rise in Egypt.
Shiites are estimated to account for only one percent of Egypt's population, according to non-official figures.
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"Dozens of residents backed by extremist Salafi clerics in Zawyat Abu Musalam village surrounded the home of Farahat Mohamed Ali, a Shiite," an eyewitness told Anadolu Agency.
"They showered him with insults after rumors spread that he and his coreligionists were inside the house just for celebrating the birthday of eighth Shiite Imam Al-Ridha," the eyewitness added.
The mob surrounded the house for 30 minutes, with several people hurling stones at. When they heard that police were coming, the eyewitness said, the crowd began to disperse.
Last June, a similar mob attacked the same house, killing four Shiite Muslims, including a prominent Egyptian Shiite figure 'Sheikh Hassan Shahata'.
Ali later told AA that a number of villagers had surrounded his home, including neighbors that he knew personally, and attempted to storm it.
"I called the police and when the mob knew the police were coming, they left," he said.
Anti-Shiite rhetoric has recently been on the rise in Egypt.
Shiites are estimated to account for only one percent of Egypt's population, according to non-official figures.
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