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7 Yemenis killed in fresh Saudi warplanes aggression

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency – At least seven people have been killed in a new wave of Saudi airborne aggression against war-torn Yemen, as Riyadh’s unabated bombardment of residential areas keeps taking lives of civilians throughout the impoverished country.

Yemen’s al-Masirah TV reported on Saturday that the civilians, including four children and a woman, lost their lives as Saudi fighter jets targeted a residential house in the Yemeni capital Sana’a.

Saudi warplanes also targeted a number of localities in the province several times, including Sarf dam, a military police building and Beit al-Awzari area in the Bani al-Hareth district.

Similar assaults hit 12 times an educational center in the Sawadiyah district of Yemen’s southeastern province of Bayda.

They also bombarded a pipeline in the central province of Ma’rib and targeted a camp that was set up for displaced people in the Sarwah district of the same province.

In the western province of Hudaydah, Saudi jets struck an air defense site in Salif and a marine base in Kamaran Island multiple times. Warplanes also carried out five airstrikes against Mokha port in Yemen’s southwestern province of Ta’izz.

There is still no word on the possible casualties of those raids.

In retaliatory attacks carried out by Yemeni Ansarullah fighters, a tank at a military site and five other military vehicles were destroyed west of the Ghamar village in Saudi’s southwestern border region of Jizan.

Yemeni army says it also took control of four Saudi military bases in the region, adding that they inflicted casualties on Saudi forces.

Saudi Arabia started its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 – without a UN mandate – in a bid to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement and restore power to the fugitive former Yemeni president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh.

According to a report released on September 19 by the Yemen’s Civil Coalition, over 6,000 Yemenis have so far lost their lives in the airstrikes, and a total of nearly 14,000 people have been injured.

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Saudi cleric: Riyadh regime responsible for Hajj Tragedy

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency – A Saudi cleric says the Riyadh regime should be held accountable for the crush that killed hundreds of Hajj pilgrims at Mina, adding that Saudi rulers cannot evade their responsibility by labeling the tragedy as an act of God.

In a video that circulated on social networking sites, Salman bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Ouda, rejected the views that the repeated incidents during the Hajj pilgrimage could be justified simply by describing them as an act of God, which is inevitable.

The cleric further emphasized that Islam attaches great significance to protecting people’s lives and providing security during religious rituals, calling on Muslim countries to make efforts to that effect.

Ouda also called on media outlets to cover the incident with full transparency.

The remarks by the Saudi sheikh comes as Saudi Arabia’s top religious leader Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah ash-Sheikh attempted to take the responsibility for the Mina stampede off the Riyadh regime’s shoulders, claiming that the incident was beyond human control.

Sheikh made the remarks in a Saturday meeting with Saudi Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, whom he said was not to blame for the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims outside the holy city of Mecca earlier this week.

He added that pilgrims must stick to “the rules and regulations taken by the security personnel… In doing so, they protect their lives, their security and facilitate their performing of the rituals.”

On September 24, a fatal human took place at Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca, as a large crowd of pilgrims were on their way to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan, a Hajj ritual.

Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry has put the death toll from the incident at nearly 770. However, Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization says the disaster has killed around 2,000 pilgrims.

The Mina tragedy has cast doubt on the Saudi regime’s ability to manage the large influx of pilgrims into the kingdom during the Hajj pilgrimage season every year.

Riyadh claims the disorderly behavior of the pilgrims caused the disaster.

However, pilgrims blame the deadly crush on police, who reportedly had closed two roads on the day the incident happened. They also point the finger at Saudi authorities who failed to adopt proper security measures in handling the flow of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in high temperatures.

This year’s pilgrimage saw a host of incidents, with 109 people killed in the collapse of a giant crane in the Grand Mosque days before the ritual started. On Friday, Egyptian pilgrims stationed in Mina reported a fire in their tents, although no official casualties were reported.

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Iran’s Parliament statement condemns Saudi rulers for Mina tragedy

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Iran’s lawmakers censured Saudi Arabia for failing to provide security for Hajj pilgrims and said management of the Hajj pilgrimage should be transferred to the Muslim world, which can handle the religious rites “in the safest way”.

In a statement on Sunday, the Iranian MPs pointed to a recent crush in Mina, near Mecca, that led to the deaths of about 2000 Hajj pilgrims, including at least 155 Iranians, saying that the incident turned the Eid al-Adha, a major Muslim festival, into a mourning occasion for the Islamic Ummah (community).

“Today a rightful demand has been raised among Muslims,” the lawmakers stated, adding that the Islamic world is wondering how long its holiest sites, which do not belong to a single country but to the entire Muslim world, should witness such tragic events due to the Saudi government’s poor management of the event.

“Undoubtedly, the high capacity of the Muslim world makes it capable of managing the global Hajj congregation in the safest way,” the Iranian MPs said.

They also called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to dispatch a fact-finding mission to Saudi Arabia to investigate the causes of the Mina tragedy.

About 2000 pilgrims were killed in the Thursday crush in Mina when performing religious rites. With the death toll rising, many pilgrims are still unaccounted for in the incident that marked the worst Hajj disaster in 25 years.

So far, 155 Iranian pilgrims have been pronounced dead and more than a hundred others are confirmed to have been wounded in the tragic event.

The incident came nearly two weeks after tens of Hajj pilgrims were killed in another tragic incident in Mecca.

On September 11, a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque in stormy weather, killing at least 107 people, including 11 Iranians, and injuring 201 others.

Hajj, the world’s largest annual gathering of people, has already witnessed numerous deadly crushes, fires and riots in the past.

Saudi authorities have come under fire for their inability to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who converge on Mecca every year.

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ISIS attacks Afghan police posts

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Members of ISIS have launched coordinated attacks on a number of security posts in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar as the terrorists are making inroads into the crisis-hit Asian country.

Haji Ghalib, governor of Achin district in the troubled province, said Daesh extremists raided eight to 10 police posts early on Sunday, but did not provide any information about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.

“This is the first time that Daesh fighters have launched coordinated attacks on police checkpoints in Nangarhar,” Ghalib noted.

The report comes two days after the United Nations revealed on September 25 that Daesh is recruiting militants in 25 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces

“The number of groups and individuals who are openly declaring either loyalty to or sympathy with ISIL (Daesh) continues to grow in a number of provinces in Afghanistan,” the report said.

Nangarhar has been witnessing a rise in the presence of Daesh terrorists in a number of its districts in recent months.

On June 16, the Afghan militant group, Taliban, warned Daesh ringleader, Ibrahim al-Samarrai aka Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, against “waging a parallel insurgency in Afghanistan.”

Taliban asked the Daesh leader to keep his men out of Afghanistan by withdrawing his support for those elements that are recruiting young militants in Taliban strongholds.

Afghanistan is gripped by insecurity nearly 14 years after the United States and its allies attacked the country in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. Although the attack overthrew the Taliban, many areas across Afghanistan still face violence and insecurity.

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Ghadeer needs to become institution amongst people

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Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani declared: “The day of Ghadeer needs to become cherished in such a way that – like the commemoration of Ashura – it becomes an institution amongst the people.”

“Celebrating the day of Ghadeer has a huge importance for Shia Muslims. The day of Ghadeer needs to become cherished in such a way that – like the commemoration of Ashura – it becomes an institution amongst the people,” Ayatollah Noori Hamedani stated, during his advanced jurisprudence class.

“Every year around 2 million people gather together for Haj, however when it comes to the Arba’een of Imam Hussein, we see that 20 million people are waiting for the day to arrive to gather in Karbala. We need to create an atmosphere so that one day, 20 million people gather together to celebrate the day of Ghadeer.”
Alluding to the topic of divine successorship, Ayatollah Hamedani stated: “The Holy Prophet Muhammad from the very beginning of his prophetic mission raised the issue of Imamah (divine succession) alongside prophethood.”

“Some opponents claim Shi’ism came at a later date, but from the very beginning Imam Ali was appointed as the Holy Prophets successor and the likes of Meytham al-Tammar and Ammar ibn Yassir defended this Wilayah with their lives.” He continued.

Regarding Wilayah al-Faqih and its relationship with the Wilayah of the Infallible Imams, Ayatollah Hamedani declared: “One of the special qualities of Imam Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution was that it brought back to life a principle that had been abandoned for centuries.”

“Throughout history the biggest oppression was carried out against Wilayah al-Faqih, therefore this principle needs to be emboldened in front of the enemies.” He concluded.

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Iran death toll at Mina reaches 155

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The death toll of the Iranian pilgrims reached 155, Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization announced Sunday.

Deputy head of Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said the number of the injured Iranian pilgrims has decreased from 82 to 90.

Hamid Mohammadi said the number of missing Iranian pilgrims is 316.

The pilgrims were on way to jamarāt to perform Hajj rituals there. The Stoning of the Devil is part of the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

Muslim pilgrims fling pebbles at three walls called jamarāt, in the city of Mina just east of Mecca.

It is one of a series of ritual acts that must be performed in the Hajj.

Many world experts, political and religious officials believe mismanagement was the real cause for the various incidents in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, including the fall of a huge crane, a fire disaster in a hotel, a fire which spread in the camp of the Egyptian pilgrims in Mina desert, and above all, the Mina stampede.

Meanwhile, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri held the Saudi government responsible for the Thursday stampede tragedy during hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. More than 2,000 pilgrims lost their lives with hundreds still missing.

‘The Mina incident was a very significant issue for us which unveiled Saudi Arabia’s mismanagement,’ he said.

Jahangiri expressed dismay at the two fatal incidents of crane crash and stampede during current hajj rituals and said, ‘The Government of Iran believes that the Saudi government shall be held accountable and investigate the causes of the tragedy.’

On September 24, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei declared three days of national mourning following the deaths of several hundred Hajj pilgrims, including Iranians, in the holy city of Mecca.

‘The Saudi government is required to accept its heavy responsibility in this bitter incident and meet its obligations in compliance with the rule of righteousness and fairness. Mismanagement and inadequate measures that were behind this tragedy should not be undermined,” the Leader said.

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ISIS executes two Iraqi lawyers in Mosul

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The terrorist group of ISIS has executed two Iraqi lawyers in the city of Mosul in the northern province of Nineveh, activists reported on Saturday.

Nawal Sabbagh and Huda al-Jabouri were executed after spending three months in ISIS detention in Mosul.

“The victims were accused of violating the regulations of the Islamic Sharia after practicing law in the Nineveh criminal court,” civil rights activist Abu Abeer al-Jabouri said.

“The terrorist group had arrested the two female lawyers three months ago,” he said.

“They were shot dead in the Qiyarah district in southern Mosul on Friday,” the source added.

ISIS has banned civil law in areas under its control in Syria and Iraq. The group only recognizes Sharia courts that have been established under the umbrella of its self-declared caliphate.

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80% of Missing Iranian Pilgrims in Mina Probably Dead: Culture Minister

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While due to Riyadh’s mishandling of situation after a Thursday’s crush of Hajj pilgrims the fate of hundreds of the missing remains unknown, Iran’s culture minister said some 80 percent of the country’s nationals who are still unaccounted for have probably died in the incident.

“More than 300 Iranian pilgrims remain unaccounted for and it is likely that 70 or 80 percent of them are among the dead,” Ali Jannati said on Sunday.

Nearly 2,000 pilgrims were killed in the Thursday crush in Mina, near Mecca, when performing the annual Hajj rituals.

With the death toll rising, many pilgrims are still missing in the incident that marked the worst ever Hajj disaster.

So far, 154 Iranians have been pronounced dead and more than a hundred others are confirmed to have been wounded in the tragic event.

Elsewhere in his comments, Mr. Jannati deplored the Riyadh government for its lack of cooperation with the Iranian officials.

He said Iran has formed a delegation to travel to the Arab country and take care of the conditions of Iranian pilgrims, but the Saudi government has not still granted visas to members of the delegation.

The Iranian minister also slammed Saudi Arabia’s inability to manage the Hajj pilgrimage, saying such failure appears to be natural for a country that is engaged in wars against Yemen and Syria and keeps supporting the ISIL terrorist group.

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Uzbekistan Bans Children from Mosques on Eid Al-Adha Festival

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Claiming that children minds should not be distracted by religion, Uzbekistan pro-Russia government has banned children from attending regular Friday and `Eid prayer in mosques, in the latest violation of their religious rights.

The government’s position was that “children’s brains should not be distracted” from school studies by religion, Ubaidullo Azimov, said a local official in Tashkent.

Azimov added that the government thinks children should only learn what is taught at school, and that religious studies should take place only after students have finished their high-school studies.

The local official was referring to the latest order issued by Uzbekistan’s Education Ministry on September 23 which imposed a fine of about $750 on parents if their children were caught by the authorities in mosque.

The huge fine equals to 15 months’ salary at the country’s minimum wage.

It also warns imams at mosques not to allow anyone under the age of 18 into prayer services.

On the other hand, President Islam Karimov on August 18 declared that September 24 was a public holiday in Uzbekistan so that Muslims can celebrate `Eid. It makes no specific reference to any ban on children in mosques.

Karimov’s decree also congratulated the country’s Muslims on the holiday.

Muslims celebrate `Eid Al-Adha, or “Feast of Sacrifice” which marks the end of annual hajj.

Uzbekistan is Central Asia’s most populous nation.

Rights groups have long accused Uzbekistan of suppressing religious freedoms as part of a campaign against Islamic extremism.

In a 2012 country report, the New York-based Human Rights Watch accused the Uzbek authorities of continuing “their unrelenting, multi-year campaign of arbitrary detention, arrest and torture of Muslims who practice their faith outside state controls”.

In March 2012, Uzbek authorities prohibited the sale of religious clothing, specifically hijabs and face veil, at several Tashkent markets following a secretive ban on sales.

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Incident of Mina is very dangerous for sanctity of Hajj

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Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has said in a message that this incident of Mina has depressed whole Muslim world and if these kinds of incidents are repeated then it will cause to make Hajj a dreadful worship and it will damage the sanctity of Hajj.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stated in one of his messages that repetition of incident of Mina is harmful for the sanctity of Hajj.

Condolence message of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi is as follows:

In the name of Allah the most beneficent and merciful

Incident in Mina is a great tragedy for whole Muslim Ummah. Many Iranian pilgrims have been martyred in this incident. Our eyes are crying blood over this incident and our hearts are burning in fire.

I offer condolence to all Muslims around the world.

Those people who are taking care of Hajj are not capable of administering the affairs of Hajj and now it has been proven practically.

Islamic world is ready and a committee should be made to look after the affairs of Hajj. Government of Saudi Arabia and its officials can also be included in this committee.

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