Debate on #ShiaGenocide including Shia Hazara killings in British House of Commons
A session was held in British House of Commons on 25th February 2013 where Hazara and Shia Genocide was discussed with Lord Eric Avebury. The session was called by Parliamentary Committee of Human Rights which is chaired by Lord Eric Averbury himself. The session lasted for nearly 2 hours and was attended by members and leaders of Shia community, Hazara Shia community, Sunni community, legal community and representatives from some political parties, journalists and human rights activists.
Lord Eric started the session with a brief talk on Hazara and Shia Genocide which is now available at Liberal Democract blog LibDemVoice. He recognized that the Shia community in Pakistan (including but not limited to the Hazara Shias) face a genocide and have been target of endless violence. He also criticised the role of some political parties in Pakistan who were striking an electoral pact with the militant outfits to contest the forthcoming general election. He warned that such electoral alliances will almost certainly have MPs in the next Parliament belonging to those parties who spread hatred and finance to meet their goals. Lord Avebury expressed concern that extremist mindset has infected the mainstream Barelvi sect and the hate mongers are destroying the national fabric of the country.
Spokesman of he Central Association of Sunni Muslims UK & Europe said:
I am shamed of what is being done in Pakistan in the name of Ahle sunnat wal Jammat. I would like to categorically put this on record that these terrorists have got nothing to do with Ahle Sunnat wal Jammat. There is no Shia Sunni divide at a common man’s level in Pakistan or there would be civil war. Shias have been an asset for Pakistan. Many Pakistanis still don’t realize that the man they worship for creating their nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was a Shia himself. Jinnah envisaged a Pakistan in which all citizens irrespective of religious identity, colour, caste, gender and social status would enjoy equal rights.The same people who called Quaid e Azam Kafir e Azam are now trying to break Pakistan. None speaks about killing of the Shia, all they say is its proxy war. No, its not. Saudi Arabia is exporting Wahhabism and funding terrorism.
Syed Ali Reza Rizvi, Chairman Majlis e Ullema Council, referring to Lord Avebury’s speech said:
just as the Lord has acknowledged the is Shia Genocide in Pakistan, we would urge all Pakistani community and British Government to ask Pakistani Government to acknowledge that the atrocities against Shia Muslims are tantamount to Genocide. If Hazaras were Salafis they would not be targeted. They are killed only because they are Shia. We request the British Parliamentarians to pressurise Pakistan to stop this Genocide. These killers are taught Shia are infidels at the madressahs funded by Saudi Arabia and when they grow up, they blow up themselves to kill Shia. None of them is ever prosecuted, the Judiciary is completely baised. They take suo moto notices on as many things as you can imagine but are all silent on this Genocide. We are also concerned about the role of media – either they are scared or they are dishonest. Are they being threatened by these terrorists or are they being paid by these Shia killers?
Representative of the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party said:
British Parliamentarians must ask Pakistan to show evidence that they are not involved in Shia Genocide. I believe the Pakistan military is fooling the West to gain more and more funds but actually they are doing nothing to stop terrorism in or outside Pakistan. I am sure they know the sources of Shia Genocide but they consider these killers as assets. The military, the courts, the judiciary and media, they are all playing a partial role.
Dawood Mashadi, Director & Trustee Minhaj Ul Quran said:
condemnation is not enough, we need to take further steps. Terrorists released should not be able to say a word outside prison. Any Organization should be aware that if they engage in hate speech they will be made an example. Today it is Hazaras and Shias, tomorrow it can be anyone. Pakistan needs to take constructive and solid steps to confront terrorism.
Mustafa Qadri, Pakistan Researcher at Amnesty International said:
It seems although killings have been going on for years with every attack they are going more and more brutal.Although there are many problems in Pakistan the state has capacity and should bring killers to justice. One key issue is the politicization of institutions both military and civil.The security forces aren’t geared to protecting society. Also, the structural issues in Pakistan need to be resolved and the killings of Shia can not be seen in isolation. The dignity, courage, patience and non violence which the Shia community has showed is something to be proud of as human beings.
Haji Marzoaq, demanded a military action against LeJ and said:
Representative from Pakistan High Commission said that the country was at war and no other country has suffered as many losses as Pakistan in the war against terror.These heinous crimes have an external and an internal context. Internally this has to be seen in the overall situation of prevailing security situation in Pakistan where 40, 000 innocent citizens have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism. In given situation ,all anti Pakistan forces have joined hands to tarnish Pakistan. Lej and TTP both have specific agendas but have joined hands. They are persecuting Hazaras because hazaras are undoubtedly a patriotic and peace loving community of Pakistan. By targeting this group they want to discourage the moderate forces in Pakistan and promote their rigid agendas. Also what is pertinent to note is the fact that these vile acts coincide in timing with whenever there is an important social public project in Pakistan. These acts gain momentum whenever a project promising economic and social dividends is under way. The Government is determined. It has taken steps in imposing Governor Rule and Froniter core has been given more powers.
A tribal leader of the Hazara community said:
Hazaras are killed because of their Shia faith. In Afghanistan they have Sunni Hazaras but they were never killed. It is our Shia faith which has always got us killed – whether in Afghanistan or Pakistan. It is also not sectarian or two way war because we are always collecting the bodies and they are dropping the bodies. We are a tiny minority but they should not that the 40 million Shia of Pakistan stand with us, we are one family, and we did protests together all over Pakistan. We will not pick up guns but imagine a Pakistan when we the Shia pick up guns too.
Representative of Pakistani High Commission UK said:
The killing of Shia can not be seen as an isolated act. We need to ask why Hazaras? The answer is they are Shia, they are easily recognizable and they are peaceful.
The Chairperson of International Association of Human Rights Barrister Rubab Mehdi Rizvi:
She expressed alarm at escalation in violence against Shias in the recent months including bomb blasts in market places and buses carrying people being stopped and passengers gunned down after identification. She saluted the fortitude and dignity of young Shias and appreciated the peaceful nature of the protest. She demanded stringent legislation to prohibit hate speech and levelling charges of apostasy. Mrs Rizvi also expressed disappointment that the charges on Malik Ishaq are still unknown although at least two FIRs have been registered against him. She noted that Malik Ishaq has been released before for lack of proof and for this reason she demanded closing the loopholes in the law of evidence to ensure that terrorists are not able to use these loopholes to secure their release.
Another participant request Lord Eric Avebury…
We ask you to help us submit a case against the Pakistani state, not government in UN, International courts of Justice and other forums. We firmly believe that Pakistani state institutions specially security agencies are indirectly involved in Shia Genocide. It is in their capacity to control it but it does not suit their interests. Shia should no longer remain collateral damange of the state’s policy of strategic depth.
NEXT STEPS
- Lord Eric Avebury has acknowledged that the Shia of Pakistan face a Genocide.
- He has agreed to setup a Parliamentary group named ‘Parliamentary Group for Hazara and Pakistani Shia’ which will discuss this issue in British Parliament and will be a voice of persecuted Shia community. 40 MPs are needed to sign up to this for which lobbying will be initiated now.
- Once setup, some MPs from this group will also visit Pakistan to monitor situation on ground.
- On recommendations of this group, the next steps will be taken which might include talking to Pakistani Government, British and International Human Rights Organisations and possibly UN.
YOUR ROLE
A 10 page report on Shia Genocide in Pakistan has been prepared which can be downloaded here. This report can also be read below.
If you are a UK Resident, please use TheyWorkForYou website to find your MP and send him an email with this report attached and a message requesting him to join the Parliamentary Group being formed by Lord Eric Averbuy on ‘Hazara and Pakistani Shia’.
If you are not a UK Resident, you can still send messages to various British Parliamentarians on Twitter or email them. Their contact details are easily available only. You should also send this report to politicians, parliamentarians and human rights groups in whichever country you live and request them to raise their voice on the issue on platforms available to them.
Videos:
ARY TV News report on the House of Lords meeting on #ShiaGenocide:
Barrister Rubab Mehdi Rizvi speaks on Shia Genocide Conference at House of Lords. Hosted by Lord Eric Avebury, Vice-Chair All party group on Human Rights.
Well done , Ale and all the other activists .
Why is that our so called liberals in Pakistan never speak like this?
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The House of Lords meeting on #ShiaGenocide in Pakistan – by Lord Avebury – See more at: http://criticalppp.com/archives/246237
It is the Qura’an that says,
“… let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.” [Maidah 5:9]
The true followers of Muhammad ﷺ are instructed to show fortitude if their religious feelings are hurt by others:
Aal-e-`Imran Chapter 3 : Verse 187
“… you shall surely hear many hurtful things from those who were given the Book before you and from those who set up equals to God. But if you show fortitude and act righteously, that indeed is a matter of strong determination.”
The debate in the British house should serve as an eye opener to us all. Every one wwho particpated in the debate condemn the situation in pakiftan. We have sympathies with the Shiia Community and Hazaras who are targetted for killing by the terrorist groups.
It is unfortunate that muslims are killing muslims. The followers of A great religion are involved in these atrocities, and haterd of their own people. The b government has failed to stop this sectarian killings. How many more people needs to be killed , before our government will take strong action sgainst them/ Military shoud be called to do the clinical operation and stop this madness.
Javaid Bashir
Lahore
I think we are mixing two things. Before we called it shia killing we have to see the history of Secterian killing in Pakistan. We remember in 80s where the secterian killing in Punjab was on it pick but Quetta was so quite and peacefull city. People were living in in harmoney. Suddenly this HAZARA killing starts in Quetta in 1999. After US invasion and Baluch freedom movement start in Baluchistan this killing reached on his pick. Baluch areiatly librel tribe through a policy they have been converted in secterian issue. Now the esteblishment found a new tool to tackle the Baluch freedom movement. Through some extent they sucesed.
Librel and seculer group in BaluchistN showed soliderity with Baluch but establishment start a compaign againest them as well to bring the religious parties in baluchisran like MWM.
Now few months a go a british patliment tried to esteblish an APPG on Hazara faced criticism from Pakistani Estebleshment and Iranian Mullahs like Javad Naqvi who is special representative of Iranian Suprem leader Ayatullah Khamnaee.
A website like LUBP and KARBALAEE AQUETTA always tried to divert the attenuation of public to some where else to make Hazara genicide a very common and Genrel issue of Pakistan which is not solveable.
They are around 50 million shias in Pakistan.
CIA factbook in 2004 said more than 40 million. Its been 10 years now.
very positive development. Similiar actions should be
encoraged with US Congress EUn Paliament and all other
places e.g, UN ,Human right organisations etc.
SYED HASAN
In London, the International Imam Hussain Council (IIHC) slammed the killing of Shia pilgrims, calling the absence of security for them outrageous and adding that the killers had been emboldened by a persistent lack of action against sectarian militant groups.
Barrister Rubab Mehdi Rizvi, the IIHC chair in London, said in a statement: “IIHC is appalled by the gruesome killing of Shia pilgrims in Kohistan and finds the utter lack of protection for them outrageous, particularly when people in the area had been attacked previously on sectarian grounds and were known to be at risk.”
Quaid-e-Millat Jafariya, Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi also condemned the killing of innocent people, saying the “international terrorist” is utilising all its energies to destroy the foundation of Pakistan.
In a statement, he said that the activities of the banned groups with new identities are a slap on the face of the rulers. He said the government must deal with the terrorists with an iron hand and the public should also be vigilant and adopt measures for self defence.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=12812&Cat=13
– See more at: https://lubp.net/archives/73153#sthash.plWFweaN.dpuf