Over 100 people arrested in latest crackdown on Shia Muslims
Islamic authorities on Saturday arrested 114 people believed to be Shia Muslims in Perak, in the latest crackdown against followers of the second largest Islamic school of thought.
The arrest took place while they were attending a celebration to commemorare the birth of Siti Zainab, daughter of Islam's fourth caliph Ali, according to reports. Women and children were also among those arrested.
Shia Muslims consider Ali to be the rightful heir to the Muslim leadership following the death of Prophet Muhammad.
The latest operation, carried out by Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jaip) and the police, saw detainees taken to Selama police headquarters before being released a few hours later.
News portal Malaysiakini reported that police, in confirming the arrests, said they were only assisting Jaip.
It said Mohd Kamilzuhairi Abd Aziz, leader of the Malaysian Shiite Association, and its secretary Mohd Nasir Sahari, were among those nabbed.
"Everyone have been asked to present themselves at Jaip at different dates. For me, it's March 24," said Nasir, adding that they were detained under the Syariah Criminal Procedure (Perak) Enactment 2004.
Shia Muslims have been targeted in a campaign spearheaded by the government's religious officers as well as Umno leaders, with state television channels and mosques preaching to Malaysia's mainly Sunni Muslims on the danger of Shiism.
At Umno's general assembly last year, senior leaders urged stern action against Shia followers, in what observers said was an attempt to link Shia Islam with PAS, and even suggested that only Sunni Islam be recognised in the constitution.
The Malaysian Insider recently reported that the anti-Shia campaign has backfired after businesses in predominantly Shia Iran reacted by shunning Malaysian goods. – March 9, 2014.
