Iraqi groups demand Russian airstrikes against terrorists

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Iraq’s ruling coalition and volunteer forces fighting Takfiri Daesh terrorists have called on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to request Russia to launch airstrikes on the terrorists’ positions in the Arab country.

Members of the ruling National Iraqi Alliance in the parliament told Reuters on Wednesday that an official request for Russian air raids had been relayed to Abadi in a last week meeting, and that he has not officially responded.

“Abadi told the meeting parties that it wasn’t the right time to include the Russians in the fight because that would only complicate the situation with the Americans,” said a senior politician close to the premier, Reuters reported, without mentioning the politician’s name.
Abadi’s spokesman, Saad al-Hadithi, said the prime minister has not discussed airstrikes with the Kremlin, adding, however, that he was “not ruling out any side that could provide support to Iraq.”

Also on Wednesday, Muen al-Kadhimi, a senior figure of the Badr Brigade militia, fighting Daesh terrorists, said Russia has been more decisive in its air campaign against Daesh in Syria – which began late in September – than the Americans coalition purportedly targeting Daesh positions in Syria and Iraq.

“I am positive that the government will respond to pressures, especially after the official mandate of the National Alliance for Prime Minister Abadi to request Russia’s participation,” Kadhimi said.

To counter terrorist groups, Russia, Iran, Syria and Iraq have recently formed a Baghdad-based intelligence-sharing center.

The Iraqi groups’ request for Russian airstrikes against Daesh comes despite remarks by General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said on Tuesday that Washington had won assurances from Iraq that it would not seek such strikes.

“Both the [Iraqi] minister of defense (Khalid al-Obeidi) and the prime minister said: ‘Absolutely.’ There is no request right now for the Russians to support them… and the Russians haven’t asked them to come in and conduct operations,” Dunford said during a trip to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Moscow launched its airstrikes against Takfiri terrorists in Syria upon a request by Damascus on September 30, shortly after the upper house of the Russian parliament gave President Vladimir Putin the mandate to use the air force in the Arab country.

Since September 2014, the US and some of its allies have been conducting airstrikes against purported Daesh extremists inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate. The airstrikes in Syria are an extension of the US-led aerial campaign against alleged Daesh positions in Iraq, which started in August 2014. Many have criticized the ineffectiveness of the coalition raids.

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Vatican denies Italian report Pope Francis has brain tumor

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The Vatican on Wednesday denied an Italian media report that Pope Francis has a benign brain tumor.

“The pope is carrying out his activity with his usual high level of intensity. Spreading unfounded news is gravely irresponsible and is not worthy of attention,” spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said in a statement.

The newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale, a national paper based in central Italy, reported on its front page on Wednesday that the 78-year-old pope had secretly flown by helicopter to a small Tuscan town “some time ago” to see a Japanese doctor.

The paper reported that the Argentine pontiff was diagnosed with “a small dark spot on the brain” but that it was curable.

The pope has appeared to be in good health in recent months apart from some leg pain due to the fact that he suffers from sciatica, for which he undergoes regular physical therapy in the Vatican.

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Pakistan Muharram activities: Use of loudspeakers permitted at sabeels

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KARACHI, Pakistan – Ahlul Bayt News Agency –  With the start of Muharram, sabeels across the city of Karachi started to spring up, offering milk, juice and cold water to participants of processions, which is also accompanied by elegies played on loudspeakers.

Earlier in the month, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah imposed a ban on the use of loud speakers, which later was lifted due to protests by ulemas.

The CM said that the ban on the use of loudspeakers has been imposed under the National Action Plan. “[But] in your case, I am allowing you to use loudspeakers,” said Shah. “But its use must be made sagaciously, particularly in the light of the code of conduct. Strict action will be taken if hate speeches are delivered anywhere in the province.”

Young men set up sabeels by collecting donations from their neighbourhoods and nearby shops. A resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar’s Noman Grand City apartment, Syed Shakir Ali said that he has been setting up sabeel for the last 16 years, with his Shia and Sunni friends. “This is the centre of all sabeels in the area,” he explained, Pak Express reported.“The rest of the sabeels will be there till Muharram 10 but our sabeel will be there until Muharram 12,” he said. “It’s just elegies [being played] over the speakers,” he said, adding that there was no traffic congestion due to sabeel, rather, they play their role in clearing the traffic in front of their sabeel.

Karachi commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said that action against the unnecessary use of loudspeakers will be taken. However, he said that the use of loudspeakers in traditional sabeels, which were set up every year, was allowed. “It’s just a matter of 10 days,” he said.

Gulshan-e-Iqbal’s assistant commissioner Shoukat Ali Ujjan said that most of the sabeels in the area were set up with permission but he did not rule out the possibility of sabeels being setup illegally. He said that there was a separate judicial magistrate for the violation of the use of the loudspeakers.

‘Fire-brand’ speakers banned

The home department has, under Section 144 (6) of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibited the entry and further stay of fire-brand sectarian speakers hailing from other provinces in the territorial limits of Sindh. The order shall remain in force from October 15 to November 1, 2015.

It has also imposed a ban on playing or possessing audio or video containing provocative speeches and wall chalking inciting sectarian hatred during Muharram across Sindh, with immediate effect.

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Kashmir Police: Won’t Allow 8th Muharram Procession

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SRINAGAR, Kashmir – Ahlul Bayt News Agency – Inspector General of Police SJM Gillani Wednesday said that the police will not allow the Alam Sharief procession of 8th Muharram on the traditional routes on Thursday.

“We won’t allow the Muharram procession taking the security situation into view,” IGP Gillani said.

Ittehadul Muslimeen patron Maulana Muhammad Abbas Ansari, has already announced the procession will be taken out despite government curbs on Thursday from city’s Guru Bazar area in the morning and the same will culminate at Dalgate in uptown following the traditional routes in the evening.

However the successive state government’s have thwarted Maulana’s attempts to lead the procession every year since 1990 when the ban was imposed.

Ittehadul Muslimeen even moved court in January 2008. Party filed a petition in the Jammu Kashmir High Court seeking quashing of the ban clamped by the former Governor Jagmohan but the state government did not respond.

In December 2009, JK high court once again directed the state Government to file the objections without eliciting any response.

Authorities clamp an undeclared curfew in the areas from where traditional procession used to pass meeting stiff resistance from the thousands of mourners who defy the ban and insist on taking out the procession. Every year these areas, including capitals city centre turns into a battle zone with police subjecting mourners to brute force. “There is nothing we can do now other than protest and take out processions in defiance as curbs are placed on our religious rituals here, said Maulana Masroor Ansari, Shia representative in the moderate Hurriyat Conference.

Only small mourning rallies and processions are allowed in select Shia dominated areas of the city.

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Lucknow Shiite clerics in demand abroad for Muharram programs

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency – Do not be surprised if you find the airport crowded with Shia clerics, because these clerics from Lucknow are now being invited from all parts of the world to address the Muharram majlis, a religious congregation during the period of mourning.

Well known Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq is already in London for the first 12 days of Moharram and will then tour other parts of Europe to hold the majlis.

Another Shia cleric, Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar, will soon be flying to London, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles to address the majlis.

Maulana Habeeb Haider, who has been addressing the religious congregations in parts of Europe including Denmark, Spain, France, Portugal, Netherlands and England since 2007, explains, “The clerics from Lucknow are much in demand overseas because this city is the intellectual hot seat of the Shia sect in India.”

He said that the Muharram majlis must be addressed is a simple language that can be understood by the youth and the society in the western countries. The clerics should also be speaking on new topics that concern the youth of such countries and Islam in general, which clerics from Luck-now are well versed with.

Maulana Habeeb Haider said that in countries like the United States, the majlis is marked by a question and answer session from Muslim youth who are more cosmopolitan in this country compared to other nations.

“We get questions like the Islamic code of conduct in areas of work and travelling, on test tube babies and Islam’s stand on euthanasia. The clerics should be well informed to be able to answer such questions,” he said.

Topics such as human rights, terrorism, Islamic jurisprudence, critical analysis of ideas put forth and authenticity of historical references to be maintained.

Photos: Muharram mourning in Bauchi, Nigeria (Day 7)

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Photos by: Ysuf Tigirmas














Sayyed Nasrallah: Victory is Ours; We are People of Jihad, Resistance

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Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appeared in person at the end of Ashura procession in Beirut’s Dahiyeh on Saturday vowing to win the battle against Israel, the US, Takfiris and Al Saud, reminding them that ‘we are the supporters of Imam Hussein, we are the people of Jihad and resistance.’

“We will never be humiliated; we are the people of Jihad and resistance. We won’t be moved by Israeli or Takfiri threats. We’ll work day and night for the dignity of all our people,” Sayyed Nasrallah said on Ashoura Day, paying condolences to all people on the martyrdom of Imam Hussein saying: We’ll keep on crying blood for Imam Hussein instead of tears.

His eminence reiterated support to the Palestinian cause, saying: “On behalf of the crowds we renew our support to the Palestinian people in their resistance and uprising, and we call upon all the free world to support the Palestinian people in their defending of the holy sites and legitimate rights.”

Sayyed Nasrallah saluted all martyrs’ families, wounded fighters and all supporters who never let the resistance down. He also saluted the steadfastness, loyalty, bravery.. of the resistance fighters who are sacrificing their selves for this path.  

The Secretary-General vowed the continuation of Jihad against the US-led war, adding that neither [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu nor his ancestors would prevent the resistance from getting weapons to counter any crap out of ‘Israel .‘

“We will continue our jihad in the face of the Takfiri project and we will defeat them as we defeated Israel,” Sayyed Nasrallah said.

Concerning the Iraqi issue, Sayyed Nasrallah called on Iraqis not to bet on the Americans or any other deceiver in this world, saying, “We look forward to the victory of the Iraqi people against ISIL. We urge them not to bet on the US or the West. You have the enough courage to win against them all in the name of Imam Hussein (AS).”

On the Saudi tyranny, Sayyed Nasrallah condemned the violations committed by Saudi Arabia against sanctities in Yemen, and the massacres committed by the Al Saud in front of all the world.

He also condemned Riyadh’s suppression of the resolute, patient people of Bahrain who are insisting on achieving their rights in freedom, sovereignty and dignity, no matter how much repression and terrorism they are getting. Sayyed Nasrallah called for an investigation into the horrible massacre of Mina and not to forget this great tragedy that happened because of the negligence of the Saudi regime.

Sayyed Nasrallah addressed local Lebanese issues, calling on the political parties to find solutions to the country’s crises and not to wait for regional developments. “All political forces should cooperate to find a solution to the lingering crises, away from obstinacy. We need to deal in a serious manner with the dialogue because we have no other alternative,” he said.

“You’ve waited for the finalization of Iran’s nuclear agreement thinking that Iran will abandon us in the end, but it has not. You waited for the defeat of the Syrian government but it didn’t and will not”.

“You are wasting time by trading blames and accusations over the obstruction of presidential elections. They accuse us of impeding the elections by boycotting it and we blame them for obstructing the election of a strong head of state. Let us put this dispute aside and engage in real dialogue,” His eminence said, adding: “We, in Lebanon, are the decision makers, we elect and choose our own electoral law, no one can impose anything on us.”    

Addressing instigators he said: “to America, you are slaves to them for money, oil and gas; however, we, the party of Wilayat al-Fakih (the Guardianship by the Jurist), are masters in our Supreme leader’s eyes.”

On Friday night, Sayyed Nasrallah also appeared personally at the Sayyed Shuhadaa complex in Beirut’s Dahiyeh and tackled several political issues and developments.

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Millions of Iranians Commemorate Ashura Nationwide

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Massive crowd of mourners took to the streets and mosques in Iran to pay tribute to Imam Hussein (AS) who devoted his life to Islam in a battle in Karbala in 680 AD.

Men, women and children, dressed in black, have been holding mourning ceremonies since ten days ago to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and his uprising for justice.

Shia Muslims hold Ashura mourning ceremonies in the city of Qom, Iran on October 24, 2015.

Each year, the mourning rituals start with the Islamic lunar month of Muharram and reach their climax on the tenth day of the month, known as Ashura.

The third Shiite Imam, along with 72 of his companions, was martyred in a battle against the second Umayyad caliph, Yazid ibn Muawiyah, in the Iraqi region of Karbala, after he refused to pledge allegiance to the ruling tyrant.

For Muslims, Ashura has become a symbol of eternal stance of truth against falsehood, and lies at the heart of all struggles against oppression and tyranny.

Iranian mourners usually gather at the main streets and mosques for commemorating the event.

Iranians traditionally cook food for charity (called Nazri) and distribute it among their neighbors, family and poor people. Free food is also offered to people who perform the mourning rites.

Many Iranians also travel to Iraq to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein near his holy shrine, located in the city of Karbala; Tasnim reported.

Mourning ceremonies were also hold in Pakistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Lebanon and Australia. Similar ceremonies will also be held in Europe, America and Africa later in the day.

In Sydney, more than 5,000 people took to the streets to observe Ashura, chanting slogans in honor of Imam Hussein and his family’s sacrifices.

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Photos: Ashura Mourning Ceremony in Qom, Iran

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Malaysia: 16 arrested Shiites at Ashura mourning ceremony released on bail / Photos

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency -ABNA- 16 of Malaysian Shiites, who were arrested two days ago at Imam Hussein (AS) mourning ceremony, were released on bail.

They also have to be present at the ‘Religious Affairs Organization of Selangor’ (JAIS) according to the dates specified for each of them.

Police also called on every women and children of the ceremony to be present at JAIS on next Monday for answering some questions.

It all comes while Shiites of Kuala Lumpur have received all necessary permits from the authorities for organizing such ceremonies.

Malaysian police two days ago and on the eve of Tasua raided Imam Hussein (AS)’s mourning ceremony at the Imam Reza (AS) Hussainiyah in Kuala Lumpur and interrogated Hojjatulislam Mohammed Kamel Haji Zahir bin Abdul Aziz, ABNA correspondent reported on October 22, 2015.

They took all detainees to the Religious Affairs Organization of Selangor in the region of Shahi Alam.

Five years ago also security forces of Selangor province raided Shia mourners on the eve of Ashura and arrested many of mourners.

That year Hojjatulislam Mohammed Kamel Haji Zuhairi and another Iranian scholar Hojjatulislam Mohsen Radmard were arrested and spent some time in prison.


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