By Vivek Thiagarajan
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BASRA, Iraq- Nasiriyah police reported that 13 people were killed and around 45 were injured occurring from fighting instigated by a Shiite messianic sect, Soldiers of Heaven, against the local police officers.  The Soldiers of Heaven suffered heavier losses with 30 fighters killed and 25 wounded and 40 others arrested.  (Washington Post)

The Soldiers of Heaven, under the leadership of Ahmed al-Hassani al-Yamani, wore black uniforms and yellow bandannas and were equipped with machine guns and light arms and attacked police in both Basra and Nasiriyah around noon local time (0900 GMT).  (AFP) This is the second year that the Soldiers of Heaven attacked during Ashura.  Last year, 263 people died from the clashes including the sect’s previous leader Dhia Abdul Zahra Kadhim al-Krimawi, better known as  Abu Kamar.  (Al-Jazeera)

Yamani claims to be an ambassador of the eighth century Imam Mahdi who vanished as a boy.  The Shias believe that Mahdi will return as a messiah to bring justice to the world.

Hundreds of thousands of worshipers gathered to celebrate the Shia religious celebration of Ashura in the holy city of Karabala.  Ashura commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussein at the hands of the armies of the Sunni caliph Yazid in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala.  Imam Hussein is regarded as one of the Shia’s holiest saints.

The government’s commitment to protecting the Shia worshipers is crucial for the free practice of different religions in Iraq.  The government must make a concerted effort to protect those who are peacefully worshiping in the country.  If the country protects those who are worshiping peacefully in the country then it can form a coalition against religious sects that violence as a foundational principle of their sect.  Otherwise, if the government does not protect those who are worshiping peacefully, especially on their holy days, it will make the peaceful sects become more likely to resort to violence for protection.

For more information, please see:

AFP- Deadly clashes mar Iraq Ashura ceremonies- 18 January 2007

Al-Jazeera- Clashes erupt in Iraq’s South- 18 January 2007

The Press Association- Dozens killed in Iraq Cult attack- 19 January 2007

Washington Post- Dozens Killed in Clashes in S. Iraq- 19 January 2007