Protesters gathered in front of Alhamra and walked to the Lahore Press Club chanting slogans against the attackers. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The Majlis-i-Wahadatul Muslimeen (MWM) on Sunday staged a protest demonstration to condemn the attack on the shrine of Bibi Zainab in Damascus, Syria on Friday.
A large number of protesters, including men, women and children, gathered in front of Alhamra and walked towards Lahore Press Club, chanting slogans against the attackers.
MWM Central Deputy Secretary Allama Hasan Zafar Naqvi told The Express Tribune that the protestors condemned the brutal attack on the shrine of Bibi Zainab, the grand daughter of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He blamed Israel and America for an international conspiracy against Muslims.
Zafar said holy sites of all religions should be protected. He urged the United Nations to take notice of the attack.
“Islam is a peaceful religion. We never attack holy places of other religions. Nobody should attack our holy places and shrines,” he said.
He also condemned Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt for supporting the rebels financially.
He urged Pakistani Muslims to support their Muslims brothers in Syria.
Masooma Nadeem, one of the protestors said, “I am here with my family and will continue to protest until the culprits are brought to justice.”
Imran Raza, another protestor, urged the government to take up the issue in the United Nations so that holy sites were protected.
Allama Waqarul Hasnain Naqvi, a Shia cleric, said, “We can lay down our lives to protect the shrines of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his family. We are united and we will register our protest peacefully.”
Former MPA Amna Mamdot said, “Every honourable mother must raise her voice and condemn the attack on the shrine because Bibi Zainab gave away her chaddar to secure the honour of every woman till the day of judgment.”
The protesters recited nohas (elegies) and naats to show their love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his family. They performed the Asr and Maghrib prayers in front of the Lahore Press Club.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
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"He blamed Israel and America for an international conspiracy against Muslims." Of course, who else? Perhaps he forgot to add India / RAW to that list of the usual suspects...
"We never attack holy places of other religions. "...let me finishing laughing, then I'll respond!
"...Nobody should attack our holy places and shrines,” he said." This was an Islamic shrine destroyed by an Islamic army - why are we dragging others into the mix?
So typically Pakistani - your own house is on fire, but you are worried about a house a mile away from yours!
This is what we need to see when we visit out heritage sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lakshmi-Narasimha%28UgraNarasimha%29.jpg
@sid: Why not name them? They're mostly Salafis bent on returing to the 7th century.
@xyz: 100,000 not massacred by only bashar al asad only. It also includes killings by opposition forces. We must condemn both.
@sid: No, there is more than one sect involved in the destruction of shrines!
every thing is conspiracy...........every one knows the sect of Islam which destroyes shrines,unfortunately it is the fastest growing sect...........
I agree that no religious place should be attacked. Please also take a moment to condemn the massacre of 100,000+ people by Bashar the terrorist.