SRINAGAR: Shia Muslims staged protests in Srinagar Friday to express their anger and displeasure over the desecration of the revered shrines of two close companions of holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) in Syria.
Shrines of Hazrat Hujr ibn-e-Adi (RA) and Hazrat Jafar-e-Tayyar (RA) were demolished by US backed rebels fighting Syrian military last week.
Hundreds of protesters marched through various parts of the capital city and several other towns to express outrage at the sacrilege.
Two processions were taken out following Friday prayers from Abi Guzar area of the uptown and both culminated at Press Enclave.
Chanting slogans like Labbaik Ya Rasoolullah (PBUH) and Labbaik Ya Hussain protesters also denounced Western powers particularly US for sowing discord in the Ummah by promoting divisive forces.
Protesters from Ikhwan-al-Muntazireen group led by Syed Mujahid Hussain raised slogans against the US and Israel, two main backers of the rebels fighting Syrian regime. They torched a US flag before dispersing peacefully.
Earlier speaking to the protesters Mujahid condemned the criminal silence of OIC over the destruction of 1400 year old shrines. He flayed double standards of the International community which he said had raised hue and cry over destruction of Bamyan Buddhas in Afghanistan some years ago.
The group later submitted a memorandum to UN Observer Group in Sonwar.
The memorandum addressed to UN secretary General Ban-Ki-moon demanded protection of religious sanctities in the war ravaged country urging the world body to declare them as safe zones.
In Budgam senior Hurriyat leader Agha Syed Hassan, addressing a Friday congregation, said war has been imposed on Syria to punish it for standing against the Zionist state of Israel and Assad Govts firm commitment to Palestinian cause.
Since Damascus is part of an axis of resistance with Iran and Hezbollah Imperialist forces are desperately trying to destabilise it in order to weaken the resistance in Palestine and Lebanon. Agha said recent Israel air raids on Syria removed all doubts of Zionist states complicity with the rebels.
A procession was also taken out from Nabdipora area of the old city in this connection. Procession led by Aga Syed Ajaz Rizvi marched through Hawal, Gasiyar before culminating at Alamgari Bazar.
Rizvi accused Pro-US Arab Sheikhdoms of promoting extremist brand of Islam whose followers, according to him, are engaged in acts of sacrilege witnessed in Syria last week.
Media reports on May 2 said that rebels had detonated the mausoleum and grave of Hazrat Hujr-bn-Adi in the Damascus suburb of Adra, and taken his remains to an unknown location.
Hujr was a close companion of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and a staunch supporter of Hazrat Ali. He and his sons were murdered on the orders of the Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan in the year 660 CE.
The shrine of Hazrat Jafar-Tayar situated in Al-Mazar near Syria-Jordan border was reportedly torched in similar fashion last week.
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