(WASHINGTON DC -- MAY 26, 2010) On Tuesday May 25, 2010, members of the leadership of the Islamic Information Center had the opportunity to meet with the top ranking Shi’ite scholar in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Hassan al-Saffar (http://www.saffar.org), at IIC's national headquarters in the National Press Club in Washington DC.
Sheikh Al-Saffar is the representative of Grand Ayatollah Syed Sistani in Saudi Arabia, and is the author of more than 100 books on Shiaism. Sheikh Al-Saffar is in the country to visit with the 5,000 Saudi Shia students pursuing higher education in the United States.  IIC wishes Sheikh al Saffar well in his efforts to promote education in the burgeoning Shia community.
The meeting was attended by IIC Chairman, Imam Syed Naqvi (Maulana Naqvi), IIC Executive Director, Rahat Husain, IIC Communications Director, Hajar Hosseini, IIC Intern, Sameera Syed, and a member of IIC’s board, Muhammad Shah. OtherMaryland and DC area community members were also present.
It is important to understand the state of affairs in Saudi Arabia, and as such IIC has conducted extensive research on the topic:
Saudi Arabia has a total population of approximately 16 million individuals, of which approximately 2 million are Shia. The Shia are concentrated in the eastern regions of the country, and strongly focused in the regions where there is oil. There is a sizeable group of Shias in the Holy city of Medina, numbering approximately 25,000. In the famous historic city of Najran, which is in the South, there are approximately 500,000 Shias, but the majority of them are from the Shia Ismaili group. 
The current situation for the Shias has improved markedly since the 9/11 attacks, with many positive changes resulting. International pressure on Saudi Arabia has forced the kingdom to increase the number of rights given to its people. There are, however, still some areas in which Shias are continually denied equal rights. There are no Shias in any high ranking governmental positions anywhere in Saudi Arabia, even in offices that directly pertain to Shia affairs.  
Regarding the positive changes, they are as follows:
  • For the past 40 years, the kingdom had made it illegal to construct Shia masjids and imambargahs, however within the last 5 years the government has lifted this ban and many Shia centers have been built.
  • Within this period of 5 years, 40 Shia centers have been constructed and are now in use.
  • For the past 40 years, the Saudi government had banned any Shia hawzahs (Islamic seminaries) from operating, however within the last 5 years the government has lifted this ban.
  • There are six active Shia hawzahs in Saudi Arabia, 3 in the region of Al Qatif, 2 in the region of Al Ahsaa, and 1 in the Holy city of Medina.
  • The Shia adhaan is now publically permitted in the entire Qatif region, and some parts of the Al Ahsaa region. 
  • Previous bans in the import or publication of Shia literature have now been lifted, although not entirely, and there is now a Shia publication company in Qatif. 
  • There are multiple Shia publishing companies now opened in Saudi Arabia. Due to these efforts there is now an officially recognized publication of Sahifa Sajjediya in Saudi Arabia. 
  • Saudi media organizations regularly discuss Shia beliefs and philosophies in a positive and fair light. However, despite this, the needs and situation of the Saudi Shia community are not discussed in any public forum.
  • The media is open to accurate portrayals of Shiaism. One example of this is that after certain Saudi individuals insultedGrand Ayatollah Syed Sistani, more than 40 news paper articles appeared in Saudi media in defense of the Ayatollah, from non-Shia sources. 
The progress and changes effected by the Shia community have had a moralizing effect on the Saudi Arabian Shia community. Members of the community feel energized and are prepared to continue with efforts to equalize rights and protections in Saudi Arabia. While there has been some progress, there is still much to be needed. Despite permission from the government to construct Shia masjids, the government still does not allow such construction in majority Shia regions, to the detriment of the Shia community, andJannatul Baqee remains in a dilapidated state.
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