Saudi Arabia issued a ban on building of mosques, cemeteries and religious houses for Shia residing outside the Qatif, Al-Hassa and Najran where dense Shia citizens reside.

Sources informed Rasid that Eastern Province Governance issued a «Secret and Very Urgent» memo that contain clear sectarian instructions against Shia.

The memo outlines instructions for enforcing a ban on building Ismaili mosques outside Najran and religious houses and cemeteries outside Qatif and Al-Hassa.

The memo, which Rasid received a copy of it, is signed by Deputy Prince of Eastern Province, Jalawi bin ABdulaziz, and refers to direct orders from Interior Minister, Naif bin Abdulaziz.

The memo is addressed to the governors of Qatif, Al-Hassa, Jubail, Khobar, Abqaiq, Ras Tanura in addition to Chiefs of Police and Intelligence services. It mandates full compliance to Interior Minister instructions of enforcing a ban on using court yards as mosques and requesting extreme vigilance.

Analysts think that the memo which focuses on Ismaili Shia came late as arbitrary instructions are already in action since long.

It should be noted here that authorities refuse to issue permits for building Shia mosques outside Shia dense areas like Qatif, Al-Hasa and Najran.

Authorities refuses also to provide any justification for permit issuance refusal.

On the contrast, Saudi authorities build big and spacious Sunni mosques in the heart of Shia dense areas in Al-Hassa, Qatif, Najran and Madinah. These mosques used by small groups of expatriates and Shia citizens are not allowed to use them.

Closure of the Seventh Shia Mosque

Sources informed Rasid that Saudi authorities closed on Sunday an Ismaili Shia mosques in the Saudi Kuwaiti border city of Khafgi without giving any reason for the closure.

Seven Shia mosques were closed so far in Dammam, Khobar and Khafgi out of which three were closed within the past two months.

Sectarian Banishment
Sources informed Rasid that Saudi authorities started a campaign to remove high ranked officers from the Shia «Yam» tribe from security services.

Thousands of Ismaili who original come from Najran spread all over Saudi and many of them occupy major and important security positions in the State.

Some Analysts linked the recent banishment to the ongoing tension between Yemni Government and Huthies supporters on South borders of Saudi Arabia.