Rasa News Agency Reports – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, the Egyptian university professor and the Shia thinker, Dr. Mahmoud Jabir who was also at the scene of the crime in the village of Abu Mussalam gave us more details about the incident.
Dr. Jabir said: “I completely saw the crime. While Sheikh Hassan Shehata along with the villagers was preparing for the celebration of the birthday of Imam Zaman (Shiite 12th Imam) more than three thousands armed excommunicators appeared in the village and surrendered houses and didn’t allow anyone to get out.”
“The attack longed hours and we called the police and security forces several times but they insisted the security of the village is in their control. Police forces not only refused to take action but also they gave some of their cars to the assailers.” He added.
He said: “Terrorists beheaded Sheikh Hassan Shehata and 4 others were killed in result of continuous beating of the attackers. Excommunicators didn’t stop it and took the corps to the streets and dragged them and burned two of them.”
The Egyptian professor accused the government of collaborating with the assailers and said: “The crime carried out by the excommunicators with the cooperation of the government because while the footages of the incident have been released and the media has covered them, no one has yet been detained.”
He also mentioned that the villagers were so interested in Sheikh Hassan Shehata and added: “The celebration of the birthday of Imam Mahdi has been holding since 10 years ago and the villagers were so interested in Sheikh Hassan Shehata. What has been released as the attack of the villagers to the Sheikh’s house is completely false and I was totally aware of the close relations between the villagers and the cleric.”
Mahmoud Jabir also harshly criticized the al-Azhar stance regarding the Shiite and indicated: “unfortunately al-Azhar which now issues a message of condemnation has been fueling the seditions for more than a year ago. Al-Azhar who is known for moderation and unity has now turned into a mean to pressure the Shiite.”
He insisted on completely pursuing the rights of the Shia Muslims and punishing the criminals and said: “We don’t want controversy. We will use legal ways to punish the criminal and will defend our rights with the help of the domestic and foreign allies and human rights organizations and we will not allow our martyrs blood to be wasted.”
Mahmoud Jabir also mentioned the demand of the Egyptian government to avoid holding commemoration ceremonies for the martyrs of the incident and said: “Sheikh Shehata and [the other] Shia martyrs buried without any morning ceremonies because of the request of the security forces. We don’t want the sedition to be continued rather we want the causes of the crime to be prosecuted to help end these seditions.”
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