Shi'a Islam in Saudi Arabia - Medina

Medina

Shiite pilgrims go to Jannat al Baqi mainly to visit the grave of Fatima and Ahl al-Bayt who are buried in the cemetery of Jannat al-Baqi'. Many incidences of offences by Shiites in this region specifically have been reported, most often resulting in the arrest then release of the accused Shiites. Shias and Barelvi usually pray near graves of Ahl al-Bayt but in Wahhabism(a branch of Sunni Islam) this act is considered as Shirk. In Saudia Arabia, most of the people follow Wahhabism, So they donot allow Shias to pray near graves of Ahl al-Bayt in Jannat al Baqi.

Early 2009, several Shiites jumped into the grave of Fatima (who is daughter of Muhammad and the wife of Ali) and grabbed handfuls of sand in order to make turbahs out of them, in what was deemed 'an attack' on Jannat al-Baqi'. Religious police were criticized for being late in taking action. Late 2011, a Shiite Australian citizen was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to 500 lashes and 2 years in jail; the latter sentence was later reduced. Also late 2011, a prominent Shiite Canadian cleric, Usama al-Attar, was arrested on grounds that he insulted Uthman ibn Affan(Uthman was 3rd Caliph of Sunnis but in Shia Islam he is considered as traitor). He was released on the same day, declaring the arrest entirely unprovoked.