THE SHIITE JIHAD IN SYRIA AND ITS REGIONAL EFFECTS

NOTES AND SOURCES n 61
33. Hassan Hamawi, “Tashiyya’ muhiib al-shahid al-mudhlum al-muhandass Adam
Najem fi balada Zifta,” Bint Jbeil, April 13, 2014, http://bintjbeil.org/index.php?s
how=news&action=article&id=79190. It is important to note that Najem was also
celebrated by the Amal Movement as a “martyr.” Nevertheless, Najem wore the
uniform of the SSNP, of which it was considered a full member.
34. See https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Images/Books/Smyth/T-34.jpg.
35. See https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Images/Books/Smyth/T-35.jpg.
See also “Harakat Amal,” Nabatieh News Network, April 13, 2014, http://nn-lb.
com/news.php?go=fullnews&newsid=899.
36. Patrick Cockburn, “Destruction of Holiest Shia Shrine Brings Iraq to the Brink of
Civil War,” Independent, February 23, 2006, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/
world/middle-east/destruction-of-holiest-shia-shrine-brings-iraq-to-the-brinkof-civil-war-467454.html.
37. One prime example comes from the December 2011 targeting of an Ashura
procession at an Afghanistan shrine. See “Shias Targeted in Afghan Shrine
Blasts,” Aljazeera, December 7, 2011, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2011
/12/201112674650869183.html. These types of sentiments—on takfiri responsibility
for shrine attacks—are present on online Shiite forums. See Hussein
Alhaddad, “Why Do Some or Most Sunnis Hate Bashar Al Assad?” ShiaChat.com,
January 28, 2013, http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?/topic/235010727-
why-do-some-or-most-sunnis-hate-bashar-al-assad/.
38. “Iran Condemns Attack on Holy Shrine in Syria,” PressTV, July 20, 2013, http://
www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/07/20/314671/iran-condemns-attack-on-holy-sitein-syria/.
39. “Pakistani Shiites Condemn Attack on Syeda Zainab’s Shrine in Syria,” Shia Post,
July 20, 2013, http://en.shiapost.com/2013/07/20/pakistani-shiites-condemnattack-on-sayyeda-zainabs-shrine-in-syria/.
40. One poster reads: “The dome will not be brought down twice. We swear on the
blood of Hussein.”.
41. “Nasrallah Says Will Win Battle against U.S., Israel and Takfiris: ‘We Won’t Allow
Breaking Resistance’s Backbone,’” Naharnet, May 25, 2013, http://www.naharnet.
com/stories/en/84448. See also Nasser Chararah, “Hezbollah Defends Shiite
Villages in Syria War,” Al-Monitor, February 20, 2013, http://www.al-monitor.
com/pulse/originals/2013/02/hezbollah-shiites-syria.html.
42. “Takfiri Extremists Kill Top Shia Cleric and 4 Others in Egypt,” PressTV, June
24, 2013, http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/06/24/310617/prominent-shiasheikh-killed-in-egypt/.
Note the use of the term “takfiri extremists.”
43. “Clip Shows Salafis Violating Shias’ Bodies in Egypt,” al-Alam, June 24, 2013,
http://en.alalam.ir/news/1487602. See also “Shias Paying the Price for Saving
the True Religion of Nature,” Jafria News, July 3, 2013, http://jafrianews.
com/2013/07/03/shias-paying-the-price-for-saving-the-true-religion-of-natureislam/.
44. “An Iraqi Scholar in an Interview with Rasa: The Blood of Martyr Shehata Plagued