How do you explain this?

Shiite cults seek to wreak havoc in Iraq

Devout Sunnis also believe in the Mahdi's coming, but do not think it involves the Shiite imam.

Already, two Shiite cults have tried to stage violent uprisings in Iraq. In January 2007, as many as 250 followers of a group called Heaven's Army were killed when they massed to attack the Shiite shrine city of Najaf. A year later, as many as 80 people died in battles with the police and army during a revolt in Basra by another cult, Supporters of the Mahdi.

Some experts speak of the cults nervously, afraid of being tracked down by the groups for talking about their mysterious practices.

Dr. Hassan, a psychology professor at Baghdad's Mustansiriya University who declined to give his full name because of worries about his safety, explained that some Iraqis had embraced conservative Shiite traditions with zeal after the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein, who had oppressed the country's Shiite majority.

"Before the war, the situation was different. To talk about religious things was forbidden and one could be arrested," Hassan said. "All these feelings bottled up inside and started to appear after Saddam's fall."

Iman, who also declined to give her full name, discovered the world of cults as she sought solace in religion in the months after her husband's death. A friend suggested she do something positive while waiting for Imam Mahdi's return.

"Her talks charmed me and made me think about heaven," Iman said. She opened up to her friend in a way she couldn't with her family. She told her friend how she had been lonely since her husband's death.

"I liked to talk about my needs as a woman, and we were joking about many things. Unfortunately, sometimes I went too far talking about things I should never have talked about, but I was just joking," she said.

The woman suggested that Iman sleep with her husband if she wanted to help speed up the Mahdi's return.

"I looked at her and laughed. I thought she was joking. I told her, 'No, he is too old for me. I want someone younger,' " Iman said. "She said, 'I'm serious -- all you have to do is sleep with my husband.' "

Others shared similar stories about the group, called Mumahidoon, or "those who prepare the way."

Abu Jassem said the group preyed upon him when he was unemployed.

His recruiter was a good friend who knew of his religious fervor, and of his need for money. The friend sweetened the deal with the promise of a stipend for joining the cult. But then he told Abu Jassem of the one catch: He had to let his fellow believers sleep with his wife, daughter and sister.

"I was stunned but didn't show my astonishment. Later I told them I refused the idea because these things were against my traditions and religion."

Although Iraqi security officials dismiss the idea that such cults pose a genuine threat, Hassan is not convinced. "The cults in our society," he warned, "could pose a danger."

asda wrote: the above picture says it all.... its da same media which was used time and again against HAQ...y do u think the kufaar wud say gud about muslims... if u want to chk how biased they are, just search for things like "islam in saudi arabia" and such stuff...u will get the facts.. and for a fact, they have loads of articles against the taliban that u support and islam....so if these people are saying the truth, according to u.....then i wonder if u r a muslim or not...

Duh! what planet do you live on?

Do you know any better paper than LA Times?

That all you can say am I Muslim?

For sure I am not shiit  and you know this is not shiit site!

No I don't see anti Islam articles here!
 


Edited by Sign*Reader - 16 October 2008 at 6:38pm

ok....i dont mind u believing in words of kufaar..... seeing that u find them "Authentic"..... or let me say this "AUTHENTIC AGAINST SHIAS"..... dunno whre this hate will take u...

u know the media is against the muslims....and LAT is not naive to this situation..... u can search articles on womens rights on islam...u might find some.....and for a fact...many old news articles are not working....so its uselss...

but still, probably u like muslim women being potrayed in the following way...dont u...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-women1-2008jun01,0,5128164,full.story
the writer has uselessly related the topic to islam...
i can find more but have better things to do in life...

Asalaamu alaikum...
I do not mean to be rude, but what is the point of this thread?
I am sunni, and my husband is shia, we have been together over 20 years and have not killed each other (the first thing a person who does not know us that finds out asks if we war daily)
I do not follow him in prayer. He is a legitimate Muslim that walks a slightly different path.
Our one child between us. a son, has chosen the sunnipath.
So why all the silliness here? It is the Kafir that cause any division. Muslim is muslim....Allah will be the Judge!