Indians will stage rallies to slam desecration of holy site in Syira

Indian Muslims plan to pour onto the streets of New Delhi to strongly condemn the desecration of the grave of a prominent and revered Islamic figure in Syria.

The Muslims will mark a black Friday and will stage protest rallies across the Indian capital on Saturday.

Protests rallies are also to be held in several other towns and cities across India.

The protesters demand that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice.

On Wednesday, hundreds of angry protesters took to the streets in Indian-administered Kashmir to condemn the heinous crime.

The protest rally, called upon by several communities across the region, was held in Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. The protests were also held in several other towns of the Muslim-majority valley.

Several days ago, militants affiliated with the Free Syria Army desecrated the tomb of Hujr ibn Adi in the town of Adra, located west of the capital Damascus. They raided the mausoleum and transferred his remains to an unknown location.

Ibn Adi – a close companion of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and a loyal supporter of the first Shia Imam Ali (PBUH) – led the army of Muslims to victory in several crucial battles.

He was killed along with his son and several companions in 660 CE at the hands of the Umayyad ruler Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan due to their firm loyalty to Imam Ali (PBUH).

The al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and other extremist groups have attacked and destroyed several holy sites, including Shia mosques and shrines, since the beginning of the unrest in Syria.

Syria has been experiencing a deadly unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the chaos.