E/CN.4/1993/62 page 58 9. The holy shrines in the governorate of Karbala: The shrines of the Imam Hussein and the Imam Abbas (peace be upon them) were used as arms and ammunition dumps by insurgents and as a rallying point for resistance to government forces. These two large shrines were also the scene of acts of murder, rape and other repugnant crimes committed by the insurgents who were responsible for the damage to both shrines. Having rid the shrines of the insurgents, the competent authorities, in view of the religious and cultural significance of the shrines, embarked on the task of repairing the damage caused by the insurgents. The Maqam Sahib Azman shrine, it is a bogus shrine built on the basis of a flight of fancy. Although it has no importance as a shrine, it was used by money-grubbers for material gain and for the honouring of vows by ingenuous citizens who failed to understand the aims of those tending the shrine. As for the destruction of the farms around the Maqam Imam Sadiq shrine, there is no truth to the allegation. The fact is that the Husseiniya river, on which the governorate of Karbala is dependent for drinking-water supplies and irrigation, was widened by a company specialized in such work. The Maqam Imam Sadiq shrine itself was destroyed by an explosive charge placed by the insurgents when they withdrew from the shrine. The other shrines sustained no damage and still remain standing. 10. The mosques destroyed in the governorate of Karbala: The allegation that a number of mosques have been destroyed is groundless. These mosques remain standing and are visited by worshippers at all times of prayer. As for the Attareen Mosque in Souq al-Hussein, it fell within the scope of the town expansion in 1986, and the recent incidents had no bearing on it. The Souq al-Kundarchia Mosque, the Utrokchi Mosque, the Rasool Mosque at Bab al-Alqami, the Muntazar Mosque and the Ahmadi Mosque near the Imam al-Abbas shrine, being adjacent to the Husseiniya and Abbasiya gardens, fell within the scope of the expansion of the gardens, which was intended to enhance the beauty of the holy shrines in view of their sacredness to Muslims. The Sheikh Abdul Karim Mosque in eastern Abbasiya and the Hay al-Abbas Mosque in the Hay al-Abbas district were sabotaged, pillaged, looted and burnt by insurgents, who wreaked havoc and destruction in the mosques and in religious and educational centres and libraries. 11. The Husseiniyahs in the governorate of Karbala: All the Husseiniyahs mentioned were used as arms and ammunition dumps by insurgents, as well as to imprison and kill citizens and perpetrate various types of crimes. They were also used as places of resistance to the central authority. A large number suffered severe damage, while the rest remain standing. All the Husseiniyahs which were damaged are being repaired by the competent authorities. 12. The clergy: Despite the search for the clergy who allegedly disappeared during the events of March 1991 and the careful investigation into their whereabouts, they have not been found. They probably left the country during the aggression against it or during the disturbances, apart from the following two, who live in the governorate of Najaf: (a) Sheikh Ahmad Duwair Hashoosh al-Bahadeli, who is currently living at Najaf, Mualimeen district, House No. 10/10.