It's been four days since three Indian men were executed by unidentified terrorists in Karbala. But the 11 Indian women who accompanied them are still stranded in the Iraqi city with no passports, documents, flight tickets or cash. The widows of two of the victims — Masooma Khatoum from Hyderabad, and Zahira Fatma from East Godavari district—are also part of the group.

Speaking to The Indian Express over phone from Karbala, group leader Sayeda Zainab said, “Masooma and Zahira are still in shock after seeing how violently their husbands were killed... We are so helpless here, we have just been sitting in our rooms, waiting for our passports.’’ Fatma refused to speak but Masooma said that she is just waiting to reach India. “All our money, passports, everything was looted from us. Woh shehtan ke tarah aaye, aur sabh loot ke chale gaye,’’ Zainab said.

So far, the women have been provided food and shelter by the Grand Ayatollah Bashir al Najafy, junior to Ayatollah Ali Sistani. They are being looked after by Allahabad-born Maulana Ghulam Asdi Zaidi, who is a student of Al Najafy in Baghdad.

“The Ayatollah has deputed me to look after the women, and we are providing them with food, have put them up in a hotel, and are giving them assistance with their documentation,’’ Zaidi said. “We also took them to Najaf today to see the Imam Ali Shrine there. Even the women who lost their husbands also went to Najaf.’’

“The Indian Embassy has told us the passports are ready. If they reach us today, then we will be able to send them to Tehran after two days, from where they can catch their flights to India,’’ he said.

... contd.