August 20th to 26th
Afghanistan,
Shia Muslim continue facing anti-Shiism with no protection from the government. A Shia cleric, Yonus Alawi, was got to death while returning from daily prayer at local mosque in Harat.
According to local Afghan media sources Taliban beheaded a Hazara, Khair Mohammad, student of Faryab College on August 21, 2016. He was travelling by bus when Taliban stopped the bus near Shirin Tagab, and after identifying him as Shia, dragged him out and beheaded him on spot.
In addition, Sheikh Ghorban Gholampour was arrested by Afghan authorities on August 22nd. No detail is available on his case yet.
Pakistan
Targeted shooting in Pakistan claimed another Shia life as a 32 year old man was shot and killed on August 22nd.
Iraq
Iraq continues to have highest number of causality rate among all countries with Shia rights violation around the world. Explosion and gunfire are mostly used methods of killing Shia civilians. 30 cases of Shia killed in Baghdad and 5 in Mahmudiya were confirmed between 20th and 24th.
As Hajj season approaches, Shia Iraqi pilgrims were subject to verbal abuse, humiliation and unnecessary search in Medina airport, Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities also arrested number of group counselors because they found The Rules of The Pilgrimage book in their belongings. In some cases their luggage were ripped to be searched for Shia prayer books.
Note:
Shia Rights Watch has issued a Hajj 2016 Advisory to help Shia pilgrimage during their visit to Saudi Arabia as Shia rights violation increases during Hajj every year.
