Week of September 13, 2015
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has handed down yet another death sentence to a prominent Shia activist. This death sentence has come upon Ali ibn Muhammad al-Nimr, nephew of Sheikh Nirm Al-Nimr. On September 13th Saudi Arabia’s Court of Appeals sentenced Muhammad al-Nimr to death after spending the last 3 years in Saudi prison. Nimr, 20, was arrested at 17 under false charges of illegal protesting and gun possession. There was never any evidence to support this gun charge. Nimr’s father Mohammed al-Nimr told reporters that during his son’s trial and interrogation he did not have access to an attorney. Furthermore the death sentence handed down to Nimr will be carried out by crucifixion, an execution long deemed excessive by the international community.
The apparent disregard for due process clearly violate international human rights standards as established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Shia Rights Watch demands the unconditional release of both Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Nimr and Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr along with all remaining prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, yet another Shia businessman was gunned down in the streets of Karachi. Infar Haider Zaidi, 35, was shot and killed outside of his store- Bismallah General Store- which is located in Block L of the North Nazimabad area of Karachi. Zaidi sustained critical wounds from a 9mm pistol and would be pronounced dead at the hospital later that day.
According to the family of the victim that was the second attempt on Zaidi’s life in the past week. The two attacks occurred by the same men but both times they managed to flee the scene. Shia Rights Watch urges the Pakistani authorities to investigate this incident and take more preventative measures to protect the Shia community throughout the country.
Iraq
This week in Iraq, 13 Shia were reported to be killed and 31 injured in two separate bombings throughout the country. The largest attack occurred on September 17th when three bombs went off in mainly Shia neighborhoods in Central Baghdad. On this day 12 Shia were killed and 18 others injured. No group has claimed responsibility for this bombing but they took place in neighborhoods that are heavily targeted by ISIS.
