Shia Rights Watch issues its monthly report highlighting the most prominent human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims from July 1 to August 1, 2025.
This report details various terrorist operations carried out by extremist groups against Shia Muslims, as well as instances of oppression and abuse by certain governments and regimes.
SRW relied on both its own sources and public sources, such as individuals and human rights groups active in the countries where violations occurred.
SRW notes that it refrained from mentioning some violations due to the absence of conclusive evidence, despite being certain of their occurrence in some countries, emphasizing that it does not seek political or profit goals in its work, but rather aims to achieve justice and equality aspired to by human societies.
Countries (Alphabetically):
Iran
07/26 Dead and injured in court attack: An attack by armed extremists on the Zahedan courthouse in Balochistan province killed nine people and injured 22 others.
Afghanistan
07/06 Suppression of religious rituals: Taliban authorities in Ghazni province cracked down on Ashura processions in the city and its districts, imposing a harsh and arbitrary ban on Shia religious practices.
Taliban forces attacked mourning processions, destroyed sound systems in mosques and hussainiyas, and threatened organizers.
Similar actions were reported in Jaghoori, Malistan, Nawur, and Jaghatu. Taliban set up checkpoints to block processions.
Reports from Malistan confirmed Taliban seizure of several hussainiyas, converting them into military bases.
Pakistan
07/15 Ban on land travel to Karbala: The Interior Ministry banned land travel to Karbala, Iraq, citing security reasons. The ban included buses, private cars, and pilgrimage convoys, allowing only air travel.
Bahrain
07/01 Arrest of a religious cleric from Al-Dir: Authorities arrested preacher Isa Al-Moamen.
07/04 Arrest campaigns in multiple areas: Security forces arrested several clerics, religious chanters, and youths.
07/04, 07/11, 07/18, 07/25 Continued ban on Shia Friday prayers: For the 39th to 42nd consecutive weeks, security imposed strict blockades on Diraz, banning central Friday prayers.
07/17 Arrest of a protester: Authorities arrested recently released citizen Mohammed Al-Sankis, who had been protesting for four months demanding reinstatement at his former job.
Lebanon
07/05 One dead, two injured in Israeli strike in Shaqra.
07/10 One killed, two injured in Israeli drone attack near Mansouri.
07/17 Two killed, two injured in Israeli strikes on Kfour and Naqoura.
07/26 Two killed in Israeli strike on a home in Dbaal, Tyre.
07/27 Three killed in Israeli strikes on a car and home in Tyre.
Syria
07/04 One killed and another injured in rural Latakia: An armed group opened fire on brothers Amer Amoun and Bayhas Amoun, resulting in the death of Amer and the injury of Bayhas.
07/05 Kidnapping of a girl from Hama: Armed men kidnapped Bana Khaddour, a young woman from Hama, as she was passing through the Kurto area in rural Tartous. Her fate remains unknown.
07/06 Widespread arson in Latakia: A group known as “Ansar al-Sunnah,” internationally classified as a terrorist organization, deliberately started wildfires in rural Latakia aiming to forcibly displace Alawite residents and expose them to danger and death. Around 5,000 people were affected, and over 1,120 were displaced from the villages of Beit Ayoush, Al-Mazraa, Al-Saboura, and Al-Basit.
07/07 Attack on a religious gathering near Sayyida Zaynab: Security forces affiliated with General Security assaulted mourners participating in the final Ashura night rituals near the shrine of Sayyida Zaynab. Attendees, including women and elderly individuals, were pushed around, candles were stomped out, and a man carrying a child was physically assaulted.
07/07 Body of a detainee found in Al-Mazzeh: The body of Soumar Makhlouf, a disabled member of the Alawite community, was found after being detained by General Security forces.
07/07 Elderly man killed by a security officer: A security officer in Jableh (rural Latakia) shot and killed an elderly man.
07/08 Intimidation and siege of Al-Sumariyah neighborhood: Armed groups raided Al-Sumariyah near Damascus, fired indiscriminately, shouted sectarian slurs, and issued direct death threats. They blocked all entrances with earth mounds and stone barriers, paralyzing movement. Bread distributors, food vendors, and water tankers were also barred from entry despite the area suffering water cuts.
07/09 Two youths killed in Al-Tadamon: Two young men were killed and a third injured when an unknown armed man on a motorcycle opened fire inside a real estate office on Al-Jalaa Street in Al-Tadamon, Damascus.
07/09 Assassination of a Shia cleric in Al-Mazraa, Homs: Armed men on a motorcycle assassinated Shia cleric Sheikh Rasoul Shahoud while he was returning from Al-Waer orchards. The killing occurred near a local faction checkpoint in broad daylight.
07/10 Youth killed by General Security in Qardaha: Ismail Barbar was shot and killed by a patrol from General Security while riding a motorcycle. His companion, Rifaat Khair Bek, was arrested.
07/10 Youth killed in Al-Rweisa: Haidar Asaad was shot dead in Al-Rweisa Al-Bassatneh, Qardaha countryside, by gunmen linked to local militias.
07/10 Youth killed in Al-Diabiyah: Tamer Assaf was shot and killed while working on his land in Al-Diabiyah, Qusayr countryside, by unidentified gunmen.
07/10 Two brothers killed in Homs: Shadi and Farid Mohammad Mahfouz, from Ain Al-Karoum in rural Hama but residing in Homs, were gunned down en route to the central vegetable market. A third individual with them was also injured.
07/10 Shia families expelled from Sayyida Zaynab: Security forces began forcibly evicting Shia residents from hotels and buildings they had rented and lived in for years in Sayyida Zaynab, most of which were owned by foreign investors, especially Iraqis. Residents were given 24 hours to vacate with no alternative housing or prior notice. Refusal led to physical assault and forced eviction, along with property confiscation. Over 30 buildings were emptied, and sources reported that families from Idlib were being resettled there.
07/12 Two killed in separate incidents in rural Hama and Tartous: Bashar Othman of Rabou village (Masyaf countryside) was shot during his commute, coinciding with a passing security convoy. In Tartous countryside, Ahmad Youssef Jibril was killed and his brother Suleiman injured by unknown gunmen near a café in Mashteh Al-Helou.
07/13 Seizure of a Shia mosque in Al-Hazmiyah, Homs: Armed groups seized Imam Al-Hujjah Al-Mahdi Mosque in Al-Hazmiyah (Homs countryside), renamed it “Lady Aisha Mosque,” and expelled followers of Ahl al-Bayt from their homes.
07/16 Youth killed in Talkalakh: Mahmoud Nafez Abbas from Beit Qareen village was gunned down by unidentified militants on Talkalakh’s main road.
07/17 Dozens arrested in Al-Mazraa, Homs: General Security forces stormed Al-Mazraa village, arresting a large number of young men amid intense gunfire and heavy security tension.
07/20 Father and son killed in rural Hama: Armed men stormed their home in Jadrin village and shot them dead.
07/20 Youth killed in Jableh: Ahmad Jaafar was shot dead by an armed group in Snoubar Jableh, rural Latakia.
07/23 Abducted man’s body found in Homs: The body of Soumar Fawaz, a taxi driver from Wadi Al-Dhahab, was found with a gunshot to the head in Al-Waer Hospital days after he was kidnapped.
07/25 Religious council attacked in Salamiyah: Dozens of armed men stormed Taldara in Salamiyah on motorbikes, chanting sectarian slurs, and then raided the Ismaili religious council, insulting its leaders.
07/26 One killed and another injured in Sahel Al-Ghab: A young man was shot dead and another wounded by unknown gunmen in Kafr Aqid village, rural western Hama.
07/25 Village raid in rural Homs: Armed men, accompanied by General Security and “sector official” Abu Maria, stormed Al-Hamidiyah village in eastern Homs. Residents—Shia, Alawites, and Christians—were given three days to evacuate.
07/27 Girl’s body found in Hama: The body of a girl from Halfaya, Hama, who was kidnapped days earlier by unknown gunmen, was found.
07/28 Sectarian dismissal of judges: Around 200 judges, mostly from Hama, Homs, and Tartous, were dismissed in a campaign reportedly driven by sectarian motives.
07/29 Body of a youth from Baniyas found: Majd Ghanem from Tartous was found dead with bullet wounds after disappearing for several days.
07/31 Judge assassinated in Tartous: Judge Ghaith Mohammad, of the Civil Court of First Instance in Safita, was assassinated outside the courthouse by an armed group.
Saudi Arabia
07/01 Arrest of a girl from Al-Awamiyah during home raid.
07/03 Arrest of youth Abdulhadi Al-Aswad from Al-Awamiyah.
07/07 Execution of political prisoner Ahmed Al-Barzon from Qatif.
07/07 Arrest of cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abduljabbar Al-Sameen in Dammam.
07/14 Execution of political prisoner Ali Al-Alawi from Qatif.
07/24 Multiple home and farm raids in Al-Awamiyah.
07/29 Execution of a third political prisoner, Ahmed Mohammad Al-Hammadi from Qatif.
