Shia Rights Watch issues its monthly report highlighting the most prominent human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims from October 1, 2026 – November 1, 2026.
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):
Afghanistan
10/31/2026 – Three Brothers Killed in Maidan Wardak
According to the report, an armed group stormed a family home in Maidan Wardak Province and fatally shot three brothers while they were sleeping. The victims were identified as:
- Sayyid Nawsan
- Sayyid Akbar
- Sayyid Abu al-Fadl Hosseini
Pakistan
10/05/2026 – Extremist Group Desecrates Mosque in Dera Murad Jamali
An extremist group reportedly desecrated Al-Husseini Mosque in Dera Murad Jamali, demolished part of the building, and fled the scene.
10/12/2026 – Shia Activist Abducted in Lahore
Unidentified individuals reportedly abducted Shia activist Rana Kazim Ali in Lahore. His whereabouts remain unknown.
10/18/2026 – Shia Religious Leader Arrested in Parachinar
Security authorities reportedly arrested Sayyid Sajid Kazmi, head of the Ummah Council, in Parachinar, Kurram District, without disclosing the reasons for his detention.
Bahrain
10/01/2026 – Courts Issue Allegedly Discriminatory Sentences Related to Religious Practices
Bahraini courts reportedly issued several prison sentences and substantial financial penalties against Shia citizens in connection with their participation in religious observances.
- Sayyid Hadi Jawad, a resident of Manama, was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 200 Bahraini dinars.
- Ali Muhanna was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 200 Bahraini dinars for participating in a commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir.
- Ahmed Qurban, a religious reciter from Manama, received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 200 Bahraini dinars for participating in the same religious commemoration.
- Sajjad Abdul Samad Al-Mulla, a resident of South Sehla, received a two-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 200 Bahraini dinars for participating in the commemoration.
10/01/2026 – Elderly Religious Detainee Allegedly Assaulted
Officers and security personnel at Bahrain’s Dry Dock Detention Center reportedly severely beat Sheikh Ali Al-Mustarshid and transferred him to solitary confinement.
10/01/2026 – Security Forces Conduct Arrest Campaign
Bahraini security authorities reportedly carried out a series of arrests targeting young men in several communities. Those identified include:
- Nabil Al-Sami, from Sanabis.
- Fadel Khalil Ibrahim, from Karana.
- Ali Hussein Rashid, from Karana.
- Ahmed Hussein Al-Hammadi, from Karana.
- Ali Hassan, from Diraz.
10/01/2026 – Two Minor Detainees Allegedly Assaulted
Security personnel at the Dry Dock Detention Center reportedly severely beat two detained minors, Hussein Ali Hassan from Karana and Sadiq Habil from Sitra.
Both sustained injuries and were transferred to Salmaniya Medical Complex. According to the report, they were subsequently assaulted again inside the hospital, in the presence of medical personnel and members of the public, despite their injuries and need for medical treatment.
10/04/2026 – Young Man Arrested in Bilad Al-Qadeem
Security authorities reportedly arrested Fadel, son of the late Salah Abbas, from Bilad Al-Qadeem, after summoning him for questioning at Budaiya Police Station.
10/13/2026 – Courts Issue Prison Sentences and Financial Penalties
A Bahraini court reportedly issued prison sentences and fines against detainees in cases described as involving sectarian discrimination.
- Sayyid Hussein Ali and Mohammed Redha Zuhair, both from Abu Saiba, were each sentenced to three years in prison and fined 500 Bahraini dinars.
- Mohammed Habib Al-Aradi was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
10/14/2026 – Young Man Arrested in Diraz
Security authorities reportedly arrested Sayyid Hashim Zahir Al-Mousawi, a resident of Diraz, after summoning him for questioning at a security facility.
10/21/2026 – Home Raided and Young Man Arrested in Bani Jamra
Security forces reportedly raided the home of Ali Al-Ghanimi in Bani Jamra and arrested him.
10/24/2026 – Religious Reciter Arrested in Diraz
Security authorities reportedly arrested religious reciter Habib Al-Dirazi, a resident of Diraz, after summoning him for questioning.
10/24/2026 – Seventeen-Year-Old Arrested Following Police Pursuit
Security forces reportedly arrested Hussein Ali Malallah, 17, from Bilad Al-Qadeem, following a pursuit through Manama.
10/24/2026 – Young Man Arrested Following Security Summons
Security authorities reportedly arrested Ali Fayez Ahmed, from the Bilad Al-Qadeem/Bilad Al-Zinj area, after summoning him for questioning.
10/25/2026 – Religious Reciter Arrested in Bilad Al-Qadeem
Security authorities reportedly arrested Sayyid Jalal Al-Biladi, a religious reciter from Bilad Al-Qadeem, after summoning him for questioning.
10/26/2026 – Religious Reciter Arrested Following Home Raid
Security forces reportedly raided the home of Hussaini religious reciter Abdullah Al-Matrouk in Diraz and arrested him.
10/27/2026 – Courts Issue Multiple Prison Sentences
A Bahraini court reportedly issued several prison sentences and substantial financial penalties in cases described as having sectarian motivations.
The individuals and sentences identified in the report include:
- Mahmoud Fardan, from Bilad Al-Qadeem — five years in prison.
- Mahmoud Al-Daffari, from Bilad Al-Qadeem — five years in prison.
- Mohammed Hussein Fardan, from Bilad Al-Qadeem — five years in prison.
- Mohammed Aqeel, from Bilad Al-Qadeem — three years in prison.
- Mohammed Hussein Al-Sheikh, from Al-Kharijiya, Sitra Island — three years in prison.
- Ahmed Hussein, from Sitra Island — life imprisonment.
- Hussein Abdul Amir Ashour, from Ma’ameer — life imprisonment.
- Muntadhar Abdul Mohsen Al-Asfour, from Ma’ameer — life imprisonment.
10/27/2026 – Religious Procession Organizers Arrested
Security forces reportedly arrested Amer Ahmed Qarqour, head of the Hussaini Mourning Procession Committee, and Hussein Jafar Mahdi, the committee’s deputy head, because of their involvement in organizing and coordinating religious observances.
10/29/2026 – Four Young Men Allegedly Assaulted and Arrested
Security forces reportedly pursued, severely beat, and arrested four young men:
- Karrar Youssef Al-Musalli, 16.
- Ali Abdul Ali Al-Baqali, 20.
- Abdullah Al-Zaki.
- Sadiq Al-Qaydoum.
10/30/2026 – Sixteen-Year-Old Detainee Allegedly Assaulted
Police officers at the Dry Dock Detention Center reportedly assaulted Abbas Mahmoud Al-Hubaishi, 16, from Al-Daih, beating him and spraying pepper spray directly into his face before transferring him to solitary confinement.
Kuwait
10/03/2026 – Shia Publishing Houses Reportedly Excluded from International Book Fair
Lebanese publishing houses reported that Kuwaiti authorities had prevented Shia publishing companies from participating in the Kuwait International Book Fair. The exclusion was described as discriminatory and motivated by sectarian considerations.
10/27/2026 – Court Issues Death Sentences and Prison Terms
A Kuwaiti court reportedly sentenced Sheikh Hussein Abdullah Al-Maatouq and two other individuals to death. Eight additional detainees were sentenced to five years in prison.
Syria
10/03/2026 – Cardiac Surgeon Abducted in Damascus
An armed group reportedly abducted Dr. Basel Ramadan Al-Namili, a cardiac surgeon from Tartous Governorate, as he was leaving the National Hospital in Damascus.
10/04/2026 – Young Woman Abducted in Tartous
An armed group reportedly abducted Maryam Damsarkho, a young woman from Tartous.
10/04/2026 – Four Young Men Reportedly Killed in Safita
An armed group reportedly opened fire with automatic weapons on several young men in Safita. Although the original report’s headline refers to three victims, four individuals are listed as killed:
- Ali Asbar.
- Yazan Asbar.
- Ali Youssef.
- Adib Kaber.
10/05/2026 – Young Man Shot Dead in Tartous
An armed group reportedly opened fire on a young man as he was walking along a street in Tartous, killing him at the scene. The report does not identify the victim.
10/06/2026 – Security Forces Raid Villages in Homs
Security forces reportedly conducted a series of raids targeting residents of villages in the Homs area.
10/07/2026 – Religious Shrines Seized in Masyaf
Security forces reportedly took control of several religious shrines in Masyaf, expelled their custodians, and prevented local residents from worshipping at the sites.
The affected shrines were identified as:
- Dhu Al-Nun Shrine, on Mount Zaytoun near Al-Majwi village.
- Sheikh Abbas Salman Shrine, on the mountain above Al-Majwi village.
- Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Sultan Shrine, in Bashawi village.
- Sheikh Ali Shrine, in Al-Haylouna village.
- Prophet Saleh Shrine, in the Masyaf countryside.
10/08/2026 – Young Man Killed While Working on His Farm
An armed group reportedly killed Mohsen Dardari while he was working on his farm in Ba’arin, in the Masyaf countryside.
10/10/2026 – Religious Shrine Vandalized
An armed group reportedly desecrated and vandalized the Sheikh Mohammed Al-Qadboun Shrine in Al-Kaf.
10/11/2026 – Armed Groups Attack Border Village in Tartous
Armed groups reportedly attacked Karto village in the Tartous countryside near the Lebanese border. According to the report, the attackers targeted civilian homes, stole private property, physically assaulted women, and shouted sectarian insults and slogans.
10/13/2026 – Young Girl Found Dead in Masyaf Countryside
The body of a young girl was reportedly discovered along a roadside in a village in the Masyaf area. The report states that the body showed signs of sexual assault.
The circumstances of the child’s death and the identity of those responsible were not established in the supplied account.
10/13/2026 – Female Physician Arrested in Tartous
Security forces reportedly arrested Dr. Hanan Dioub inside the Military Hospital in Tartous.
10/13/2026 – Young Man Abducted While Harvesting Olives
An armed group reportedly abducted Ayman Assad Hassan, from Ain Al-Sharqiya in the Jableh area, while he was harvesting olives near Batara village.
10/14/2026 – Iraqi Religious Visitor Arrested Near Sayyida Zainab Shrine
Security forces reportedly arrested Iraqi visitor Ahmed Majdhoub while he was in the Sayyida Zainab area of Rural Damascus Governorate.
10/17/2026 – Two Young Men Seriously Injured in Shooting
An armed group reportedly opened fire on Uday Salloum and Hussein Hassamo near the C-Pharma medical facility in the Tartous countryside, leaving both seriously injured.
10/17/2026 – Young Man Killed in Homs
An armed group reportedly killed Imad Suleiman, from Jourat Al-Jawamis in the Dreikish countryside. The source places the incident under Homs, although the stated locality is associated with the Dreikish area.
10/20/2026 – Sixty-Eight-Year-Old Physician Abducted in Homs
An armed group reportedly abducted Dr. Mohammed Yassin Al-Waari, 68, from his home and medical clinic in the Wadi Al-Dhahab neighborhood of Homs.
10/23/2026 – Young Man Shot Dead in Damascus
A security officer reportedly shot and killed Ibrahim Ashram, a resident of Tartous, while he was in the Bab Musalla neighborhood of Damascus.
10/29/2026 – Young Woman Abducted from Ras Al-Ain
An armed group reportedly abducted Batoul Fadi Skaff, a young woman from Ras Al-Ain village in Tartous.
Saudi Arabia
10/08/2026 – Young Man Arrested in Awamiyah
Security authorities reportedly arrested Mohammed Al-Saeed, a resident of Awamiyah in Qatif.
10/17/2026 – Five Detainees Executed
Saudi authorities reportedly executed five detainees identified as:
- Mohammed Al-Zahir.
- Ali Al-Sheikh.
- Redha Abu Abdullah.
- Ali Al-Rabah.
- Hassan Al-Faraj.
Iraq
10/04/2026 – Two Killed and Two Injured in Explosive Device Incident
An explosive device reportedly left behind by terrorist organizations detonated in the northern Rawa desert area, south of Mosul, killing two people and injuring two others.
10/05/2026 – One Killed and Two Injured in Kirkuk Attack
Armed groups described in the report as terrorist organizations reportedly attacked the outskirts of Kirkuk, killing one person and injuring two others.
