Shia Rights Watch Defending Justice and Rights
Today, Shia Muslims make up over 20% of the world population. The Pew Forum reports an approximation of one-fifth of the Muslims population lives in a non-Muslim country. However, given that at this point in history there are only nations with self-proclaimed Shia governances, Iran and Iraq, a large percentage …
August, 2018
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7 August
What Pakistan’s Elections Mean for Shia Muslims
Author: Hannah Westphall The recent elections in Pakistan have been fraught with worry. In a place where the military has directly ruled for roughly half of its 70-year existence and has seen only one peaceful transition of administrative power uncertainty has plagued the entire process. For the roughly 200 million …
July, 2018
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9 July
Expansion of Anti-Shia Laws in Bahrain
07/09/2018 Author: Hannah Westphall After 9/11, the US adopted an ideology of “war on terror,” a systematic campaign using a variety of legislative and judicial methods designed to target extremist groups bent on the destruction of civil society. Some have suggested that in the years following many authoritarian regimes have …
May, 2018
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17 May
Cultural to Direct Violence: Opportunities for Prevention Ignored
For decades, Shia Muslims have lived under fear of identification by their religion. Ethnically distinct groups such as the Hazara, who are physically distinguishable and recognized as Shia Muslims have seen a 58% reduction in their population since the 18th century. Other groups such that of the Shia living in …
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10 May
Bahrain: 7 Years Later
Over seven years have passed from the first Bahraini cries for reform. Like any other attempt at a revolution, reflection becomes easier as time passes. Bahraini advocates and active members of the revolution are now beginning to evaluate the crisis at hand. Blossoming of the Arab Spring in Bahrain began …
February, 2018
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20 February
What is in it for Pakistan to support Anti-Shiism?
Pakistan has played a mysterious role in anti-Shia coalitions, killings, violation and more at an international level. Historically Saudi Arabia is known for its Anti-Shia activities. This country not only violates the rights of its Shia population, but it also fuels and funds anti-Shiism in other countries. Saudi-backed educational institutions exist all …
January, 2018
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27 January
The Case of Amri che Mat
On the 26 of November 2016, Amri Che Mat’s car was found near the Perlis Timah Tosah Dam in Perlis, Malaysia with its windows shattered. From then on, the whereabout of Mat remain unknown. Mat was a foreign exchange trader, a husband and father to four minor children. He was …
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9 January
Shia of Nigeria
The case of Shia Muslim in Nigeria has been a measure of the nation states morality. In December 2015, a Shia Muslim religious center in Kunduna was attacked amidst religious processions. The Nigerian army killed over 400 Shia men, women, and children on that day alone. Two days later, a …
July, 2017
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5 July
Parachinar: Post-Conflict Remunerations
For Shia Muslims, the Holy month of Ramadan is a month of fear and anxiety as attacks on Shia congregations are prevalent. Terror Organizations feed on already existing anti-Shia sentiment to encourage suicide bombings. On June 23rd, twin blasts went off in northwestern Pakistan. The city of Parachinar became the …
June, 2017
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28 June
Unraveling Centuries of Power
In the month of June, five Shia Muslims were reported killed on the basis of their religion every day. Note, this statistic is based on incidents reported to Shia Rights Watch, and that from only six countries. In the past decade, cases of anti-Shiism have become more and more evident …