Publications

Shia Rights Watch raises concerns for the state of human rights in the Holy Month of Muharram.  In advance of the Holy Month, Bahraini authorities announced restrictive measures in religious congregation and public organizations expressing Muharram commemorations.  Prominent organizers of mourning rituals have been summoned and threatened with detention.  Some …

Late August 2020 coincides with the Holy month of Muharram. Shia Muslims face heightened rates of human rights violations in this month as their open and visible rituals make them targets for anti-Shiism.  In advance of Muharram 2020, threats of arrest and detainment of mourners have been announced by authorities …

While millions of dollars have been spent on COVID-19 vaccinations, not much has been done to address mental health dilemmas related to the pandemic. As necessary as public health actions such as social distancing are, they leave people feeling isolated and alone. The lack of face-to-face communication and reduced social …

Shia Rights Watch observes August 12 as the International Youth Day.  Designated by the United Nations in 1999, International Youth Day celebrates young people’s actions and engagement in political, economic, and social processes.  Approximately 26% of the international population is under the age of 15, yet the group is underrepresented …

The month of July stood witness to 406 individual incidents of violence, mainly in the countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Iraq.  Shia Rights Watch emphasizes that reports of anti-Shiism serve as the tip of the iceberg. Many cases of Anti-Shiism are not reported due to fear of …

Shia Rights Watch presents a monthly analysis of the trends of Anti-Shiism, as reported by activists and survivors. Anti-Shiism, direct and indirect, crosses international borders. Shia Muslims all over the world face unique hardships based on their religious identity. In June, Shia Muslims in the countries of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, …

While the world struggles to combat the novel Coronavirus, Anti-Shiism in Pakistan quells life-saving efforts.  On June 17th, the family of a Coronavirus patient in critical condition reached out to the community in search of a recovered Coronavirus patient to donate blood plasma with antibodies. With much effort, a donor …

June 12 marks International Shia Day, a day dedicated to recognizing hardships Shia Muslims as a minority group face. International Shia Day was first instituted in 2015 in commemoration of the massacre that occurred at Camp Speicher in 2014 in which ISIS militants escorted upwards of 3,000 Iraqi soldiers from …

In the month of May, 59 incidents of Anti-Shiism occurred, resulting in a total death count of 79 people, the injury of 264, and the arrest of 3 others. Reported incidents were from the countries of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.  Shia Rights Watch notes that this report …

On May 17, Aya Hachem, a 19-year old student, was shot in the chest and killed on a trip to the grocery store. The Hachem family were refugees from Lebanon living in the United Kingdom.  Shia Rights Watch expresses its sincerest condolences for the family of Aya Hachem and voices …