Shia Rights Watch issues its monthly report highlighting the most prominent human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims from April 1st to May 1st, 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.
This month’s report also includes a dedicated section on civilian victims of war in the Middle East.
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):
United Arab Emirates
April 20, 2026 Arrest of Shia citizens and clerics
Security authorities arrested dozens of Shia citizens and residents, including several prominent clerics, on sectarian grounds.
Identified detainees include Sheikh Ghadir Mirza (member of the Jaafari Endowments in Dubai and Imam of Imam Ali Mosque), Sheikh Ali Al-Ghuraifi, Sheikh Ali Al-Hindi, and Sayyed Ali Al-Qazwini.
April 21, 2026 Arrest of residents from Al-Ahsa
Authorities arrested Haidar and Mustafa Al-Nimr, originally from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, without providing justification.
Afghanistan
April 10, 2026 Armed attack on civilians in Herat
An armed extremist group opened fire on civilians during a religious gathering in Dahmheri village, Injil District, Herat Province.
Outcome: 11 civilians killed and 11 injured, including women and children.
This incident constitutes a violation of the right to life and civilian protection.
Pakistan
April 3, 2026 Bombing in Damil area
A suicide car bomb targeted a police facility in northwestern Pakistan.
Outcome: 5 killed, 13 injured, and extensive property damage.
April 13, 2026 Armed attack in Quetta
Extremist militants attacked civilians in the Sabzimandi area of Hazara Ganji, Quetta, Balochistan.
Outcome: 5 civilians killed.
Bahrain
April 1, 2026 Arrest figures for March 2026
According to the Bahrain Prisoners Affairs Authority, 204 individuals were arrested during March 2026; 10 were released, while 193 remain in detention.
April 2026 Ongoing arrests and raids
Documented incidents include:
Arrest of Ali Al-Mallah (Bilad Al-Qadeem)
Arrest of Mustafa Sadiq (Jannusan) following summons
Arrest of Mahmoud Salman Atiya (location undisclosed)
Arrest of Jassim and Youssef Al-Shajjar (Karababd)
Arrest of minors Hussein Marhoon and Mohammed Younis (Al-Maameer)
April 28, 2026 Sentencing on sectarian grounds
Authorities issued prison sentences, including:
5 years imprisonment for national football player Ahmed Mirza Mousa
Life sentences for Mohammed Khalil and Hussein Mahmoud Zainal
10 years imprisonment for media figure Baqir Al-Kamil
5 years imprisonment for visually impaired detainee Ali Matooq
April 29, 2026 Additional arrests
Authorities arrested Redha Jawad Nasser Al-Qallaf and Abbas Aqeel Hani from Al-Duraz following summons for investigation.
These actions raise concerns regarding arbitrary detention and fair trial violations (UDHR Articles 9 and 10).
Kuwait
April 16, 2026 Arrest of Shia political and academic figures
Authorities carried out arrests targeting prominent Shia figures, including:
Former MP Adnan Abdul-Samad
Dr. Ahmad Al-Mousawi, Head of the English Department at Kuwait University
Former MP Ahmad Lari
Former MP Dr. Khalil Abdullah Abul
Former MP Hani Shams
Former MP Mubarak Al-Najada
These actions indicate patterns of discrimination based on sectarian identity.
Syria
April 2026 Comprehensive documentation of killings, torture, abductions, and sectarian-based violations
The organization documented a wide range of violations targeting Shia civilians across multiple governorates, including Homs, Hama, Latakia, Tartous, Damascus, and Deir ez-Zor. The incidents reflect a pattern of extrajudicial killings, deaths under torture, enforced disappearances, and attacks on civilian infrastructure and religious sites.
April 1, 2026
Death under torture: Osama Ali Al-Khalaf died in detention days after his arrest alongside six individuals from the Shia town of Hatla (Deir ez-Zor).
Death following prior assault: Bassam Ali Abu Hassan (Baniyas) died after prolonged hospitalization due to severe beating by security personnel months earlier.
Extrajudicial killing: The body of Hossam Ahmad Badour was found in Homs after being abducted by an armed group; the body showed gunshot wounds.
April 2, 2026
Death due to torture: Fater Ratib (Homs) died ten days after release from detention as a result of severe torture.
Killing inside residence: Ali Ismandar was found dead inside his home in Qardaha after an armed group stormed his residence.
April 3, 2026
Killing of civilians: Farmers Mohammad Hafez Al-Ali and Yousef Mohammad Al-Ali were shot and killed while working on agricultural land in Al-Bayada village, western Hama countryside.
Employment discrimination: Dozens of employees were dismissed from the General Tobacco Company in Latakia due to sectarian affiliation.
April 5, 2026
Abduction from workplace: Tarek Ghaleh was abducted at gunpoint from his workplace in Al-Qabo village (Homs countryside).
Family arrest: Ezzedine Ibrahim and his sons, Ibrahim and Osama, were arrested from their home in Wadi Al-Dhahab (Homs).
April 6, 2026
Body discovered: Aref Amin was found dead inside his vehicle in Al-Karam neighborhood (Homs), with fatal gunshot wounds.
Killing by explosive device: Mahmoud Al-Hamad was killed after an armed group threw a grenade into his home in Bireen village (Hama countryside).
April 7, 2026
Mass arrests: Armed groups detained multiple individuals from Al-Khandaq village (Al-Ghab Plain, Hama), including:
Nassim Habib, William Habib, Tamim Habib, Samir Habib, Samer Habib, Alaa Habib, Nawras Habib, Mohammad Habib, and Ali Habib.
Killing of a family: Armed assailants stormed the home of Salim Assad in Al-Muhajireen neighborhood, killing him, his wife Marwa Al-Rai, and their daughter Lailas.
April 8, 2026
Death in detention: Fouad Suleiman Khodour died after more than one year in detention due to prolonged torture.
April 9, 2026
Abduction: Noor Mansour Abbas was abducted from Al-Suwairi; her fate remains unknown.
Body discovered (hanging): Alaa Al-Hayek was found dead in Latakia, showing signs of torture.
Extrajudicial killing: Samer Jalal (Homs, Al-Zahraa neighborhood) was abducted and later found dead by the roadside.
April 12, 2026
Body discovered: Alaa Khazama was found dead in the Barada River (Damascus), showing signs of torture.
April 16, 2026
Arrests: Two young men, Zain and Mustafa, were detained in Ras Al-Shaghri (Tartous).
Killing of civilians: An armed group killed Nawar Shaheen and his father during a home raid in Baniyas.
Raids and arrests: Armed groups conducted raids across villages in Talkalakh (western Homs), resulting in multiple detentions.
April 17, 2026
Killing of a civilian: Student Hadeel Mohammad was killed after being deliberately run over by an armed individual in Tartous countryside.
Home invasion and arrest: Haidar Ammar was shot, injured, and arrested after an armed group stormed his home in Qardaha.
April 18, 2026
Killing of a civilian: Haidar Younes (Homs) was shot and killed while passing through Kafarnan.
Enforced disappearance: Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Mohammad went missing after leaving his home in Karam Al-Louz (Homs).
Abduction: Mohammad Ayman was abducted near Al-Hawash University (Homs).
April 20, 2026
Mass arrests: Several individuals were detained in Al-Ghab Plain, including Mohammad Nawras Habib, Samir Abdulaziz Habib, Alaa Ghiyath Habib, Samer Aref Habib, and Ali Muayyad Mahfouz.
Armed attack on civilians: Armed groups stormed a residence in Jableh, killing Nassim Shaheen and Yamen Shaheen, injuring Nizar Shaheen (who was subsequently detained along with his son despite medical condition), and arresting Ghaith Shaheen and others.
Shooting incident: Amjad Hamdan was shot in the head by armed individuals on a motorcycle in Al-Sabeel neighborhood.
April 22, 2026
Seizure of religious site: Armed groups took control of the shrine of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jazari in Blqasa (Homs countryside) and prevented civilians from accessing it.
April 25, 2026
Attack on village and abductions: Armed groups attacked the village of Nab’ Al-Tayeb (Hama countryside), forcing residents to flee and abducting several girls.
April 26, 2026
Attack on residential area: Armed individuals opened fire on a home in Al-Nazihin neighborhood, killing Lina Awad and a guest, and injuring her husband and one of her children.
April 28, 2026
Abduction: Abeer Ajib and her child were abducted from a parking area in Baniyas.
April 29, 2026
Abduction of medical professional: Dr. Mohammad Karam Bassal was abducted near Al-Shoukatiliya (Homs countryside) while returning from Umm Al-Amad village.
April 30, 2026
Body discovered: The body of Hossam Mohammad Al-Saleh (Homs) was found by the roadside after abduction, showing signs of torture.
Saudi Arabia
April 2026 Escalation of executions, arrests, and sectarian incitement
April 1, 2026 Authorization of extremist activity:
Authorities permitted a group promoting sectarian hate speech in Al-Ahsa, including incitement against Shia communities and religious figures.
April 1, 2026 Arrest of Iraqi pilgrims:
Three Iraqi pilgrims from Basra were detained without clear charges.
April 1, 2026 Execution of detainee:
Saud Mohammad Al-Faraj (Al-Awamiyah, Qatif) was executed.
April 9, 2026 Execution of detainees:
Mustafa Ali Al-Subaiti and Ali Hassan Al-Subaiti were executed.
April 9, 2026 Arrest campaign targeting clerics and civilians:
Arrests included religious figures and community members, including Hassan Al-Yousef, Sheikh Abduljalil Al-Sameen, Sheikh Hassan Al-Haddad, Sheikh Hussein Al-Nashmi, Mohammad Baqir Al-Nasser, and Sheikh Sami Al-Ibrahim.
April 21, 2026 Arrest linked to cross-border cases:
Mustafa Al-Nimr (Al-Ahsa) was arrested; he is the father of two individuals detained in the UAE.
April 2026 Continued arrest campaigns:
More than 20 individuals from Qatif and Al-Ahsa were detained over a two-week period.
April 28, 2026 Execution of Iraqi nationals:
Two Iraqi nationals from Samawah were executed after prolonged detention.
Outcome:
These actions raise concerns regarding arbitrary detention, denial of due process, use of capital punishment, and incitement to sectarian discrimination.
Middle East Conflict
SRW documented civilian casualties resulting from military operations conducted during April 2026. These incidents raise concerns regarding compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality under the Geneva Conventions.
Iran
According to preliminary data issued by the Iranian Ministry of Health (end of April 2026):
1,701 civilian deaths recorded (non-final figure)
Total fatalities exceed 3,400, including approximately 496 women and 216 children
Lebanon
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health (as of April 30, 2026):
2,586 fatalities
8,020 injuries