Shia Rights Watch(SRW) presents its monthly report documenting significant human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims between March 1 and April 1, 2025.
This report outlines a series of targeted attacks and acts of violence perpetrated by extremist groups, as well as systematic repression and discriminatory practices carried out by state actors in various regions. These violations reflect the ongoing and deeply concerning challenges faced by Shia populations globally.
The findings in this report are based on SRW’s independent investigations, as well as verified information gathered from public sources, local communities, and human rights organizations operating in the affected areas.
In some instances, SRW has elected not to publish reports of certain violations due to the lack of corroborating evidence, despite credible indications of their occurrence. This decision aligns with our commitment to accuracy and responsible reporting.
It is important to emphasize that SRW operates independently and without political or financial agendas. Our mission remains rooted in the pursuit of justice, the protection of human dignity, and the promotion of equality for all communities.
Countries (Alphabetically):
Pakistan
03/01 Continued siege in Parachinar: More than three months into a siege imposed by armed extremist groups on villages and towns in the Parachinar region, resulting in severe shortages of food, medicine, and basic necessities.
03/01 Kidnapping of religious figures near a border crossing: Human rights sources reported the abduction of three religious scholars from Baltistan — Sayyed Ali Abbas Rizvi, Sheikh Ghulam Abbas Naseri, and Sayyed Ali Rustam — while returning from Iran near a border checkpoint.
03/12 Assassination of a religious singer in Haripur: An armed extremist group assassinated religious singer Sayyed Ali Naqvi Akhtar Shah outside Shangi Bandi Mosque in Haripur.
03/20 Attack on mourning procession in Jhandraka: An armed extremist group attacked a mourning procession in Jhandraka commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), causing multiple casualties and injuries.
03/26 Execution of religious figures in Kalmat: Armed terrorists stopped a passenger bus in Kalmat, Balochistan, and executed Sheikh Akhtar Abbas Qomi (founder of Al-Muntazar Association Lahore), Sayyed Azzam Tahir bin Muhammad Idrees (from Multan), Zahid Asghar bin Asghar Muhammad (from Punjab), Tanveer bin Muhammad Asghar (from Mandi Chinawala), Shahzad bin Gulzar (from Gujrat), and Ali Abbas bin Muhammad Sharif (from Gujrat), along with several others.
03/28 Destruction of mosque in Sialkot: An extremist group attacked Imam Ali Mosque in the village of Room, Sialkot, destroying the minaret and mihrab, damaging the walls, desecrating and burning Hussaini flags.
Bahrain
03/07 Authorities prevent Shia congregational prayers: Security forces surrounded Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in Diraz to block the unified Friday prayer for the 23rd consecutive week.
03/14 Authorities prevent Shia congregational prayers: Security forces once again surrounded Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque to prevent unified prayer for the 24th consecutive week.
03/21 Authorities prevent Shia congregational prayers: For the 25th week in a row, security forces block unified Shia prayers in Diraz.
03/28 Authorities prevent Shia congregational prayers: For the 26th consecutive week, security forces surrounded Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in Diraz.
Lebanon
03/01 Death from airstrike in Rashkananiyeh: An airstrike on the southern town of Rashkananiyeh killed one person and injured others.
03/17 Five killed in Bekaa attack: Armed extremist groups attacked the Bekaa region, killing five people, including a child.
03/27 Two killed in airstrike on Barashit: An Israeli drone strike on Barashit, southern Lebanon, killed two people and injured others.
03/28 Bombing targets homes in Dahiyeh: Israeli aircraft destroyed two buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh).
Nigeria
03/31 Dozens killed or wounded in Nigerian army attack: The Nigerian army opened fire with machine guns on a peaceful procession organized by Shia Muslims, resulting in numerous casualties.
Syria
03/01 Refugee center raided and dozens arrested: Armed extremist factions stormed a refugee shelter in Homs, arresting dozens of displaced Shia youth and men from Kafriya and Foua in Idlib.
03/01 Dozens of Shia employees dismissed from Latakia Health Department: Authorities dismissed numerous Shia employees from the healthcare sector in Latakia on sectarian grounds.
03/01 Young men arrested in Bab Amr: Extremist factions arrested several young Shia men from Bab Amr, Homs countryside. They were taken to an unknown location; often, detainees’ bodies are later found. Identified victims include: Abbas Abdul Qadir Shahoud, Ismail Hussein Shahoud, Muhammad Hussein Shahoud, Hussein Ismail Shahoud, Jaafar Ismail Shahoud, and Ali Abdul Qadir Shahoud.
03/01 Displacement and abuse in Al-Bayada: A Takfiri group stormed the home of Sayyed Muhammad Mohsen in Al-Bayada, Homs, beating and threatening him in front of his family to force him to leave his home.
03/01 All Shia staff dismissed from Al-Salamiyah Hospital: Authorities dismissed all Shia employees from Al-Salamiyah Hospital in Homs countryside on sectarian grounds.
03/02 Shia staff dismissed from Qardaha Hospital: All Shia employees were fired from Qardaha Hospital in Latakia for sectarian reasons.
03/02 Father and son killed on Jableh road: A Takfiri group abducted Sayyed Hassan Suleiman Ali and his son Jaafar while returning from Damascus to Jableh. Their bodies were found days later on the roadside.
03/02 Six bodies found from Al-Mazraa: Takfiri factions abducted six family members on the Homs–Tartous road. Their bodies were later found dumped roadside. Victims include Ismail Hussein Shahoud (60), and his sons Hussein (39), Jaafar (38), Muhammad Hussein Shahoud (46), Ali Abdul Qadir Shahoud (25), and Abbas Abdul Qadir (22).
03/03 Random arrests in Kafranan: Takfiri factions launched arbitrary arrest campaigns in the town of Kafranan.
03/04 Displacement and intimidation in Al-Abbasiyah: Residents of Al-Abbasiyah, Homs, reported Takfiri groups firing at passersby and homes to force Shia to flee.
03/04 Casualties and arrests in Al-Da’tour: Takfiri factions attacked residents of Al-Da’tour in Latakia countryside, killing ten civilians including women and infants, and arresting dozens.
03/05 Shrine bombed in Al-Salamiyah: Takfiri groups bombed the shrine of Sheikh Nasser Asaad in Tel Abdul Aziz, eastern Salamiyah countryside.
03/06 Helicopter airstrikes on homes in Jableh: Helicopters bombed civilian homes in Jableh, causing mass casualties and widespread destruction.
03/06 Civilian homes attacked in Homs: Takfiri groups attacked Shia homes in Telkalakh, Homs, to forcibly displace residents.
03/07 Ethnic cleansing campaign: Takfiri factions launched a full-scale ethnic cleansing campaign targeting civilians in Homs, Damascus, and Syria’s coastal regions.
03/07 Ongoing massacres: Footage revealed hundreds of unarmed civilians killed by Takfiri groups in Homs and coastal cities.
03/07 4,000 civilians killed in three days: Human rights sources documented around 4,000 civilians killed—mostly women and children—during massacres in several Syrian cities.
03/07 Destruction of Shia property: Takfiri factions systematically burned and destroyed Shia homes and farms across coastal Syria.
03/07 Mass abduction of Shia girls: Human rights sources reported over 1,000 Shia girls kidnapped during coastal massacres.
03/07 Body of Shia cleric found in Hama: Residents found the body of Sheikh Shaban Mansour and his son in Sahlab two days after their abduction.
03/07 Massacre in Rastan: A massacre was committed in the village of Al-Alamin, near Rastan, Homs, killing dozens of innocent civilians.
03/07 Forced displacement in coastal cities: Thousands of Shia civilians fled to the Russian Hmeimim base and Lebanese borders due to mass killings.
03/07 Looting and robbery: Takfiri groups looted Shia-owned properties in coastal Syria.
03/07 Massacre in Damascus suburb: Dozens of Shia youths were abducted and massacred in Al-Qadam, Damascus, amid a media blackout.
03/08 Public torture and executions: A Takfiri group publicly executed unarmed youths by running them over in Baniyas’ Al-Qusour area.
03/09 Bodies dumped in the sea: Footage showed Takfiri groups dumping thousands of Shia civilian bodies into the sea to cover up crimes.
03/09 Bodies dumped in valleys: Leaked footage revealed Takfiri trucks discarding hundreds of Shia bodies in Latakia’s mountain valleys.
03/10 Homes torched in Qardaha: Hundreds of Shia homes in Qardaha, Latakia countryside, were burned by Takfiri militants.
03/10 Orphaned children: Footage captured dozens of orphaned children roaming remote areas after escaping massacres.
03/10 Youth tortured and killed: Two young men from Al-Shiniya, Homs, were found tortured and murdered days after being kidnapped.
03/10 Mass execution in Arza: Dozens of Shia youths were executed in Arza, Hama, in front of their families.
03/11 Over 7,000 Shia civilians killed: Human rights sources updated the death toll to over 7,000 Shia civilians in just five days.
03/11 Mass grave found in Tartous: Thousands of Shia civilian bodies were found piled in a Tartous valley.
03/12 Massacre in Al-Shir: Leaked footage showed a massacre of Shia youth in Al-Shir, Latakia countryside, with signs of severe torture.
03/12 Dozens drown escaping massacres: Dozens of fleeing Shia drowned after their boat capsized trying to escape via the sea.
03/12 Imam Zain al-Abideen shrine damaged: Large sections of the shrine in Al-Salamiyah, Hama, were destroyed by Takfiri militants.
03/14 Shrine burned, graves desecrated: Sheikh Hussein Al-Ajmi’s shrine was torched and nearby graves vandalized in Barmaiya, Tartous.
03/17 Mass graves in Jableh: Hundreds of bodies of youths arrested in Jableh were discovered in remote areas.
03/19 Property destruction in Jableh: Takfiri groups destroyed buildings, shops, and set fire to vehicles out of hatred.
03/19 Mass grave near Sheikh Hilal shrine: Bodies of civilians missing since earlier massacres were found near the shrine in Baniyas.
03/19 Women assaulted during home invasion: Armed group raided a Shia home in Homs and assaulted women inside.
03/20 Child forced to film parents’ execution: A five-year-old girl was forced to film her parents’ execution in Latakia.
03/20 Father executed in front of family: A man from Ramleh, Jableh, was executed in front of his family for amusement.
03/20 Father and sons executed in Homs: A man and his three sons were killed in front of their wife/sisters in Edikhar, Homs.
03/21 Shrine desecrated in Latakia: Sheikh Ahmed Qarfees’ shrine was desecrated and partially destroyed.
03/21 Shia villages raided near Lebanese border: Homes in Housh Sayyed Ali, Homs, were looted following heavy shelling, forcing residents to flee to Lebanon.
03/21 Two youths executed in Yahmour: Takfiri group cold-bloodedly killed two young men in Barakat district, Yahmour village.
03/21 Homes burned in Jableh: Several homes were set on fire in Zaherat village, Jableh.
03/22 Forced displacement in Damascus: Dozens of Shia residents were forcibly evicted from their homes in Haras district, Damascus.
03/22 Two youths executed in Masyaf: A sectarian execution took place at Rasafa village, west of Hama.
03/23 Body of detainee found: Alaa Ahmad Al-Naysani’s body was found days after his arrest in Karm Shamshem, Homs.
03/23 Body of arrested youth found: Laith Muhammad Hourani was found dead after being detained at a Bayada checkpoint.
03/24 Abductions in southern Aleppo: Armed groups kidnapped several youths from Al-Hadrah; women were also assaulted. Bodies are typically found days later.
03/25 Female pharmacist found dead: The body of Maya Alou, kidnapped in Tartous, was discovered bearing signs of torture.
03/25 Civilians arrested in Latakia: Sectarian arrests included a 60-year-old woman, three girls, and six young men. Their bodies are often later found dumped.
03/26 Sectarian killings across multiple regions: Over 40 civilians, including women and children, were killed in Tartous, Homs, Latakia, and Hama.
03/26 Religious school stormed in Damascus: Al-Muhsiniya School in Al-Amin was stormed; equipment destroyed, confiscated, and staff arrested.
03/27-28 Ongoing sectarian killings: At least ten more Shia civilians were killed in Homs, Baniyas, Latakia, and Tartous.
03/29 Father slaughtered before his children: A man was slaughtered in front of his children in Mukhtariyah on Eid.
03/30 Lebanese Shia arrested in Damascus: A visiting Lebanese Shia man was detained by a Takfiri group.
03/30 Mass arrests in Sayyida Zainab area: Dozens of Shia youth were detained by armed groups.
03/31 Family of five executed in Ramleh: A Takfiri group stormed the village in Hama and executed a family of five.
03/31 Five brothers executed in Harf Namra: Takfiri militants raided this Baniyas village and killed five brothers and a local cleric.
03/31 Farms torched in Al-Bahluliyah: Takfiri groups set fire to Shia-owned farms and orchards in Latakia.
Saudi Arabia
03/01 Pakistani pilgrim arrested for reciting supplication: Authorities arrested Sayyed Sajawal Abbas Naqvi for reciting a religious prayer.
03/19 Iraqi female pilgrim arrested for supplication video: Zainab Al-Asadi was arrested after posting a video near the Kaaba praying for Imam Mahdi’s return.
Iraq
03/01 ISIS attack on village in Amerli: A group affiliated with ISIS attacked the village of Maftoul, west of Amerli.
