Shia Rights Watch issues its monthly report highlighting the most prominent human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims from May 1st to June 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.
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
May 2, 2026 – Mass Deportation of Shia Families
The government of the United Arab Emirates launched an organized campaign to deport Shia residents from the country. The deportations affected approximately 5,000 Pakistani Shia families, comprising nearly 15,000 individuals. Those deported were reportedly returned with little more than their personal clothing and were not given the opportunity to withdraw funds from their bank accounts or settle their financial affairs.
Afghanistan
May 6, 2026 – Continued Attacks Against Shia Religious Figures
Shia cleric Hussein Dad Sharifi in Kabul reported that officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice physically assaulted him for registering a temporary marriage contract. He further stated that the Taliban recently detained dozens of Shia clerics and compelled them to sign pledges, calling for an end to these policies and the continued humiliation of Shia scholars, religious institutions, and citizens.
Pakistan
May 7, 2026 – Terrorist Attack on a Mosque in Nawabshah District
An extremist assailant stormed a mosque in the Qazi Ahmed area of Nawabshah District near Fathul Zardari village during the noon call to prayer. The attacker assaulted worshippers and struck the 75-year-old muezzin with an axe, causing severe injuries.
May 21, 2026 – Kidnapping and Murder of a Young Man in Dera Ismail Khan
An armed terrorist group abducted Abbas Hussain Bakhsh from his shop in Ranazai neighborhood in Kalachi, Dera Ismail Khan District. The attackers later murdered him and abandoned his body on the roadside.
May 24, 2026 – Deadly Bombing in Quetta
An improvised explosive device targeting a passenger train in Quetta killed approximately 30 people and injured more than 100 others.
Bahrain
May 1, 2026 – Arrest Campaign Targets Several Youths
Security authorities launched a series of arrests in various regions of Bahrain, including:
- Hassan Ali Yahya from Bani Jamra.
- Sayyid Hassan Aqeel and Khalil Al-Karrani from Karana.
May 4, 2026 – Arrest of a Young Man from Abu Saiba
Security forces arrested Mohammed Nader from Abu Saiba following his summons for questioning at Al-Budaiya Police Station.
May 4, 2026 – Wave of Politically Motivated Sentences
Judicial authorities issued numerous prison sentences against dozens of young men on what observers described as purely political and sectarian grounds.
- Among the rulings:
One additional year of imprisonment for detainee Hassan Matar from Buri, increasing his total politically related prison sentences to three years. - Three years’ imprisonment for minor Mohammed Hamza Al-Nakkal from Sitra.
- Three years’ imprisonment for minor Mohammed Abbas Al-Moamen from Sitra.
- Two years’ imprisonment for detainee Hadi Abdul Zahra from A’ali, increasing his cumulative sentence to three years.
- Three years’ imprisonment for minor Hassan Yousif of Bani Jamra, Abdulaziz Imad Burashid of Malkiya, and Sayyid Yousif Ibrahim of Malkiya.
- Three years’ imprisonment for detainee Jaafar Sadiq from Diraz.
- One year imprisonment for detainee Ali Mohammed Darwish from Sanabis.
- Three years’ imprisonment for detainee Mohammed Redha from Malkiya.
- Four years’ imprisonment for Sadiq Hassan Marhoon, Karrar Hani, Mohammed Redha, and Abdullah Hussain Rabia, all from Malkiya.
- Three years’ imprisonment for Hassan Abduljalil and Haider Mohammed.
- Two years’ imprisonment for Jaafar Mousa and Hassan Haider Al-Saddadi.
- Three years’ imprisonment for minor Murtadha Fardan from Saar.
- Five years’ imprisonment for detainee Majid Ahmed Majid from Buri.
- Two years’ imprisonment for Jaafar Al-Qaffas.
- Three years’ imprisonment for Sayyid Ahmed Habib and Isa Al-Banna.
May 6, 2026 – Arrest of a Young Man from Sitra
Security authorities arrested Mahmood Jaafar Dhaif after raiding his home in Sitra.
May 7, 2026 – Arrest of a Young Man from Sanabis
Security authorities arrested Redha Khalid Khamis from Sanabis after raiding his family home.
May 9, 2026 – Arrest of Sons of Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim
Security authorities arrested Mohammed Taqi and Abdul Hakim, the sons of prominent Shia scholar Sheikh Isa Qassim, following a raid on their residence.
May 9, 2026 – Unprecedented Mass Arrest Campaign Against Shia Clerics
Authorities launched what observers described as the largest arrest campaign in Bahrain’s history against Shia clerics, seminary scholars, and community leaders.
Those detained included:
- Sheikh Ali Al-Saddadi
- Sayyid Hani Al-Muallim
- Sayyid Talib Mohammed
- Sheikh Munir Al-Ma’touq
- Sayyid Hussein Al-Karrani
- Sheikh Ali Sanad
- Sheikh Isa Al-Moamen
- Sheikh Mahmood Al-Saddadi
- Sheikh Hassan Ali Radhi
- Sayyid Mohammed Al-Guraifi
- Sheikh Jassim Al-Khayyat
- Sheikh Mohammed Al-Shihabi
- Sheikh Ayoub Al-Bahrani
- Sheikh Ali Al-Mustarshid
- Sheikh Hussein Al-Mahrous
- Sheikh Raed Al-Sitri
- Sheikh Baqir Al-Hawaj
- Sheikh Fadhel Al-Zaki
- Sheikh Jameel Al-Aali
- Sheikh Ghazi Al-Sammak
- Sheikh Sadiq Al-Aafiya
- Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kharsi
- Sheikh Radhi Al-Qaffas
- Sheikh Mohammed Sanqour
- Sheikh Ali Humaidan
- Sheikh Hamed Ashour
- Sheikh Ali Rahma
- Sheikh Hani Al-Banna
- Sheikh Mahmood Al-Aali
- Sheikh Ali Al-Subaie
- Sheikh Sadiq Al-Dirazi
- Sayyid Mousa Al-Wadaei
- Sheikh Adel Mahmood Khurshid
May 9, 2026 – Three-Year Sentence for a Resident of Ma’ameer
A Bahraini court sentenced detainee Ibrahim Adel from Ma’ameer to three years in prison and imposed a fine of 500 Bahraini dinars.
May 10, 2026 – Arrest of Cleric from Jurdab
Security authorities raided the home of Sheikh Ali Al-Jurdabi from Jurdab before arresting him.
May 11, 2026 – Ten-Year Prison Sentence for Human Rights Activist
A Bahraini court sentenced prominent activist Haj Munir Mushaima to ten years in prison.
May 11, 2026 – Arrest Campaign Across Several Areas
Security raids resulted in the arrest of:
- Nizar Yaseen from Bani Jamra.
- Mohammed Alyan from Karana.
- Hussein Mohammed Al-Ghusra from Bani Jamra.
- Sayyid Abdullah Mohammed Al-Guraifi, Sayyid Amjad Sayyid Ahmed, and Sayyid Mujtaba Sayyid Falah from Abu Quwwa.
- Mohammed Kamel Al-Eskafi from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
- Ali Al-Guraifi from Abu Quwwa.
- Sayyid Nasser Mahmood from Al-Ghuraifa.
May 12, 2026 – New Wave of Politically Motivated Sentences
Courts issued additional prison terms including:
- Five years for Sayyid Hashem Mahfouz from Abu Quwwa.
- Life imprisonment for detainee Badoor Abdul Hamid Ali.
- Three years for Ayman Al-Saffar from Al-Musalla.
- Three years and a 500-dinar fine for Ali Al-Qatari, Ahmed Fadhel Abbas of Sanabis, and Sayyid Ayman Mustafa of Al-Ghuraifa.
- Life imprisonment for Ali Abdul Hussein Khurshid from Jid Ali.
- Ten years for engineer Mahdi Taher Al-Jalawi.
- Three years for Haj Ali Ahmed Salman from Sanabis.
- Ten years for Abdullah Hussein Wathiqi from Jid Ali.
- Five years for Hussein Khalil Ibrahim from Nuwaidrat.
May 12, 2026 – Arrest Campaign
Security authorities carried out a series of arrests in several areas, including:
- Hassan Milad from Muqabah.
- Minor Mujtaba Mohsen Abdulhadi from Muqabah.
- Jassim Ahmed Abdul Amir Marhoon from Abu Quwwa.
May 13, 2026 – Further Arrests
Authorities conducted additional arrests, including:
- Ali Faed Al-Arish from Diraz.
- Brothers Hussein and Mohammed Abdul Redha Bu Humaid from Malkiya.
- Ali Hossam Mohammed Jawad Al-Shihabi from Diraz.
May 13, 2026 – Additional Prison Sentences
Bahraini courts issued a new set of prison sentences, including:
- Three years’ imprisonment for Abdullah Al-Bahrani.
- Prison terms ranging from three to five years for Sadiq Hassan and Sayyid Hassan Yousif.
May 14, 2026 – Arrest of Religious Chanters
Security authorities arrested religious chanters Jaafar Fadhel and Abbas Al-Nouh from Karana.
May 16, 2026 – Arrest of a Youth from Bani Jamra
Sayyid Mohammed Hamza Al-Mousawi was arrested after being summoned for questioning at Al-Budaiya Police Station.
May 17, 2026 – Arrest of a Religious Community Leader
Authorities arrested Haj Sayyid Jaafar Al-Sharaf, head of the Matam administration in Muqabah.
May 19, 2026 – Continuing Arrest Campaign
Security raids resulted in the arrest of:
- Hassan Ibrahim Al-Ajooz from Nuwaidrat.
- Sayyid Jawad Al-Mousawi from Bani Jamra.
- Mohammed Murtadha Al-Qayyim from Nuwaidrat.
- Abbas Eid from Nuwaidrat.
- Sixteen-year-old Mustafa Yousif Ibrahim Al-Maqhawi from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
- Sayyid Redha Jaafar Al-Mousawi from Diraz.
May 20, 2026 – Life Sentence for Activist
Judicial authorities sentenced detainee Mohammed Jaafar Mashhadi from Muharraq to life imprisonment on charges related to alleged communication with foreign entities.
May 20, 2026 – Arrest Campaign
Those arrested included:
- Fadhel Khalil Feteel from Karana.
- Sayyid Hadi Saeed Al-Mousawi from Diraz.
- Ali Salman Maytham from Karana.
- Jaafar Yousif Salman from Karana.
- Kumail Mohammed from Diraz.
May 21, 2026 – Arrest of Journalist
Authorities arrested journalist Hussein Ali Salman Marzooq from Diraz.
May 21, 2026 – Five-Year Sentence for Resident of Bilad Al-Qadeem
Mahdi Salah Abbas was sentenced to five years in prison.
May 21, 2026 – Imprisonment of a Child
Authorities sentenced child detainee Qasim Mohammed Hussein Al-Muwali from Al-Maqsha to one year in prison.
May 21, 2026 – Arrest of a Youth from Sitra
Bassem Mohammed Al-Hallal was arrested following a summons to appear before the Public Prosecution.
May 22, 2026 – Raid on Dry Dock Prison
Sources reported that armed security forces violently stormed Building 17 of Dry Dock Prison, which houses political detainees, including youth and minors, causing injuries and widespread panic among prisoners.
May 22, 2026 – Arrest of Three Youths from Salmabad
Authorities arrested Ali Al-Aali, Basel Shaker, and Nasser Al-Kashri for participating in mourning processions commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Mohammed Al-Jawad (peace be upon him).
May 23, 2026 – Arrest of a Minor from Karana
Ali Hussein Rashid was arrested after being summoned for interrogation.
May 24, 2026 – Harsh Sentences Issued
The High Criminal Court issued severe sentences against several Bahraini citizens, including:
- Sayyid Mohammed Hadi Hassan (Al-Ghuraifa)
- Sayyid Mohammed Fadhel Humaid (Al-Ghuraifa)
- Yousif Ahmed Mansour Sarhan (Al-Eker)
- Sahlan Abdul Redha Mahdi (Al-Eker)
- Abbas Abdullah Matar (Al-Eker)
- Murtadha Awal (Karbabad)
- Sheikh Ahmed Al-Haiki (Samaheej)
- Elias Al-Qabbat (Jid Hafs)
- Sara Abdul Nabi
- Nader Abduljalil (Diraz)
- Ali Hussein Ali Al-Aboud (Outer Sitra)
May 24, 2026 – Arrest Campaign
Authorities arrested:
- Hussaini reciter Mahdi Sahwan.
- Teacher Ali Mahna.
- Haj Khalil Ibrahim Jaafar from Karana.
- Hassan Mujtaba from Diraz.
- Hussaini reciter Sayyid Mahmood Al-Mousawi.
- Haj Mahdi Saleh Al-Eskafi.
- Brothers Mohammed Hassan Jawad and Ali Hassan Jawad from A’ali Housing.
- Isa Abdullah Al-Samaheji, head of the Samaheej mourning procession committee.
May 25, 2026 – Continuing Arrests
Those arrested included:
- Hassan Makki from Al-Dair.
- Sayyid Kumail Al-Biladi and Sayyid Maytham Amin.
- Minors Mohammed Hammad and Redha Ibrahim from Al-Dair.
- Haj Hussein Darwish from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
- Sayyid Hussein Jaafar from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
- Zain Mohammed Ibrahim from Al-Dair.
May 26, 2026 – Continuing Arrest Campaign
Authorities arrested:
- Mohammed Ahmed Sarhan from Al-Eker.
- Ihab Al-Hamadi from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
- Hussein Al-Khayyat from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
- Ali Al-Ghanem from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
May 27, 2026 – Continuing Arrest Campaign
Authorities arrested:
- Haj Abdul Jabbar Mirza from Bilad Al-Qadeem.
- Hussaini reciter Nasser Al-Kashri.
- Mahmood Abbas Muslim from Diraz.
Lebanon
May 31, 2026 – Casualties from Israeli Military Operations
The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that the death toll resulting from Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut reached 3,371 fatalities and 10,129 injuries between March 2, 2026, and the end of May 2026.
Syria
May 1, 2026 – Assassination of the Preacher of the Shrine of Sayyida Zainab (peace be upon her)
An armed group planted an explosive device beneath the vehicle of Sayyid Farhan Mansour, preacher of the Shrine of Sayyida Zainab in the Damascus countryside. The explosion killed him instantly.
May 8, 2026 – Arrest Campaign in Jableh
Armed factions conducted arrests targeting residents of Jableh, including:
- Ali Maan Ahmad
- Jaafar Maan Ahmad
- Khader Maan Ahmad
- Moataz Habib
- Habib Habib
- William Hassan
- Asad Al-Sadr
- Miqdad Nasser
- Ali Mihoub
May 9, 2026 – Murder of a Teacher in Homs
Teacher Hussein Waheed Al-Hussein from Modan village in western Homs countryside was abducted by an armed group and later found dead on the roadside.
May 10, 2026 – Abduction of a Young Woman
An armed group stormed the home of Mahmoud Idris and kidnapped his daughter Reem at gunpoint in Al-Hamidiyah, Homs Governorate.
May 11, 2026 – Body of a Young Man Found in Homs
The body of Qablan Suleiman was discovered on a roadside in Homs bearing signs of torture.
May 13, 2026 – Body Found in Latakia
The body of Fares Mousa was found on a roadside in Latakia with visible signs of torture.
May 15, 2026 – Death of Detainee in Homs Countryside
The family of detainee Ghassan Mohsen Al-Ali was informed of his death in Hisyah Prison after four months of detention.
May 16, 2026 – Raids and Arrests in Talkalakh Villages
Armed factions carried out raids and arrested:
- Abdul Karim Khaddour
- Abdul Latif Khaddour
- Nazih Hamdi
- Suleiman Makhlouf
May 17, 2026 – Body Found in Homs
The body of Sadiq Ahmad Balloul from Al-Zahraa district was found on a roadside bearing signs of torture.
May 18, 2026 – Vandalism of Religious Shrine
Armed groups stormed the shrine of Sheikh Ali Ma’rouf in Al-Mintar and carried out extensive acts of vandalism.
May 18, 2026 – Abduction of a Woman
Dhuha Rizq Assad from Al-Sabeel district in Homs was kidnapped by armed groups.
May 19, 2026 – Seizure of Al-Mustafa Mosque and Complex
Armed groups stormed Al-Mustafa Mosque and Complex in Al-Bayada district of Homs, expelled worshippers, confiscated the facility, and converted it into a military headquarters.
May 19, 2026 – Kidnapping of Lebanese Citizen
An armed group abducted a Lebanese citizen from the Shia community in the border village of Koukran.
May 20, 2026 – Abduction of a Mother from Al-Rabia Village
Rola Hassan Suleiman, a mother of four, was abducted from a street in Al-Rabia village in Hama countryside.
May 20, 2026 – Abduction of a Mother from Ain Al-Fawar
Farah Issa Khamis, a mother of two, was abducted from Ain Al-Fawar village.
May 20, 2026 – Dismissal of Employees
Authorities at the Baniyas Refinery dismissed more than 265 employees reportedly because of their sectarian affiliation.
May 21, 2026 – Abduction of a Young Woman
Farah Issa Khamis was abducted by an armed group from Ain Al-Fawar village in western Homs countryside.
May 21, 2026 – Forced Displacement of Residents
Armed groups expelled residents from their homes in Al-Mintar village in Tartous countryside under threat of force.
May 21, 2026 – Arrest Campaign in Homs Countryside
Armed groups arrested:
- Mustafa Jaafar
- Ibrahim Quraitim
- Ahmad Hamada
- Razouq Karim Mastou
May 23, 2026 – Body of Kidnapped Surgeon Found
The body of surgeon Hadi Saeed from Al-Qasab village was discovered on a roadside with signs of torture.
May 23, 2026 – University Professor Found Dead
Dr. Jaafar Khair Bek, a chemistry professor at Tishreen University, was found murdered outside his home in Latakia.
May 26, 2026 – Abduction of a Young Woman in Masyaf
Siham Mohammed Al-Khalouf from Al-Qusair village in Masyaf, Hama, was abducted by armed groups.
May 26, 2026 – Young Woman Seriously Injured
An armed group opened fire on a young woman in Al-Sabeel district of Homs, causing severe injuries.
May 28, 2026 – Killing of Three Young Men
An armed group stormed Cairo village in Hama countryside and opened fire on residents, killing:
- Issam Mahmoud
- Abdul Hadi Mahmoud
- Bassem Zamtli
Saudi Arabia
May 1, 2026 – Arrest Campaign in Al-Jaroudiya
Security forces conducted raids across several neighborhoods in Al-Jaroudiya, Qatif, resulting in arrests including:
Ahmed Radhi Al-Abadi.
May 1, 2026 – Families of Executed Prisoners Threatened
Sources reported that families of victims of politically and sectarianly motivated executions carried out by Saudi authorities received threats of arrest should they continue demanding the return of their relatives’ bodies or seek assistance from international human rights organizations.
