Incidents of Anti-Shiism, May 2025

Shia Rights Watch(SRW) presents its monthly report documenting significant human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims between May 1 and June 1, 2025.

Shia Rights Watch issues its monthly report on the most prominent human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims for the period from May 1 to June 1, 2025.

This report reviews numerous terrorist operations carried out by extremist groups against Shia individuals, as well as acts of repression and abuse practiced against them by certain regimes and governments.

Shia Rights Watch confirms that it relied in this report on its own sources and some public sources, such as individuals and groups active in the field of freedoms and human rights spread across the countries that witnessed these violations.

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 Listed Alphabetically:

Afghanistan

05/16: Armed groups affiliated with the Taliban, accompanied by nomadic elements, launched a coordinated attack on the village of Safed Sang in the Behsud district of Maidan Wardak province. According to local sources, the attackers targeted unarmed residents’ homes, conducting looting and torture under the direct supervision of the Taliban governor of the province, Hashim Huzaifa. Approximately twenty armed individuals participated in the attack, causing panic among civilians, with no immediate response from the de facto authorities. Human rights organizations described the attack as part of a systematic policy aimed at land seizure and forced demographic changes, resembling ethnic cleansing practices by the Taliban against residents of certain areas, particularly in Behsud, predominantly inhabited by Shia Hazaras.

Pakistan

05/14: A radical gunman threw a hand grenade at a pro-army public gathering in Quetta, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to ten others of varying severity.
05/21: Civil authorities in the Baharia municipality of Karachi removed Hussaini images and banners displayed by Shia residents on and above their homes, threatening to cut off water and electricity to those who refused this arbitrary action.

Bahrain

During May, security authorities prevented Shia worshippers from holding Friday prayers. Security forces imposed near-complete cordons around Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in the village of Diraz every Friday, marking the thirty-fourth consecutive week of such restrictions.

Lebanon

05/08: An Aircraft conducted a series of intense air raids targeting several areas in southern Lebanon. Lebanese media reported that the raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Nabatieh Al-Fawqa, with warplanes carrying out more than 15 strikes in the Nabatieh district, causing material damage to properties and instilling fear among civilians.

Syria

05/01: Security forces conducted a raid in the village of Al-Raqama, inhabited by Alawite community members in eastern Homs countryside, arresting five civilians following an incident where an unidentified gunman fired shots into the air within the village.
05/03: In a tragic morning in northern Homs countryside, unidentified gunmen committed a horrific crime in the town of Kafr Nan, killing four farmers while they were working in their fields. The victims were: Safa Khader Al-Abbas (65), a retired teacher; Nashmiya Ibrahim Eid (60), Al-Abbas’s wife; Nazmiya Sweid (47), a local farmer; and Namir Al-Mustafa (Al-Mallash) (45), a well-known farmer in the area. Eyewitnesses reported that the victims were directly targeted during their work without prior warning or confrontation, indicating premeditated and deliberate execution at close range.
05/03: Three civilians from the same family were killed by gunfire from an unidentified armed group while working in their agricultural land in Ain Badriya village in western Al-Ghab plain. The victims were Musab Zublo, Amjad Zublo, and Majd Zublo, who died instantly due to severe injuries.
05/04: A woman was killed and her husband injured in a shooting by two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle while the couple was sitting on their balcony in Wadi Al-Dhahab neighborhood (Beit Al-Tawil Street) in Homs city.
05/04: Dozens of Alawite families in the Al-Zahriyat housing area near Mezzeh Military Airport in Damascus face serious threats of forced eviction from their homes without legal compensation or alternative housing. Armed factions affiliated with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, stationed inside the airport, informed residents to vacate their homes permanently before the end of May.
05/05: Mohammad Abdul Latif Ismail was killed by direct gunfire from unidentified gunmen in front of his home in Al-Zaafarana Al-Gharbiya village on the Shin road. Reports indicate that a car stopped in front of his house, and the gunmen knocked on the door; upon opening, they shot him, resulting in immediate death.
05/06: Ali Muna was killed, and Jaafar Muna seriously injured after being shot by two gunmen on a motorcycle in Al-Jibibat area near Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam School in Jableh city, Latakia countryside.
05/06: The body of Louay Hassan Darwish (Abu Hassan) was found in Al-Muwasat Hospital in Damascus after he had been missing since May 4. He had lost contact while working as a taxi driver in the capital.
05/06: Dr. Khairat Mohammad, an assistant professor at Homs University, was arrested by a group affiliated with general security after raiding his home in Karm Al-Zaytoun neighborhood—Street 17 in Homs city. Personal belongings, including cash, gold jewelry, mobile phones, student files, and a laptop, were confiscated without presenting any legal warrant or explanation.
05/06: Four civilians were killed while working in their agricultural fields in Ain Al-Jouza village in Salanfa area due to an attack by an armed group.
05/06: Two young men, Hussein Ahmad Abu Hassan and Asif Ahmad Abu Hassan, were killed, and a third person injured after being shot by unidentified gunmen while irrigating their agricultural land in northern Hamra area, Hama countryside.
05/06: An armed group affiliated with the new Syrian administration stormed Balqasa village in western Homs countryside, shooting and killing a young Alawite man, then arresting his father and two brothers and taking them to an unknown location.
05/08: Five people, including three brothers, were injured when two gunmen on a motorcycle randomly opened fire in Karm Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Homs. The attackers also shouted sectarian insults against the Alawite community.
05/08: Mira Jalal Thabet, a young woman from Talkalakh city west of Homs, appeared wearing Afghan attire alongside a young man claiming to have married her after kidnapping her last month, despite her being engaged to another man working in Lebanon. Her father had reported her disappearance, but was subsequently arrested on charges of “filing a false report.”
05/09: Mohammad Darwish, a young man from Saboura village in Hama countryside, was kidnapped by armed men who stormed his home without identifying themselves or providing reasons for the abduction. The family stated that the kidnappers claimed affiliation with general security but presented no official documents, and authorities in Saboura denied any involvement.
05/09: Armed men in two “Santa Fe” vehicles attacked homes in Yahmour and Kherbet Maaza towns in Tartus countryside, causing property damage but no casualties. In Hababa village in Dreikish countryside, armed groups raided several homes, vandalized properties, and kidnapped ten residents, taking them to unknown locations.
05/10: Two separate shooting incidents in Homs city resulted in the deaths of two civilians under mysterious security circumstances. In Al-Shamas neighborhood, Rifaat Mahmoud Al-Jarash from Aysun village in Homs countryside was shot dead in front of his rented home. In Karm Shamsham neighborhood, Mohammad Suleiman Younes, a taxi driver, was killed while heading to work, shot by armed individuals, dying instantly in his vehicle.
05/10: A foreign faction comprising Uzbek and Turkistani fighters from Qarfeis area executed civilians, including a child, near Zama town in Latakia countryside. The same group also fired directly at civilians in Zama and Ain Al-Sharqiya villages, killing at least four people, identified as Hilal Al-Ali and Anwar Hamada.
05/12: In Al-Da’tour neighborhood in Latakia, a security patrol assaulted two young men, beating and insulting them before arresting and taking them to an unknown location, firing shots to disperse locals who tried to intervene.
05/13: In Al-Thabitiyah village, eastern Homs countryside, an incident sparked concern among residents when an armed group entered the village and detained several young men in a harsh manner. Local sources report that the group raided several homes, detained the youth in their vehicles, and paraded them through the streets before forcing them to stand against a wall near a main road while subjecting them to verbal abuse with religious overtones.
05/13: Security violations escalated significantly in Homs province. Armed groups carried out a wave of arbitrary raids, arrests, and sectarian assaults. Shia youth returning from Lebanon—who were promised safe return—were forcibly taken off buses at Al-Mazraa roundabout, beaten, and insulted before being taken to an unknown destination.

In Al-Thabitiyah (eastern Homs), an armed group stormed the village at dawn, assaulted residents, and detained 14 young men, some of whom remain missing. In Al-Hazmiyah, intense gunfire and random arrests targeted both elderly and youth, causing widespread fear. Similar raids occurred in Homs neighborhoods like Al-Arman, Al-Muhajireen, Al-Sabeel, Al-Ahram, and Al-Khudariyah, where Alawite civilians were arrested amid sectarian insults and random gunfire, wounding a girl.

Videos circulated online showing children screaming during the raids. Other villages, including Abu Dali, Abu Hakfa, and Khalfa in eastern Homs, experienced the same pattern of unchecked violence and detentions. Public buses in western Homs are regularly stopped by security agents who beat Shia youth, subjecting them to daily abuse.
05/14: In western Homs, rogue factions launched a raid campaign in Hadeedah and Ain Al-Tineh Al-Sharqiyah, resulting in arrests and injuries due to random gunfire.
05/14: In Jableh, 48-year-old Majd Nazih Darwish was kidnapped after receiving a phone call. On his way near Siano intersection, he was intercepted by two masked men in cars, forced out of his vehicle, and taken to an unknown location.
05/16: Security forces, accompanied by loyalist militants, raided villages in western Homs including Hadeedah, Baayoun, Al-Naaseh, and Al-Mashrafah. Residents avoided leaving their homes due to fear of arrest or mistreatment. The raids coincided with a dire living crisis—residents face severe food shortages and economic hardship, resorting to wild herbs like mallow and dandelion for sustenance.
05/18: In Hama countryside, unidentified gunmen attacked two young men on a motorcycle traveling from Bureen to Masyaf. Ali Asaad was killed, and Hassan Shahoud injured.
05/18: In Tartus, a young woman, Itab Salim Jadid, was kidnapped near the seafront promenade.
05/18: In Al-Baloutiya village, Tartus countryside, gunmen randomly fired shots, killing a young man, Darrar Ibrahim.
05/18: Widespread arbitrary raids and arrests were reported in Shia-majority cities across Homs, Hama, Latakia, and Tartus. Some operations were led by official security forces, while others involved unidentified gunmen. Detainees faced mistreatment, were held in undisclosed locations, and had belongings confiscated. Victims included individuals previously granted amnesty, students, farmers, and workers from healthcare and education sectors.
05/19: Homs descended into chaos with kidnappings, killings, and theft. In eastern Homs, a young bread distributor, Hani Fitna, was abducted in Sukkara village. Kidnappers demanded a $70,000 ransom. Separately, engineer assistant Mohammad Mihoub Abboud from Tartus was found murdered in his apartment in Jandar housing complex, hands bound and throat slit. On the Zaidal–Homs road, gunmen robbed Issa Mundher Qasim of his food-laden vehicle and phone.
05/21: Security-led raids targeted Bustan Al-Hamam and Al-Gharziyya villages in Baniyas countryside, Tartus. Entrances were sealed, gunmen spread throughout, especially in Bustan Al-Hamam, where gunfire and arbitrary arrests were reported. Al-Gharziyya witnessed security tensions and at least two arrests.
05/22: In Latakia countryside, masked gunmen shot and killed a young man in Qatariyya village near an agricultural office.
05/24: Armed groups kidnapped four university students—Samir Milhem, Hamza Zamzam, Khaled Al-Sayed, and Ali Ahmad—after stopping their civilian vehicle in Homs countryside.
05/24: A bloody night unfolded in Tartus with three simultaneous murders. In Majdaloun Al-Bahr, three gunmen in a white Hyundai Porter shot and killed Shadi Mahmoud Fasik outside his barbershop. Separately, Hikmat Saleh was murdered near Al-Khraybat bridge, and Hassan Toufan was shot twice in the head, dying instantly.
05/26: In Al-Waer neighborhood, Homs, the body of Samer Fahim Afara was found after he had gone missing near Talaat Rakan.
05/26: In Latakia countryside, five civilians from Maala and Zoubari families were killed while farming in Al-Kandisiyah. Gunmen on motorcycles shot at them, injuring two others—one critically.
05/28: In Al-Haffa, northern Latakia, gunmen raided homes, opened fire, and arrested two local youths.
05/29: In Filla village, Homs, a young man was severely injured when gunmen fired at him on a rural road.
05/29: In Al-Kadhimiyah, Homs, an armed group stormed the village and executed local resident Mohammad Ali Aslan.
05/30: In Barmaiyah, Baniyas countryside, government-affiliated gunmen raided several homes and arrested two residents—one a retired 70-year-old, and the other a 55-year-old municipal employee.

Saudi Arabia
05/03: Authorities executed brothers Hassan and Abdullah Mohammad Ghaith from Al-Malaha village, Qatif, over political charges.
05/10: Authorities executed Abdullah Abdulaziz Abu Abdullah, a detainee from Al-Awamiyah, Qatif.
05/17: Authorities arrested prominent Pakistani cleric Allama Ghulam Hasnain Wijdani from Quetta at Taif Airport without explanation.
05/29: A court in Riyadh sentenced two young detainees from Al-Awamiyah—Abdullah Mohammad Al-Faraj and Ahmad Mohammad Al-Manasif—to death. They were both under 19 when arrested two years ago.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, April 2025

Shia Rights Watch(SRW) presents its monthly report documenting significant human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims between April 1 and May 1, 2025.

Shia Rights Watch issues its monthly report on the most prominent human rights violations committed against Shia Muslims for the period from April 1 to May 1, 2025.

The report reviews numerous terrorist operations carried out by extremist groups against Shia Muslims, as well as acts of repression and abuse practiced against them by certain regimes and governments.

Countries Listed Alphabetically:

Afghanistan

04/01: Taliban authorities prevented Shia Muslims from performing Eid prayers in several Afghan cities. They forced Shia fasting individuals in Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Herat to break their fast under threat. Local sources reported that Taliban leaders stormed several mosques and prevented imams from conducting Eid al-Fitr prayers for Shia Muslims, asserting that Eid was officially declared on Sunday and should not be celebrated on another day. In the Malistan area of Ghazni province, Taliban elements forced some Shia individuals to break their fast and prohibited them from fasting on Sunday. Taliban forces also stormed Imam Muhammad Taqi Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, expelled the imam and worshippers, and warned them of severe penalties if they held prayers on Monday.
04/14: An explosive device targeted the Sayed Khan Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to three others.

Pakistan

04/01: Residents of Kurram District, Parachinar, continue to suffer under a siege imposed by extremist groups for several months, amid governmental failure to deliver food and medical aid.
04/05: A Pakistani court sentenced civil activist Engineer Syed Mumtaz Hussain Rizvi to fourteen years in prison due to his opposition and continuous protest against the deteriorating conditions faced by Shia minorities.
04/05: Pakistani authorities decided to forcibly deport one million Afghan refugees, the majority of whom are Shia, back to their country despite the significant threats to their safety.
04/07: Security forces thwarted a terrorist group’s attempt to attack residents of Dera Ismail Khan in the Takwara area.
04/19: Three people were killed, and more than five others were kidnapped by terrorist groups targeting a convoy of food and medical aid heading to the besieged city of Parachinar.

Bahrain

04/05: Security forces surrounding Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in Diraz prevented Shia citizens from holding Friday prayers for the twenty-sixth consecutive week.
04/09: Authorities arrested the minor, Sayyed Hussein Al-Mousawi, from the town of Sanabis and placed him in detention.
04/12: Security forces continued to prevent Shia citizens from holding Friday prayers at Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in Diraz for the twenty-seventh consecutive week.
04/19: The ban on Friday prayers at Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in Diraz continued for the twenty-eighth consecutive week.
04/26: The prohibition of Friday prayers at Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in Diraz persisted for the twenty-ninth consecutive week.

Syria

Note: Due to the prevalence of armed groups and the inability to confirm their political or ideological affiliations, only the term “armed groups” is used.

04/01: Reports emerged of Alawite women and girls being sold on social media platforms after being kidnapped from coastal areas and transported to Idlib and some Turkish border regions.
04/02: Armed factions raided the town of Ma’arba in Idlib countryside, predominantly Shia, conducting house raids and arresting dozens of residents.
04/03: Armed groups launched a campaign of raids and searches in the town of Kafr Sajna, predominantly Shia, arresting several young men.
04/04: The bodies of a family residing in the Al-Sabil neighborhood of Homs were found a day after their arrest by an armed faction.
04/11: An armed group stormed a house in the village of Al-Shniyah in Homs, killing the mother and father in front of their children.
04/12: Armed groups arrested and tortured brothers Ayman and Ahmed Khazama from the Khreisoun area in Baniyas countryside, leading to the death of one, while the other remains detained.
04/12: Armed groups stormed Al-Mustafa Mosque in Homs and seized control under threat of arms.
04/13: Armed groups forcibly displaced all residents of the Shia villages of Al-Aziziyah and Arza in western Hama countryside, bringing in residents from the town of Khattab to settle there. Displacement also affected the village of Tisnin and its surroundings north of Homs, in addition to other neighborhoods and villages in Homs and Damascus countryside, where residents were pressured to leave through threats, intimidation, kidnapping, and murder.
04/13: Residents of the Barzeh housing area protested to uncover the fate of more than fifty young men arrested without knowledge of their whereabouts.
04/15: An armed group killed young man Kazem Ali Badour while he was sitting in front of his shop in the Karm Al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Homs.
04/16: An armed group stormed the shop of young man Ibrahim Barakat and killed him in the Al-Jandali neighborhood of Homs.
04/16: The so-called Homs City Council publicly abolished Shia neighborhoods after most residents were forcibly displaced under threat of arms.
04/18: Authorities in Damascus and its suburbs confiscated homes of forcibly displaced Shia residents and granted them to fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra.
04/19: The body of young man Ammar Al-Mohammed was found in a hospital in Homs hours after his arrest by an armed group.
04/19: Armed group killed Iraqi Shia citizen Haider Al-Zamili and mutilated his body in the Sayyida Zainab area.
04/19: Armed groups stormed several homes in the village of Al-Mukhtariya in Homs, killing young man Ali Mahmoud Al-Abdullah in front of his children and arresting several young men from neighboring homes. Among the abducted were: Allam Najib Al-Abdullah, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ali, Alaa Mohsen Samouni, Mutayyam Al-Saleh, and three of his cousins, two from the Al-Ali family, and Tarif Amin Mahrez.
04/21: An armed group stopped truck driver Alaa Al-Jubaili from the village of Jibreen in Latakia countryside and killed him.
04/22: An armed group killed four young men in the Sheikh Saeed area of Aleppo.
04/22: Armed groups stormed several homes in Baniyas, assaulting and humiliating residents.
04/23: Armed groups stormed the Al-Waleed suburb in Homs, killing three young men and injuring others.
04/23: An armed group kidnapped young man Iyad Aziz Issa from the village of Al-Barjan while he was returning from work near the Eidiyah junction.
04/24: An armed group kidnapped young man Ali Al-Salloum from the town of Masyaf, village of Al-Sawma’ah.
04/24: The body of teacher Mohammad Youssef Al-Qabaqli from Hama countryside was found days after his arrest by an armed group.
04/25: An armed group killed four young men after targeting the Alawite Council building in the Ash Al-Warour area of Damascus.
04/25: Armed groups in Homs committed multiple crimes, arresting and killing the following individuals: Ibrahim Qawaz, Wahib Suhail, Diyaa Haitham, Mohammad Saeed, Ali Asif, Yahya Al-Jardi, Alaa Al-Nasr, Hussein Al-Nasr, and Haitham Mohammad.
04/25: The body of young man Diyaa Haitham Ma’alla was found hours after his arrest in the Al-Waer neighborhood of Homs.
04/25: An armed group kidnapped Mrs. Haya Imad from the town of Qatana in Damascus countryside.
04/26: Armed groups launched raids on several homes in Homs, arresting: Ammar Darwish, Zain Darwish, Abdul Aziz Al-Radwan, Imad Aziz Wasouf, and Nawfal Ibrahim.
04/27: An armed group opened fire on a residence in the Al-Nazihin neighborhood of Homs, killing four members of one family, including the mother.
04/27: Armed groups killed young men Fares Mousa and Majd Issa from Latakia countryside.
04/27: An armed group kidnapped student Mira Jalal Thabet from the Tal Kalakh area while she was entering the teacher preparation institute in Homs.
04/28: An armed group killed young man Mohammad Ali Jadid from the Al-Ziyadiyah neighborhood of Jableh.
04/28: An armed group killed young man Yazan Zakaria Deeba from Tal Kalakh.

Saudi Arabia

04/26: Authorities executed young man Ali Abdullah Al-Rabah from the town of Al-Awamiyah in Qatif.

Iraq

04/12: Authorities discovered a mass grave containing the remains of more than 24 young men from the 1991 Shaaban Uprising near a village south of Kirkuk. These individuals were executed and buried alive by the Baathist regime.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, March 2025

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.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, February 2025

Shia Rights Watch has released its February 2025 report, documenting the most significant human rights violations committed against Shia individuals and communities worldwide.

SRW emphasizes that its teams could only verify some of the reported violations through collaboration with human rights activists and civil society organizations. However, numerous field indicators suggest the occurrence of many other violations that could not be confirmed due to lack of witnesses or sufficient evidence.

Here is SRW’s monthly human rights report on violations committed against Shia Muslims from February 1 to March 1, 2025.

The report highlights numerous terrorist attacks carried out by extremist groups targeting Shia individuals, as well as state-sponsored oppression and abuse against Shia communities in several countries.

Note: Shia Rights Watch has compiled this report based on independent sources, human rights activists, and civil society organizations. The organization refrains from reporting cases without strong evidence, despite its firm belief in the occurrence of such violations. Shia Rights Watch reiterates its non-political and non-profit stance, advocating solely for justice and equality for all.

Afghanistan

2/1/2025: Dozens of Shia Muslims in Badakhshan province were forcibly converted to Sunni Islam by Taliban authorities, who accused them of heresy. The coercion extended to men, women, and children.

2/11/2025: At least 18 people were killed and 45 injured in a terrorist bombing outside a bank in Kunduz, where employees were gathering to receive their salaries.

Pakistan

2/1/2025: Over half a million Shia Muslims remain under siege by extremist groups, while authorities fail to secure aid convoys, which have been repeatedly attacked.

2/1/2025: Armed extremists launched rockets targeting Shia communities in the Lower Kurram region.

2/1/2025: Educational institutions in Parachinar were forced to shut down due to fuel and supply shortages caused by the ongoing extremist siege.

2/14/2025: A bomb explosion in Quetta killed nine people and injured several others.

2/15/2025: Activist Syed Tanveer Hussain was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Dera Ismail Khan.

2/17/2025: A humanitarian convoy heading to Parachinar was attacked by armed extremists, resulting in the death of several truck drivers and significant damage to the convoy.

2/18/2025: A suicide attack on a police vehicle in Quetta killed nine peopleand injured others.

2/19/2025: A terrorist group ambushed a passenger bus on a highway near Quetta, executing two Shia passengers.

Bahrain

2/15/2025: The Bahraini government revoked the citizenship of 700 naturalized Pakistanis and deported them due to their Shia faith.

2/18/2025: Bahraini authorities blocked Shia worshippers from attending Friday prayers for four consecutive weeks, restricting access to mosques in Druze.

Lebanon

2/5/2025: The Israeli military destroyed dozens of houses belonging to Shia farmers in Rabb al-Thalathin and Yaroun.

2/16/2025: Israeli fighter jets bombed the town of Jarjouaa, killing and injuring several Shia civilians.

2/1/2025: Armed groups stirred chaos and panic inside the mosque and shrine of Sayyida Zainab (peace be upon her) and prevented worshippers from performing prayers.

2/1/2025: Citizens complained of forced displacement, home looting, theft, property destruction, and threats by armed groups in the villages of Talisiya, Zagheba, Ma’an, Marioud, Al-Mabtane, Abu Mansef, Al-Touba Al-Sheiha, Al-Fan Al-Wastani, and Al-Fan Al-Qibli due to their adherence to the Shia sect.

2/1/2025: The residents of Al-Sharqiya village in rural Homs received the bodies of Louay Ali Al-Jabr and Gaith Youssef Badour after they were arrested by armed groups. Their bodies bore signs of torture.

2/1/2025: The family of young man Hikmat Younis found his body in a hospital in Homs after he was arrested by armed groups from Al-Kanisa village following a raid carried out by these groups days earlier.

2/1/2025: A terrorist armed group calling itself “Ansar Al-Sunna” announced its intent to target all Shias in Syria.

2/1/2025: Security forces arrested two residents of the Sayyida Zainab (peace be upon her) area, Hajj Ahmed Hajj Ali and his brother Adnan Hajj Ali, and took them to an unknown location.

2/2/2025: The family of young man Thaer Hamdoush found his body in a Homs hospital days after his arrest during a raid conducted by armed groups in the village.

2/2/2025: The body of detainee Mohammed Younis Mansour was found days after he was arrested by armed groups conducting raids in the village.

2/2/2025: The bodies of 15 young men from Arza village were found after they were arrested and executed by Takfiri groups before their bodies were dumped on the banks of the Orontes River.

2/3/2025: Terrorist groups burned and destroyed the shrine of Sheikh in the village of Tal Abdul Aziz in rural Hama.

2/3/2025: In Homs’ Al-Waleed suburb, extremist groups forcibly displaced several Shia residents, barring them from taking their belongings, in a sectarian-driven expulsion.

2/4/2025: The body of Fayed Issa Wehbe was found with signs of torture days after his arrest in the Qudsaya area of rural Damascus.

2/5/2025: The body of young man Alaa Al-Ali from Dbeen village in rural Homs was found dumped in one of the streets of Al-Qusayr area.

2/6/2025: An armed group randomly opened fire at passersby in a street in Latakia while chanting sectarian insults, killing young men Hassan Kousa and Fadi Shamlass instantly.

2/7/2025: Armed groups attacked and stormed the town of Hawik on the Lebanese border, forcing Shia residents to leave, causing a mass exodus into Lebanese territory.

2/7/2025: Individuals claiming affiliation with the authorities imposed the teaching of books by Ibn Taymiyyah in educational institutions, books that label Druze, Alawites, Shias, and Sufis as infidels.

2/8/2025: A Takfiri group beheaded retired teacher Hussein Ibrahim Al-Mohammed, who was in his seventies, in front of his home in Al-Tuwaim village in rural Hama. The village has been subjected to looting, theft, and property seizures after most of its residents were displaced for sectarian reasons.

2/8/2025: The residents of Sahl Al-Musharifa village found the bodies of Ahmad Jamoul, his wife Reem Suleiman, and their son Fater slaughtered and dumped on the roadside days after they were reported missing.

2/9/2025: Armed groups raided the village of Al-Zaina in rural Masyaf and arrested several young men for sectarian reasons. Among those known to be arrested are Younis Khaddour, Aws Younis Khaddour, Akram Salloum, Laith Salloum, Karam Salloum, Ali Khaddour, and Amin Khaddour.

2/10/2025: The bodies of young men who mysteriously disappeared days ago were found dumped by the roadside in several areas. Among the identified victims are brothers Murtada and Ali Mesto, Hussein Zyoud, and brothers Mohammed and Amjad Shdoud.

2/12/2025: A document issued by a terrorist court ordered the execution of two young men, Rami Abdulrahman Haidar Khamis and Ali Hafiz Mohammed Ibrahim, by flogging them to death due to their Shia identity.

2/12/2025: An armed group shot and killed citizen Shawkat Ahmad and his wife Najah Suleiman from the town of Basira Al-Jard.

2/12/2025: The body of young man Ali Saleh Salman was found in Al-Waleed Hospital in Homs with a gunshot wound to the head.

2/13/2025: An armed group shot and killed young man Tamam Shhoud from Mhardeh village in rural Hama.

2/14/2025: An armed group shot and killed young man Abdullah Al-Qasim from Shlouh village in rural Hama.

2/14/2025: An armed group shot and killed Sayyed Issa Sharba, a 60-year-old resident of Tasnin village in rural Homs.

2/14/2025: The body of 65-year-old Abdullah Hussein Abu Hassan was found in Al-Salamiya Hospital days after he was arrested from his home in Um Al-Amad village.

2/15/2025: The mutilated body of sanitation worker Imad Metwaj from Baksaa village in rural Latakia was found days after he was kidnapped.

2/16/2025: A Takfiri armed group attacked a café in Latakia, killing young man Ali Jamal Laili.

2/16/2025: A terrorist armed group using silenced weapons shot and killed Sayyed Ali Morab in Jableh, Latakia.

2/16/2025: An armed group arrested five young men from Sheikh Saeed in Aleppo and executed four of them, injuring the fifth.

2/16/2025: An armed group executed young man Ghadeer Dardar while he was working on his farm in Al-Hadiya village in rural Homs.

2/16/2025: An armed group stormed the home of citizen Anwar Al-Hassan, shot and killed him, and injured his son in Tasnin village in rural Homs.

2/17/2025: Armed groups kidnapped student Fatima Wael Hamza from Al-Zahraa town while she was on her way to school.

2/18/2025: The body of citizen Ali Deeb Naqi was found in Homs Hospital, bearing signs of torture.

2/18/2025: An armed group opened fire on residential homes in Jisr Harisoun in the city of Baniyas, killing citizen Youssef Hassan Jalouk and injuring young man Youssef Fayad.

2/20/2025: Armed groups forcibly displaced Shia residents of Jib Al-Jandali neighborhood, looted their properties, and assaulted them with beatings and insults.

2/21/2025: An armed force arrested Sheikh Adham Al-Khatib in the Sayyida Zainab (peace be upon her) area after physically assaulting him and his son.

2/22/2025: Armed groups stormed the shrine of Sheikh Abbas Al-Nasir in rural Homs and forced displaced families taking refuge there to leave, despite their earlier forced displacement for sectarian reasons.

2/22/2025: Armed groups stormed Al-Mustafa Mosque in Babila town and forced Shia worshippers to leave with the intent to seize the mosque.

2/23/2025: A Takfiri group arrested brothers Manhal Al-Ahmad and Ramadan Al-Ahmad, then killed and burned their bodies in Bisin village, Hama.

2/23/2025:The body of young man Mousa Hassan Al-Shamali was found in a Homs hospital days after he was kidnapped by an armed group in Al-Mazraa neighborhood.

2/23/2025: Syrian endowment authorities issued a decision to seize Al-Mustafa Mosque from the Shia community and dismissed Sheikh Adham Al-Khatib from his duties in an arbitrary move directly targeting Shia Muslims.

2/25/2025: The bodies of father Zaher Hassan and his daughter Alaa were found slaughtered inside their home in Al-Burjiyat neighborhood, Homs.

2/25/2025: Terrorist groups shelled residents of Jibourin village using mortar rounds.

2/26/2025: Armed groups opened fire on a demonstration condemning human rights violations in Qardaha, killing three young men and injuring more than ten others.

2/26/2025: The body of Ahmed Youssef Mohammed from Qudsaya was found days after he was arrested by an armed group.

2/26/2025: Armed groups stormed Ain Shami village in rural Homs, killing citizen Bahaa Salman Khaddour before arresting several individuals, including:

Yasser Mohammed Suleiman
Abdel-Ghani Asaad
Ali Ahmed Badour (age 74)
Youshaa Ali
Munjed Anqa
Laith Anqa
Ahmed Abbas
Qusai Suleiman
Hafez Saleha
Yasser Saleha
Khodr Saqr
Ahmed Eid
Ahmed Saqr
Basel Wajih Ali
Ahmed Wajih Ali
Imad Ali
Ahmed Ali Ibrahim
Fadi Asaad
Salman Mohammed Hassan (engineer)
Professor Aziz Kasser Mahmoud
Professor Aziz Anwar Al-Ali
Badr Mohammed Ali
Professor Samir Mohammed Ali
Imad Mohammed Ali
Taleb Ali
Taleb Abu Al-Reesh
Mohammed Zaidoun
Malek Saqr
Ahmed Khaddour
Ali Khaddour

2/27/2025: Armed groups arrested over a hundred young men from rural Masyaf, forcing many to flee into the mountains.

2/27/2025: Armed groups stormed Ain Shams village in rural Masyaf, beheaded Ali Shahin Al-Suleiman, and ran over his body with vehicles, despite his recent release from detention.

2/27/2025: Armed groups conducted a wide-scale forced displacement campaign targeting Shia and Christian residents in Al-Assad Suburb.

2/27/2025: Armed groups launched a widespread arrest campaign in Qatana, rural Damascus, targeting over a hundred young men while subjecting them to sectarian insults and abuse.

2/27/2025: Armed groups opened fire on a group of young men in Kharab area in Baniyas, killing four:

Kinan Al-Ali
Tarek Al-Ali
Habib Zaher
Bashar Al-Fleih (a disabled person in a wheelchair)

Saudi Arabia

2/1/2025: The Saudi government is preparing to execute six Shia men, including Abdullah Al-Darazi, Jalal Al-Labbad, Yusuf Muhammad Mahdi Al-Munassif, Jawad Abdullah Qureiris, Hassan Zaki Al-Faraj, and businessman Saud Al-Faraj.

2/1/2025: Ali Salman Al-Laif from Al-Awamiya, Qatif, was executed by Saudi authorities.

Iraq

2/10/2025: A bomb explosion killed a Shia security guard responsible for protecting Samarra.

2/11/2025: A war relic explosion in Al-Qurna, Basraseriously injured seven children.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, January 2025

Shia Rights Watch has released its January 2025 report, documenting the most significant human rights violations committed against Shia individuals and communities worldwide.

This report provides a detailed account of terrorist attacks, armed assaults, bombings, and systematic oppression carried out against Shia Muslims in various countries.

Here is SRW’s monthly human rights report on violations committed against Shia Muslims from January 1, 2025, to February 1, 2025.

Pakistan

01/01/2025 – Siege results in the deaths of over 200 people

Health data from a hospital in Upper Kurram confirms that a blockade imposed by extremist groups has led to severe shortages of food and medicine, causing over 200 deaths, including women and children.

01/04/2025 – Protester killed in Malir

Pakistani security forces shot and killed Ali Raza Rizvi, a protester demanding the lifting of the siege on Parachinar. More than 20 others were injured by police gunfire.

01/16/2025 – Extremist groups attack humanitarian aid convoy

Terrorist groups ambushed a convoy carrying food and medical aid to Kurram, setting all trucks on fire and leaving civilians stranded without assistance.

01/17/2025 – Shia civilian kidnapped and executed

Extremists abducted and executed a Shia citizen, Saqib Hasnain, while he was returning home to Kurram.

01/18/2025 – Extremists massacre eight Shia youth and desecrate their bodies

Extremist groups kidnapped, tortured, and executed eight Shia truck drivers attempting to deliver aid to Kurram. Their bodies were mutilated and left by the roadside.

01/18/2025 – Extremists attack Balashkhel village

An armed attack on Balashkhel village in Kurram resulted in the killing of a young Shia man named Waseem Kamal.

01/23/2025 – Bombing targets Shia mosque in Kulachi

A suicide bombing struck the entrance of Imam Bargah Mosque in Kulachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing extensive damage to nearby homes and businesses.

01/24/2025 – Human rights activist arrested

Pakistani authorities arrested Muzammil Hussain Fasih, a civil rights activist, for criticizing the government’s inactionin lifting the siege on Kurram.

01/24/2025 – Attack on a Shia religious monument in Lahore

Extremists attacked a Shia religious site in Lahore’s Shadbagh district, resulting in one death and another person seriously injured.

01/31/2025 – Women and children injured in Kurram attack

A new round of extremist attacks on the besieged town left six civilians, including women, seriously injured.

Bahrain

January 3, 11, 17, 31 – Friday prayers banned in Diraz

Bahraini authorities continued their four-month-long ban on the largest Shia Friday prayer congregation at Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque in Diraz. The area was heavily militarized with armed forces blocking access to the mosque.

01/8/2025 – Employment discrimination against Shia citizens

A parliamentary investigation revealed that over 20,000 Bahrainis remain unemployed, while 600,000 foreign workers are employed in the country.

01/17/2025 – Arbitrary arrests

Authorities arrested Abdullah Yusuf Al-Mo’athin in Samaheej and Hassan Jaafar Masoud in Aker without cause.

Lebanon

01/22/2025 – Shia cleric assassinated

Sheikh Mohammed Hammadi was murdered by unknown gunmen in West Bekaa.

01/26/2025 – Conflict in lebanon kill 22 civilians, injure 124

Attack on southern Lebanon resulted in the killing of 22 civilians and injuries to 124 others, many of whom were attempting to return to their homes.

Syria

01/01/2025 – Mass arrests and killings in Homs and Latakia

A large-scale ethnic cleansing campaign targeted Shia villages in Homs and Latakia, involving:

Widespread arbitrary arrests
Extrajudicial executions
Looting and destruction of homes
Forced displacement of Shia families

01/01/2025 – Cleric abducted in Hama

An unknown group abducted Sheikh Ghadir Mousa Al-Hamdan, a caretaker of Zain Al-Abideen Shrine in Hama.

01/01/2025 – Six shrine caretakers executed in Sayyidah Zainab

Six caretakers of Sayyidah Zainab Shrine were abducted and summarily executed. The victims were:

Mousa Ahmed Al-Diyab
Hassan Faisal Al-Diyab
Hussein Zakaria Al-Haj Hassan
Yahya Zakaria Al-Haj Hassan
Jaafar Younis Hassan
Hassan Mohammed Al-Hajji Al-Mousawi

01/01/2025 – Seven Shia youths abducted in Homs

Extremist militants kidnapped seven Shia youths at a checkpoint in Homs. Five of them were later found executed, their bodies dumped on the banks of the Orontes River.

01/01/2025 – Young man executed for being Alawite

A young Alawite man from Al-Sheeha village, Hama was abducted and executed for his sectarian affiliation. His body was dumped by the roadside.

01/02/2025 – Dozens of Alawite soldiers executed in Deir ez-Zor

Over dozens of Alawite soldiers were found executed in the deserts of Deir ez-Zor and Homs.

01/04/2025 – Large-scale attacks on Alawites in Wadi Al-Dhahab, Homs

Several Alawite youths in Wadi Al-Dhahab, Homs, were violently assaulted due to their sectarian identity.

01/04/2025 – Family slaughtered in Al-Zahraa, Homs

A family of Alawites was brutally murdered in their home in Al-Zahraa, Homs. All members were stabbed to death with knives.

01/04/2025 – 500 Alawites arrested in eastern Homs

A military raid targeted Alawite villages in eastern Homs, leading to the arrest of over 500 young men.

01/05/2025 – Forced displacement in Mukharram Al-Fouqani, Homs

A military force expelled all Shia residents from Mukharram Al-Fouqani, leading to an unknown number of displaced families.

01/06/2025 – Execution of two young Shia men in Homs

Two young Alawite men were abducted and executed by a terrorist group.

01/06/2025 – Desecration of Mohsen ibn Hussein Shrine in Aleppo

Extremists vandalized and desecrated the shrine of Mohsen ibn Hussein in Aleppo.

01/08/2025 – Destruction of religious symbols in Nubl and Al-Zahraa

Unknown militants burned Hussaini flags and banners in the Shia towns of Nubl and Al-Zahraa, while shouting sectarian slurs at residents.

01/08/2025 – Mass execution of six Shia men in Homs

The bodies of six Shia men were found in an orchard in Homs, bearing signs of extreme torture and execution.

01/08/2025 – Mass graves discovered in Homs

Locals discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of four Shia siblings in Tasnayn village, Homs.

01/08/2025 – Elderly Alawite couple murdered in Hama

Sheikh Ali Abdul Latif Deeb and his wife Nariman Hadeed, an elderly Alawite couple, were kidnapped and executed in Duniba village, Hama.

01/09/2025 – Ethnic cleansing in Al-Safira, Aleppo

Residents of Al-Safira town in Aleppo were threatened with death if they did not leave their homes, leading to mass displacement.

01/09/2025 – 700 Shia employees dismissed from jobs in Tartous

A government-affiliated authority forcibly dismissed over 700 Shia employees from their jobs in Tartous for sectarian reasons.

01/10/2025 – 40 Shia civilians executed in Al-Salihiya, Homs

Militants executed 40 Shia men in Al-Salihiya village, Homs for their sectarian identity.

01/12/2025 – Massacre of Shia youth in Baniyas

Armed extremists kidnapped and executed multiple Alawite men in Baniyas.

01/14/2025 – Religious leader arrested for condemning massacres

A militant group arrested Sheikh Saleh Mansour, a representative of the Alawite community, for denouncing the ongoing massacres.

01/15/2025 – 200 Alawites disappear in Homs raids

A mass arrest operation in Homs led to the disappearance of over 200 Alawite civilians, including women and children.

01/15/2025 – Alawite demining expert assassinated

Lieutenant Ali Abdul-Razzaq Wannous, a demining expert, was assassinated after being deceived into clearing explosives in Idlib.

01/17/2025 – Hundreds of Alawites arrested in Homs countryside

Armed groups arrested hundreds of Alawite civilians in Jabbourin and Tasneen, torching homes and looting valuables.

01/21/2025 – Massacre in Al-Ghour village

At least 10 young Shia men were publicly executed, while dozens more were abducted and taken to an unknown location.

01/22/2025 – Mass execution of Shia villagers in western Homs

Extremist groups killed dozens of villagers in Al-Ghouzeila and Khirbet after military forces withdrew.

01/28/2025 – 204 Shia civilians killed in Homs in 2025

A human rights report confirmed that 204 Shia civilians, including five women and one child, were killed in Homssince the beginning of 2025.

Saudi Arabia

01/17/2025 – Shia prisoner executed

Abdullah Ahmed Al-Salim, a Shia prisoner from Qatif, was executed by Saudi authorities.

01/18/2025 – Shia religious singer arrested

Mohammed Bu Jbara, a Shia religious reciter from Al-Ahsa, was arrested for performing a religious poem.

01/28/2025 – Another Shia detainee executed

Ali Abdul Jalil Mansour Al-Suleiman, a Qatif resident, was executed, marking the second execution of a Shia prisoner in 2025.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, December 2024

Shia Rights Watch released its December 2024 report, detailing significant human rights violations targeting Shia Muslim individuals and communities across various countries. The six-page document highlights terror attacks, armed assaults, bombings, and systemic suppression and abuse in several nations.

The report underscores the challenges of documenting abuses due to limited access to reliable evidence and witnesses. It was compiled with the assistance of human rights activists and civil organizations, although many violations likely remain undocumented.

Summary of Violations by Country

Pakistan

Humanitarian Crisis in Parachinar (Dec 1): Extremist groups have imposed a military siege on Parachinar for over two months, causing severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. Official reports indicate 128 children have died in the last 85 days due to lack of medicine. Authorities delivered one ton of medical supplies via helicopter.
Gruesome Killings (Dec 22): Terrorists in Parachinar abducted and executed two Shia residents, Ishaq Hussain and Waseem Abbas, documenting their brutal murder in a video.
Arrest of Shia Cleric (Dec 22): Security forces arrested Shia cleric Sayyed Yashan Ali at Islamabad Airport after he fled Syria due to threats from extremist groups.

Bahrain

Medical Neglect in Prison (Dec 5): Prisoner Hussein Ali Aman died due to deliberate medical negligence in Bahrain’s notorious Jau Prison.
Ban on Shia Friday Prayers: Authorities have continued blocking the largest Shia Friday congregational prayers in Diraz for 13 consecutive weeks, deploying heavy security forces.
Health Crisis (Dec 9): The health of detainee Ammar Abdulghani has severely deteriorated due to neglect in Jau Prison, raising fears of his death.
Violent Crackdown on Prison Protest (Dec 9): Security forces raided prison buildings to end protests following Aman’s death. Tear gas and batons were used, causing severe injuries among detainees.
Sectarian Job Discrimination (Dec 15): Reports revealed continued exclusion of Shia citizens from government jobs, with preference given to foreign workers granted citizenship.

Lebanon

Family Killed in Israeli Airstrike (Dec 3): An Israeli strike killed six members of a family, including a child and a woman, in Haris, southern Lebanon.
Terror Attack in Tripoli (Dec 11): Extremists attacked a bus driver for refusing to denounce his Shia faith.
Abduction of Refugees (Dec 29): Armed groups in Tripoli kidnapped several Shia refugees from Syria, leaving their fate unknown.

Syria

Blocked Evacuation (Dec 3): Extremist groups prevented the Syrian Red Crescent from evacuating over 2,000 displaced civilians from Nubl and Al-Zahraa, resulting in multiple deaths due to harsh conditions.
Desecration of Religious Shrines: Attacks on Alawite and Shia sites included vandalizing the shrine of Abu Abdullah al-Husseini and killing its caretakers (Dec 6).

Shia Rights Watch Advocates for Shia Muslims in Parachinar and Peshawar with Pakistani Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Shia Rights Watch Advocates for Shia Muslims in Parachinar and Peshawar with Pakistani Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh

Shia Rights Watch’s Executive Director, Mustafa Akhwand, met with the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, to discuss the ongoing violence and unrest in Parachinar and Peshawar. During the meeting, Akhwand presented a formal letter addressed to Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, highlighting the pressing concerns of the Shia Muslim community and the urgent need for protective measures.

The dialogue focused on the escalating violence targeting Shia Muslims, which has resulted in significant loss of life and a pervasive sense of insecurity. Akhwand emphasized the need for immediate action to address these challenges, including enhanced security measures, victim support programs, and recognition of the sectarian nature of the attacks. The ambassador listened attentively to the concerns and acknowledged the gravity of the situation.

The letter delivered by Shia Rights Watch outlined actionable recommendations to ensure the safety and dignity of Shia communities. These included increasing security presence in vulnerable areas, ensuring accountability for perpetrators of violence through impartial investigations, reopening critical travel routes, and providing humanitarian aid to affected families. Additionally, the letter underscored the importance of promoting dialogue between communities to foster coexistence and mutual respect.

“Parachinar and Peshawar represent vibrant communities that have faced relentless challenges. These incidents of violence are not only an affront to human rights but also to the principles of unity and diversity that Pakistan was built upon,” said Mustafa Akhwand. “We urge the government to act swiftly and decisively to bring peace to these regions and restore hope to the affected families.”

The meeting also included prominent community representatives, including Faqir Naqvi and Waseem Naqvi (Imam Ali Center), Maulana Sulaiman Hasan (Imam al-Asr Masjid), and Haider Zaidi (Muhammadia Center). The delegation collectively stressed the necessity of high-level interventions to protect vulnerable populations and called for long-term strategies to address the root causes of sectarian violence.

In addition to engaging the Pakistani government, Shia Rights Watch has reached out to the U.S. administration, urging them to apply diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to implement meaningful reforms. Shia Rights Watch remains committed to advocating for sustainable solutions to ensure the safety, dignity, and security of Shia Muslims in Pakistan and beyond.

The ambassador assured the delegation that the concerns raised would be conveyed to key decision-makers in Pakistan and pledged to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region.

The Escalating Brutality of Militants in Syria Against Shia Muslims

Militants’s Continued Oppression in Syria

Militants, groups in Idlib province, have intensified their oppressive actions, targeting minority groups, particularly Shia Muslims. Under the pretense of governance, Militants enforce strict control over regions their occupie, suppressing dissent and subjecting minorities to acts of violence and intimidation—actions that mirror the atrocities of ISIS.

Kidnappings and Intimidation

Recent reports indicate that Militant groups are escalating thier campaign of persecution. Shia Muslims in regions under its control face harassment, detention, and enforced disappearances. Locals and activists describe these acts as deliberate strategies to consolidate power through fear. The release of a recent video by Militants shows their fighters interrogating handcuffed men from Hama, Nobol, and Al-Zahra, questioning them about their religious identity as Shia Muslims. While the fate of these men remains unclear, the group’s violent history raises fears for their safety.

HTS’s public relations efforts to appear as a legitimate governing entity crumble in the face of these actions. Reports of brutal interrogations and threats of execution reveal its commitment to extremist ideologies, which prioritize sectarian violence over governance.

Parallels with ISIS

Despite its attempts to distance itself from ISIS ideologically, Some of these militants employ remarkably similar tactics. The group’s targeted oppression of Shia Muslims recalls the sectarian terror campaigns that defined ISIS’s reign. Kidnappings, threats, and publicized acts of brutality demonstrate militant’s reliance on fear to maintain control and suppress opposition.

International Warnings Ignored

Shia Rights Watch (SRW) has repeatedly condemned militant’s actions, urging the international community to intervene. Despite clear warnings of the dangers posed by some of these militant, the global response has been alarmingly passive, allowing the group to operate with impunity. This inaction emboldens HTS, leaving vulnerable communities, such as Shia Muslims, exposed to escalating violence.

Call for Global Action

The time for international inaction has long passed. The atrocities committed by militant gorups are stark reminders of the persistent threats faced by minorities in conflict zones. Without urgent intervention, the cycle of oppression will continue, deepening the plight of vulnerable populations. To address this crisis, Shia Rights Watch calls for:

Immediate Investigations: Launching independent inquiries into militant’s human rights violations.
Sanctions and Restrictions: Imposing targeted measures on militant leadership to disrupt its operations.
Protection Measures: Establishing mechanisms to safeguard at-risk communities in militant-controlled areas.

Global human rights organizations and governments must prioritize justice and protection for Syria’s marginalized populations. militant’s brutality cannot be ignored. It is imperative to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further loss of life and restore human dignity.

Shia Under Siege: Fear, Exodus, and Survival in the Face of Militant Aggression

Shia Rights Watch (SRW) expresses profound concern over the recent developments in Aleppo, particularly the seizure of the predominantly Shia neighborhoods of Noble and Al-Zahraa by militant groups. This militant group, known for its extremist ideology and history of targeting Shia communities, poses a significant threat to the safety and well-being of Shia residents in these areas.

HTS, formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, has a documented history of hostility towards Shia Muslims. Notably, in March 2017, HTS claimed responsibility for a twin bombing in Damascus’s Old City, resulting in the deaths of 76 individuals, including 43 Iraqi pilgrims. The group justified the attack by labeling the victims as “Iranian militias,” a term often used derogatorily against Shia Muslims. Such rhetoric has perpetuated a cycle of violence and fear among Shia communities in Syria and beyond.

The recent offensive led by militants in Aleppo marks the most significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s authority in years. Reports indicate that fighters, employing sophisticated weaponry such as drones, have taken control of several neighborhoods in Aleppo and have disrupted critical infrastructure, including the M5 highway. This escalation has left Shia residents fearing for their lives, as the group’s notorious track record includes violent atrocities specifically targeting Shia men, women, and children.

The situation has led to a mass exodus of Shia families from these areas. Entire neighborhoods have been abandoned as residents flee in search of safety. For many, the decision to leave is not merely a precaution but a matter of survival. Families who have lived in these regions for generations are now displaced, carrying the trauma of leaving their homes, livelihoods, and communities behind. The fear of persecution and violence is palpable, with many fearing that remaining in these areas would make them easy targets for militant’s brutal campaigns.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed deep concern over the escalation of hostilities in northwest Syria since November 27, 2024. The UN rights office is verifying several deadly incidents resulting in numerous civilian casualties, including women and children. Notably, they are investigating alleged HTS strikes on students in Aleppo on November 29, which reportedly killed four people. These incidents further highlight the urgent need for international intervention.

Given anti-shia group’s history of targeting Shia communities and the current volatile situation in Aleppo, SRW urges the international community to take immediate action to protect Shia civilians in the affected areas. This includes providing safe passages for those fleeing the violence, ensuring humanitarian aid reaches displaced populations, and taking diplomatic measures to pressure militants and their supporters to halt their aggression.

It is imperative to prevent further atrocities and ensure the safety and security of all vulnerable populations in the region. SRW also calls upon human rights organizations and global leaders to amplify the voices of the displaced and persecuted, ensuring that the plight of Shia Muslims in Noble, Al-Zahraa, and Aleppo is not overlooked amid the broader Syrian conflict. Without urgent and decisive action, the lives of thousands of Shia civilians remain in jeopardy.

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Shia Rights Watch Advocates for Shia Muslims in Parachinar and Peshawar with Pakistani Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh

The Escalating Brutality of Militants in Syria Against Shia Muslims

Shia Under Siege: Fear, Exodus, and Survival in the Face of Militant Aggression