Iranian Government Arrested Seyed Hussian Fali

Iranian government arrested one of the influential clerics yesterday, March 9^th. Seyed Hussein Fali was arrested at the Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport while heading to Kuwait as he usually does.

At the airport he was informed that he cannot exit the country then and was taken to detention while handcuffed. There is not update on his statues as of yesterday or the reason of his arrest. His children and family are prevented from visiting him.

Seyed Fali is one of the well-known peaceful clerics in both Iran and Kuwait. His arrest violates his rights to freedom of movement, and must be explained by the government, says SRW.

Arbitrary arrest of Shia Muslim clerics in Iran has been a concern to many human rights organizations. The government has continuously pressured influential clerics and violated their rights to freedom of expression, movement, and religion.

SRW is following up with the US Department of States to investigate the case. This organization condemns the Iranian government’s illegal pressure on Shia clerics and demands immediate release of the Seyed Fali.

50 More Shia Dead in Sadr City

A parked motorcycle exploded in Shia Muslims neighborhood of Baghdad’s Sadr City. Number of Shia killed is not clear yet but according to different sources to people were killed.

Another bomb attacked minibus full of people: it killed 5 and wounded 14 of the passengers. As the sources report blood was all over the place and people were looking for their relatives after the explosions.

Shia killings in Iraq resulted in death of about 9000 people in the year 2013 and killed hundreds since beginning of 2014. Death of caregivers and insecurity resulted in major financial problem and many Iraqis are living under the poverty line despite the fact that Iraq is a very resourceful country.

SRW condemns the violent that is taking place in this country and hold the government responsible for not doing enough to clean the country from terrorist groups and protect all citizens.

Bahraini Government Executing Protestors

Shia Rights Watch was informed of the recent decision of Bahraini court to execute one and jail several civilians because of their involvement in the pro-democracy and reform peaceful protects.

The organization expresses strong opposition to the decision and believes Bahrain courts do not follow international standards and do not meet qualification criteria. This sectarian and violent decision must be prevented from implementation and the court has to provide enough evidence in order to prove the guiltiness of the detainees.

The government abuses laws, tortures and kills innocent people because they demand reform and equality. Although the king claimed reform, his actions, and the government’s decisions to arrest and execute peaceful protestors proves that the government is not interested in any political, social and economic reform. The act of the government is resulting in an increase of sectarian conflicts, and distrust between followers of different sects in this country.

SRW believes the Bahraini government has committed all possible crimes against its citizen and must be held responsible in international human rights courts.

The Role of Education in Implementing Social Justice

Washington DC- First Ever Shia Rights Conference Was a Success

Shia Rights Watch would like to thank speakers, guests, panelists and all who supported the first formal human rights seminar that analyzed the violations toward Shia Muslims worldwide in Washington DC. This one of a kind seminar received many attentions from university professors, activists and policy makers as the event was broadcasted live on internet. The organization specially thanks following speakers,

Dr. Said, the professor and the founder of Center for Global Peace at the American University,
Dr. Sachedina, experienced human rights activist and researcher, professor and IIIT Chair in Islamic Studies at George Mason University,
Mr. Kugelman, foreign policy scholar at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars,
Mr. T. Kumar, Director of International Advocacy for Amnesty International USA,
Mrs. Curtis, Pakistan specialist at Heritage Foundation,
And Dr. Diwan, professor and Bahrain specialist at American University,

The audiences were touched by important remarks, reports and suggestions of mentioned well known human rights activists and policy makers.

Watch Panel ONE

Watch Panel TWO

Q & A

The seminar, Role of Education in Implementing Social Justice: The Case of Shia Muslims addressed the following points:

The ongoing violations in Bahrain,
Massive Shia killings in Pakistan and how change in educational system is needed to increase human rights awareness, respect and acceptance in this country,
Role of Saudi Arabia in founding the terrorist activities,
Situation of Shia minority in Malaysia and Indonesia,

Importance of educating women, as mothers, and their role in rising generations of non-violent activists,
Importance of including respect to diversity in educational text books in different countries.
Role of empathy and financial stability in preventing youth from joining terrorists’ groups,
Role of Muslim communities in making peace within Islamic countries.
And Value of human dignity.

This timely seminar that honored the World Day of Social Justice aimed to increase awareness about Shia targeted killings and encourage policy makers, educators, activists, and victims to take upon themselves to stand up for the rights of Shia community. As Mr. Kumar, Director of International Advocacy for Amnesty International USA, stated this even was the very first time that a Shia Muslim human rights NGO invited influential activists to address the much needed human rights violations toward Shia Muslims.

As all speaker noted, this conference brought up a crucial issue that needs to be addressed to reach peace in the world, especially countries with increasing Shia rights violations.

Shia Rights Watch is delighted to be the first to give voice to voiceless Shia Muslims and hopes to have more of such informative seminars in order to end Shia rights violations worldwide.

An article about the seminar will be published in the America Journal of Islamic Social Science special issue soon.

Journalists and human rights activists can contact our organization to take part in future seminars and campaigns.

Human Rights Activists Under Continues Attacks

A 22 year old man, Ali al-Faraj, was shot 11 times by Saudi forces as he was running away from them. His brother, Hussein, was also killed as he was documenting the attack. The killings happened as officers raided the home of the Shia rights activist during a crackdown on human rights activists who document Shia rights violations in that country. Hussein was a photographer who had documented many human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is home to a Shia Muslim minority that has always been under attack by the kingdom. 950 people, mostly human rights activists and journalists, have been arrested since 2011 with under different accusations and pretexts, 217 are still being held, according to BBC news.

Shia have been considered second class citizens and have no right to employment, higher education, freedom of speech or religion in Saudi Arabia.

The government spends billions of dollars feeding anti-Shia terrorist groups as part of its ant-Shi’ism ideology.

11 Explosions in Two Days

11 cars have exploded in Iraq since yesterday. The explosions resulted in the death of 25 people yesterday and another 50 today.

Most explosions target Shia populated locations and Shia Muslim civilians. According to New York Times, 1,000 people were killed in the month of January in Iraq.

Shia killings and the government’s failure to cleanse the country from terrorist groups has created a fearful life for a majority Shia of the country.

Iraq is a resourceful country with a bright history. The government must take advantage of Iraq’s historical, Islamic, and georaphical significance and protect it from terror, says SRW.

I Would Hope So

February 14th, marked the third anniversary of the pro-democracy protests in Bahrain: A powerful movement that resulted in the death of many and put hundreds behind the bars, only because they demanded freedom and equal treatment. Some Bahrainis lost citizenship to their own country, many children have lost parents, minors have been detained, detainees have been tortured, women have been abused, people lost hope to freedom and government lost credibility.

So, such process must create thousands of news articles right? WRONG……

I happen to check telegraph.co.uk/ often……

Today, I checked their Bahrain page…….

It was heart breaking that their last article on Bahrain goes back to December 8^th, 2013!!!!!

Does that mean, according to this news outlet, Bahrainis have been living in peace since then? So nothing to report? Nothing worth sharing with a public who turn to news agencies to learn about their human fellows? Is Telegraph saying the 3^rd anniversary of the Arab Spring was a very peaceful day?

I would hope so….

By Hawraa Zakery, a Shia Rights Activist on February 19, 2014

Picture by RT.com

Bahraini Mother Killed

A Bahraini mother was killed on February 11^th while trying to protect her son from being arrested by the governmental forces. According to sources Asmaa Hussain was bitten to death when she tried to stop forces from raiding her home in Jad AlHaj neighborhood.

The Bahraini kingdom has been killing, arresting and torturing Shia Muslims since 2011 when they demanded their basic human rights. This country has the most minor detainees and the government increases the conflict be evoking Shia Muslims citizenships and pressuring them.

Tuz Khormato Under Attack

Residences of Tuz Khormato are under targeted attacks by Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham, the terrorist group supported by Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Many Shia Muslims homes and Islamic centers have been bombed in the city. In January 2013 an Islamic center was bombed that killed 23 Shia Muslims. The killings continue in public areas such as coffee shops, restaurants and markets.

Tuz Khurmatu is a town in Saladin Province, Iraq, located 55 miles south of Kirkuk. Majority of the town is ethnic Turkmens, with smaller Arab and Kurdish minorities. Most, if not all, the population of the city is Shia Muslims.

Thousands of Shia Muslims have been killed by Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in Iraq and Syria.

Shia High School Burned Out

Students and staff of a high school in Shia populated area pf eastern prevalence are shocked to find their school burning.

The residences of the area have always complained of lack of resources in this area. Local activists believe this fire is a mysterious act and was done to limit the Shia’s access to education and basic rights furthermore.

The government has always treated Shia Muslims as second class citizen and recent unrest in the area is a result of this treatment, say activists.

Shia Muslims demand their basic rights and the government pays no attention to their need. After the recent unrest the authorities increased their pressure on the population. Although this Shia area is one of the most important areas in Saudi Arabia, this area lacks proper hospital, educational settings and even tourist access. The Saudi government oppresses this minority by violating their basic rights.

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