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Incidents of Anti-Shiism, May 2020

In the month of May, 59 incidents of Anti-Shiism occurred, resulting in a total death count of 79 people, the injury of 264, and the arrest of 3 others. Reported incidents were from the countries of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. 

Shia Rights Watch notes that this report provides only a glimpse into the dynamics of Anti-Shiism in the world. Many incidents are not reported due to limitations in international networks and refusal to report by victims due to fear of reprisal. 

Afghanistan

Five different incidents of Anti-Shiism lead to the death of over 50 individuals and the injury of 197 others. 

Anti-Shiism attacks in May began as early as May 2 as a car bomb in Laghman left four wounded and three others dead. Two days later, an IED left outside a Shia mosque left 20 injured. 

The most profound incident of violence was the bombing of the Dashte-Barchi maternity hospital in a Shia populated area of Kabul. On May 12, militant shooters dressed as police officers entered the hospital, shooting indiscriminately. Among those killed were multiple newborns and pregnant mothers, many of whom had traveled hundreds of miles for fertility treatments at Dashte Barchi. More than 80 women, children, and staff were evacuated.     

After a post-incident visit to the hospital, the Médecins Sans Frontières’ head of programs in Afghanistan,  Frederic Bonnot noted, 

 “I went back the day after the attack, and what I saw in the maternity ward demonstrates it was a systematic shooting of the mothers. They went through the rooms in the maternity ward, shooting women in their beds. It was methodical. Walls sprayed with bullets, blood on the floors in the rooms, vehicles burnt out, and windows shot through. It’s shocking. We know this area has suffered attacks in the past, but no one could believe they would attack a maternity ward. They came to kill the mothers.”

Attacks in the Shia sectors of Kabul are not new. In 2019, a significant percentage of those killed in terror attacks were Shia Muslims, deliberately targeted for their faith.

The attack on Dashte Barchi was a clear display of the extent of violence extremists in Afghanistan are willing to use to threaten the Shia existence. 

On the same day, a suicide bombing took place in the Khewa District of the Nangarhar Province. The attack targeted funeral processions leaving 32 dead. 

Following the May 12 attacks. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stated, “In order to provide security for public places and to thwart attacks and threats from the Taliban and other terrorist groups, I’m ordering Afghan security forces to switch from an active defense mode to an offensive one and to resume their operations against the enemies.”

Despite President Ghani’s statement, no new efforts have been taken to protect Shia Muslims in Afghanistan. 

Bahrain

Anti-Shiism in Bahrain presented as violations of the rights of detainees and baseless arrests. 

On May 3, the family of Sheikh Abdullah Isa al-Mahroos, also known as Mirza al-Mahroos, reported authorities prevented al-Mahroos from emergency IBS surgery, despite doctors’ orders. Al-Mahroos, a prominent religious leader and the vice president of al-Zahraa Society of Orphans,  was initially arrested in April 2011 and sentenced to 15 years. While detained, Al-Mahroos has reported severe pain in his legs, stomach, and back, as a result of torture and denied medical care. 

In addition to hardships as a result of his absence, his family notes pressure authorities in attempts to force confessions from Al-Mahroos. His daughter, born days after his detainment has been denied a passport. 

The case of Mirza al-Mahroos is just one of the violations of the rights of detainees in Jaws Prison. In May, numerous detainees were denied communication with their family members. In late May, when some detainees were allowed to communicate with their loved ones, they reported increased restrictions during Ramadan and punishment for individuals who practiced Shia Muslim rituals. Brothers Ali and Muhammad Fakhrawi were two detainees subjected to psychological and physical violence in response to their practice of Shia rituals. 

Conditions in Jaws Prison are concerning, especially as arrests continue relentlessly.  

Iraq

Shia Rights Watch records a total of 39  incidents of Anti-Shiism, which resulted in the injury of 67 and the death of approximately 30 people across Iraq.  Attacks predominantly occurred in the city of Diyala, followed by Baghdad, Samarra, Khadhimiya, and Yusufiya. The primary aggressors were ISIS assailants aiming to maintain a foothold in the country. 

The incidents, as mentioned earlier of Anti-Shiism, do not include foiled plots in Samarra and Baghdad. 

An examination of the incidents in May highlights the real goal of ISIS in the country: to instill fear. Anti-Shiism in May resulted disproportionately in injuries, while opportunities to cause death existed.  

Military officials in the country report an evolution in ISIS activity in the country, fueled mainly by the diversion of COVID-19. As COVID-19 sweeps across the international community, the reorganization of resources raises concern in Iraq. 

As officials divert resources to maintain curfew and security for testing sites, ISIS assailants take advantage of reduced pressures and sophisticate their networks. Attacks across the country have become more sophisticated, presenting as, among others, improvised explosive devices, shootings, and ambushes. Since the emergence of the Virus, the prevalence of suicide bombings and coordinated assaults across locations, especially those at night, has increased substantially. Kirkuk has seen an almost 200% increase in violence and attacks have become daily in Diyala. 

Shia Muslims exist in both Diyala and Kirkuk. Pockets of Shia presence witness a higher prevalence of attacks when compared to non-Shia neighborhoods. 

Shia Rights Watch notes that endeavors aimed at controlling COVID-19 are essential but should not cloud the availability of resources dedicated to combating extremism in the country. 

Saudi Arabia

Shia Muslims in Saudi Arabia are seen as deviants. Their beliefs are discounted and advertised as those outside the religion of Islam. 

Ramadan coincided with May. Within the Holy month of Ramadan, Shia Muslims commemorate the death of Ali and the “Nights of Qadr.” On May 14, military forces raided the neighborhood of Umm al-Jazm in Qatif. Officers prevented the call to prayer. Residents reported members of the Shia congregations feeling targeted for their beliefs, noting the incident as yet another limitation in religious expression by the Saudi authorities. 

Shia Muslims held within detention centers in Qatif and Al-Ahsa were also denied communicating with family members within Ramadan days, coinciding with days with Shia religious practice. 

Shia Islam is not officially recognized in Saudi Arabia. 

Pakistan

On May 27, terrorists attacked Farjad Hussain and Saleem Abbas in Gilgit Naltar Valley. The pair were boarding their car during a picnic on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. They were identified as Shia Muslims as they listened to eulogies.  Abbas died on the way to the hospital while Hussain lost his life immediately following the attack. 

With terror organizations like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi active in Pakistan, Shia Muslims face danger daily. Shia Rights Watch highlights a need for recognizing Shia Muslims as an identity at heightened risk of violence in the hands of extremists. Until active measures to reduce Anti-Shiism are put in place, the lives of individuals will continue to be endangered by terror organizations.  

Aya Hachem: Rationed Humanity

On May 17, Aya Hachem, a 19-year old student, was shot in the chest and killed on a trip to the grocery store. The Hachem family were refugees from Lebanon living in the United Kingdom. 

Shia Rights Watch expresses its sincerest condolences for the family of Aya Hachem and voices concern over withdrawal of support for the family upon the realization that they are members of the Shia faith. 

The case of Aya and the responses incited by her Shia faith sheds light on sentiments of anti-Shiism and the ever-existing discrimination against Shia Muslims. 

Outraged by the targeting of the Hijabi female in the Holy month of Ramadan, the international community rose in commemoration.  Within hours, sympathetic messages flooded social media, and numerous fundraisers were set up in her memory. 

Despite the initial unity of supporters, it wasn’t long until the identification of the Hachem family as Shia Muslims led to the withdrawal of donations. 

A thread of tweets among Muslim Twitter users shed light on the discriminatory sentiments that cloud fundraising.

On May 19, Twitter user @humbleackh1 tweeted, “I didn’t know she was a Shia… no way do I want to be in a situation where all this cause could go against me on the Day of Judgement.”

Twitter user @Hannanqazi_ raised 30000 Euros to build a mosque in Niger for Aya. Qazi stated, “The fact that the family aren’t in the best of financial situations and have only granted me to utilize £5000 to build the masjid in Niger for sister Aya. As the rest of the money will go towards the funeral costs and whatever additional costs the father may need to cover….”

The tweet was responded with cautions against “building a mosque in the case it’s a Rafidi/ Shia place of worship” and calls to “donate to a proper masjid.”

While many have denounced anti-Shia sentiments and expressed support for the Hachem family, the events that unfolded after the family was identified as Shia Muslims points to a prosperous culture of discrimination, a culture not foreign to members of the Shia faith. 

On a global scale, Shia Muslims are targeted in bombings and shootings organized to limit Shia existence. Shia Muslims endure cultural and systemic violence that downgrades them as second-class citizens and leaves them in search of justice. 

The lack of aid and support within humanitarian efforts for Shia Muslims is also not new. Many Shia Muslims report facing discrimination in obtaining funding, not just across the Middle East, but also from providers based in the West. 

The story of Aya Hachem is yet another reminder that Anti-Shiism cannot be ignored. No longer can the international community turn a blind eye to violence against Shia Muslims. 

“Microaggressions, erasure, deadly attacks, dismissiveness, and glaringly anti–Shia utterances are a burden we have carried on our backs for as long as we can remember. And the reality is that with every death, with every attack, and with every act of hatred against the Hazara Shias, against the Zakaria Al-Jabers, and the Aya Hachems of the world, we as Shia Muslims are reminded of one thing: beneath a layer of an ostensibly collective endurance of Islamophobia, our Shia identity leads us to a duality of internal empowerment and outward isolation –  we live in a world where it often feels like we have no one but ourselves to lean on.” Wrote Danya Jafri, the Ahlul Bayt chair of Columbia University, in an article on May 20. 

On this occasion, Shia Rights Watch pledges its support for Aya Hachem, and all Shia lives lost amidst a world of indifference. 

No longer can we afford to remain silent against anti-Shiism. 

Unparalleled Violence In Afghanistan Claims Lives of Newborns and Mothers

Shia Rights Watch expresses its condolences for the lives lost in the maternity ward attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

The attack on Tuesday was unparalleled and demanded actions reciprocal in strength. 

On May 12th, a militant attack on the Dashte-Barchi hospital in Kabul left 40 deceased and at least 16 others injured; 140 people are said to have been in the hospital at the time of the attack. Dashte-Barchi is located in a quarter of Kabul dense in Shia Muslims. Locals report consecutive blasts then gunfire beginning at 10 am. Panic ensued right after. Survivors say that attackers, dressed as police officers, shot at everyone. 

One woman gave birth amidst the commotion. 

Among those killed were newborn children, many of which were conceived after years of medical infertility treatment. 

One prevailing story has been that of Zahra Muhammadi and her daughter-in-law, Zainab, who had traveled from Bamiyan to Dashte Barchi in hopes of finding reliable medical attention. Zainab’s son, Omid, was shot within hours of his birth.

“Today we’ll take [Omids] dead body to Bamiyan,” stated Zahra Muhammadi. 

The hospital attack was one of two attacks on Tuesday. In Nangarhar, ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that led to the death of more than 32. The New York Times approximates 100 people killed as a result of the two attacks. 

Following the attack, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stated, “In order to provide security for public places and to thwart attacks and threats from the Taliban and other terrorist groups, I’m ordering Afghan security forces to switch from an active defense mode to an offensive one and to resume their operations against the enemies.”

Attacks in the Shia sectors of Kabul are not new. Shia Muslims in Kabul live in constant fear of being targeted by radical extremism. In 2019, a significant percentage of those killed in terror attacks were Shia Muslims, deliberately targeted for their faith. 

The attack on Dashte-Barchi was unprecedented in violence. The attack was a clear display of the extent of violence extremists in Afghanistan are willing to use to threaten the Shia existence in Kabul. 

Shia Rights Watch notes that any action taken must recognize sentiments of anti-Shiism that fuel extremist activities across Afghanistan. Measures signed into effect must discretely include protection for Shia Muslims and call for national efforts to reduce anti-Shiism in the country.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, April 2020

Shia Rights Watch continues to monitor human rights violations against Shia Muslims in the month of April. In total, an approximate 40 incidents of violence took the lives of 77 Shia Muslims and injured 41 others in the nations of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. 

It is important to note the reported incidents provided limited but necessary insight into conditions of this religious minority. 

Afghanistan

Ten incidents of violence left more than 70 Shia Muslims dead and 25 others wounded across Afghanistan. Attacks took the forms of roadside bombs targeting travelers, explosions in areas dense with Shia Individuals, and armed attacks by assailants. In a heinous incident of violence on April 26, armed assailants led a  mass execution, killing seven members of a family, one of whom was a child. 

Shia Muslims in Afghanistan are disproportionately targeted by extremist groups. As the largest minority group in the nation, Shia Muslims live in the nation with the awareness that their beliefs and practices put them at increased risks of terrorist attacks. 

Bahrain

In the month of April, Shia in Bahrain were subject to human rights violations in the forms of baseless detainment, torture, and denial of treatment. 

On April 6th, detainee Sheikh Zuhair Ashour was denied treatment for deteriorating health in Jaws Prison. Later on the 15th, sources report the denial of treatment to Ahmed Issa Ghanem – prison authorities refused to provide him with medication he was prescribed. 

In addition to denial of treatment, prisoners report heinous torture. Late in the month, the family of Ali al-Ghanmi, a military detainee, reported al-Ghanmi being tortured by a Bahraini officer and a Pakistani mercenary. 

In total, six arrests were reported to Shia Rights Watch.  One of those was Ahmed Yousef Abdel Aziz, after being summoned in al-Malikiyah. 

In the month of April, two Bahraini citizens, hajj Abdul Aziz Muhammad Ali Sahwan and Hajj Abdul Nabi Abdullah Abdul Nabi,  died as the result of their prolonged stay in Iran, enforced by the government’s refusal to extradite Shia pilgrims. 

Saudi Arabia

While other nations provide services to citizens to combat COVID-19, military forces in Saudi Arabia raid Shia towns. On the 11th of April, military forces raided the town of Awamiya, firing live ammunition in the air and towards the infrastructure. While no injuries or deaths were reported, the raid achieved its goal of intimidating the residents of Awamiya. 

The town of Awamiya is one of the most Shia populated areas of the country and home to the most violent reproaches in the hands of the Saudi military. 

Violence does not end with the loss of life. On the 17th of April, authorities bulldozed the graves in Awamiya, damaging historical infrastructure and monuments to those deceased. 

Iraq

In the month of April, approximately 20 incidents, resulting in the death and injury of over 25 individuals across Iraq. It must be noted that the incidents noted here are those reported to Shia Rights Watch by citizens and residents. Many cases of violence are not reported due to fear of retaliation and in some cases lack of communication resources. 

Diyala was a hot spot for violence in the month of April. Explosive devices, car bombs, mortar shells, and gunfire were predominant forms of violence. In a number of incidents, ISIS assailants claimed responsibility for lives lost exemplifying the organization’s activeness in the country despite efforts of the government. 

 

Anti-Shiism Highlighted by USCIRF

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently released its annual religious freedom report. The report documents concerns about religious freedom in Countries of Particular Concern and Special Watch List Countries. 

Among the endangered religious minorities were Shia Muslims, who exist across the world as residents and citizens. 

Below is a collection of insights about anti-Shiism in the USCIRF Annual Report 2020.

Countries of Particular Concern

Nigeria 

“This report and others revealed an ongoing social and institutional bias against religious minorities such as Shi’a”

Nigeria is made up of a population of 203 million individuals, 53.5% of which is Muslim. Shia Muslims are one of the largest minority religious populations in the country. While the national constitution does not assert an official religion, twelve of the northern States use  “Sharia” criminal and family law. The Sharia Law within these states is singular in interpretation. Perceptions of intolerance to beliefs or practices that counter religion as promoted by the State. 

USCIRF exemplified repression by the Nigerian government through the treatment of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. Zakzaky’s detainment continues despite orders for his release in 2016. The group has been banned in the country on claims of violence and “annoying to society.” None-the-less the groups persist in protesting, expressing nonviolence, and citing the right to freedom of religion, assembly, and speech. 

In October, a number of IMN members were acquitted of charges brought on by the government. 

“While the Nigerian government has most certainly overreached, sometimes targeting innocent Shi’a, the government is justified in its suspicion of the IMN”

Pakistan

“While terrorism decreased in recent years, Pakistan remains a base for extremist groups, such as the Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-eJhangvi.”

Pakistan remains a hotbed for extremism and violence against religious minorities. Quetta, home to Shia Hazara, has been the site of targeted bombings by the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State. 

In correspondence with Shia rituals and commemorations, local and provincial governments have increased security for the group, adopting measures that reduce the risk of targeted violence against the group. 

Saudi Arabia 

“Shi’a Muslims in Saudi Arabia continue to face discrimination in education, employment, and the judiciary and lack access to senior government and military positions. The building of Shi’a mosques is restricted outside majority-Shi’a Muslim areas in the Eastern Province, and Saudi authorities often prohibit the use of the Shi’a Muslim call to prayer in these areas. Authorities arrest and imprison Shi’a Muslims for holding religious gatherings in private homes without permits and reading religious materials in husseiniyas (prayer halls). Saudi Arabia also restricts the establishment of Shi’a Muslim cemeteries”

Despite being nationals with a density of 20% of the population, Shia live as second-class citizens in Saudi Arabia. The Eastern Province is the area of the country most populated with the minority. On numerous occasions have residents reported barricades and extreme military action. 

Saudi Arabia is governed by a strict, singular interpretation of Islam. 

“The judicial system is largely governed by a Saudi interpretation of Shari’a as informed by Hanbali jurisprudence”

In April of 2019 alone, 32 Shia Muslims were executed on charges including, “ “provoking sectarian strife,” “spreading chaos,” and “disturbing security.” Among the beheaded was Shia cleric Sheikh Mohammad al-Atiya on charges of “spread[ing] the Shi’a confession.”

Among those executed were individuals such as Abdulkareem al-Hawaj, a Shia student arrested at the age of 16 for participating in protests. 

The report noted a history of 15 years worth of documentation on intolerant content in educational textbooks.  

Syria

A country still ripe with extremist activity, ISIS activity proved dangerous for religious minorities in the country. 

“During its time in power, ISIS perpetrated massive atrocities across the areas under its control, including kidnapping and executing thousands of Christians, Yazidis, Shi’a Muslims, and fellow Sunni Muslims who opposed its authority.”

Despite a reduction in ISIS control, attacks by militants remain a threat to minorities such that of Shia Muslims. 

Special Watch List Country Recommendations

Afghanistan

Despite peace talks between the Taliban and the United States government, ongoing extremist activity remains threatening to minority groups, especially Shia Muslims. Hazara Afghans, a largely Shia ethnic minority in the country has been subject to targeted violence. The Taliban have denounced Shia Muslims, labeling them as infidels. 

“Recent attacks included an August 17, 2019, suicide bombing of a wedding reception of a Shi’a Hazara couple in Kabul, killing 63 people and wounding 182; the July 6, 2019, bombing of a Shi’a mosque in Ghazni, killing two people and wounding 20; a March 31, 2019, attack against a Shi’a shrine and cemetery in Kabul during Nowruz celebrations, killing six people and wounding 20; and a March 7, 2019, attack on a memorial service—held for a Hazara leader, Abdul Ali Mazari, who was killed by the Taliban in 1995—in a Shi’a Hazara neighborhood in Kabul, killing 11 people and wounding 95.” 

The majority of attacks are by non-state actors.  Analysts stipulate an increase in violence to be a function of opposition to the peace agreement. Attacks target the most vulnerable and most victimized population. 

“Terrorist attacks against the Shi’a community, targeting its leadership, neighborhoods, festivals, and houses of worship, have intensified in recent years, with this trend continuing in 2019.”

In recognition of Shia Muslim’s unique standing in the country, some steps have been taken to increase security measures and to protect areas rich in Shia Muslim presence. 

 “In part due to these efforts, there has been a decline in terrorist attacks against Shi’a religious festivals. However, the government’s lack of control over the entirety of the country’s territory, ongoing problems with corruption, and security forces’ lack of capacity in the areas the government does control hampered the overall effectiveness of these efforts.”

Algeria

Discrimination against religious minorities prospers in the country of Algeria. 

“The Algerian government further discriminates against minority communities that do not conform to mainstream Sunni Islam, such as Shi’a”

The government rules with a strict penal code which promotes a singular interpretation of Islam and punishes any practice of religion not supported by the government. 

The Algerian government hires and trains preachers. Fines and imprisonment are used to punish “anyone who preaches in a mosque or other public place without being appointed or authorized, or anyone who preaches “against the noble mission of the mosque” to “undermine social cohesion” or who advocates for such preaching.”

Azerbaijan

The government of Azerbaijan exerts control and oversight on religious practice and activity. Religious communities are legally required to register with the government; those that don’t are criminalized.  Content, production, import, export, distribution, and sale of all religious literature require State approval. Freedom of speech and religious expression are areas of concern and limitations in practice have created fear amidst practitioners.

A number of prisoners of consciousness remain in detention despite international advocacy. 

“The government continued to exert undue control and oversight over all religious communities and their activities. Government officials continued to manage and limit religious practices through the 2009 Law on Freedom of Religion and related articles of the administrative and criminal codes.”

Bahrain

“While they are generally free to worship, Shi’a Bahrainis have long faced difficulties in an array of areas, including employment, political representation, freedom of expression, promotion within the military, and mosque construction.”

Shia religious leaders face interrogation on sermons. Laws restricting the freedom of speech are used to promote self-censorship as many fear persecution. 

Revocation of citizenship remains one of the country’s most troublesome instruments against Shia Muslims.  In a single incident in April 2019, 138 Shia Muslims were revoked of citizenship in a trial with lacking due process.

While a number of citizenships have been reinstated as the result of international pressure, systemic measures that allow for such violations remain in place. 

Already restricted, prisoners within detention centers are at heightened risk of human rights violations. “Prisoners in Isa Town Prison and Jaw Prison were allegedly prohibited from commemorating Ashura in groups, and prison authorities—who appealed to security concerns regarding large prisoner gatherings—restricted the times in which they were allowed to conduct their commemorations. Shi’a prisoners also were denied access to religious books. “

Indonesia

Religious conditions in Indonesia have deteriorated compared to previous years as religious intolerance prospers across the country. 

“Violations of religious freedom tend to have the greatest impact on Ahmadiyya and Shi’a Muslims, Christians, believers outside the six officially recognized faiths, and nonbelievers.”

The lack of tolerance across Indonesia is especially concerning as the government requires a listing of religious associations on identification cards. 

Blasphemy charges are used to quell the expression and practice of any religious interpretations deviant from that enforced by the State. 

Local activists report increased radicalized sentiments within educational institutions. Such sentiments are supported through existing institutions that degrade groups other than those formally accepted by the government, one such group being the Indonesian Council of Ulema. 

“The quasi-governmental Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) has issued fatwas (religious edicts) declaring these groups “deviant” and heretical to Islam.”

Malaysia

Religious freedom in the country of Malaysia trends negatively as State-supported intolerance grows. 

“All Muslim students are mandated to take religious classes. In Form 5 (for ages 16–17), religious textbooks condemn non-Sunni sects of Islam. The state-issued sermons each Friday often warn Muslims against these “deviant” sects and the so-called threats they present to Islam.”

The Malay ethnicity is paired with a singular interpretation of Islam which has a history of Muslim minorities as “deviant”

“In 2019, Shi’a Muslims continued to face state hostility and detentions, sparking fears of an escalating crackdown.”

In August 2019, an amendment was made to Section 52 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995,  prohibiting the sharing of religious doctrines or beliefs that are not in accordance with the state-sponsored version of the faith with penalties. The new amendment is an extension to bills that officially identify Islam as Sunni Islam and criminalizes alternative interpretations. 

Minority groups such that of Shia Muslims report marginalization and face violence un-attended to by local justice systems. 

How Methods of Prevention Matter

Amidst developments of the Coronavirus or COVID-19, increased scrutability has been placed on measures taken at the national and local levels.

The most recent and troublesome prevention measures was that of the mismanaged closure of major Shia Shrines in Qum and Mashhad. A topic of great importance to the Shia communities, the sudden and unannounced closure of the Shrines, led to significant protests amidst Iran’s faithful. Critics note that officials did not even announce closure with justification or time of possible opening. They criticized the negligible communication between administration and Shrine-goers. Moreover, the closure of religious spaces and a lack of measures taken to close non-essential markets heightened sentiments. 

Shia Rights Watch acknowledges the importance of disease prevention. It expresses support for those who strive to carry out the World Health Organization’s suggestions to limit exposure and death from COVID-19 daily. The organization further notes that the closure of Shrines in Iran, which has thus far thrived on faith, was naive and counterproductive. 

The sudden closure has led to the spiral downturn of the relationship between the government and the people. Of the people gathering outside the Shrine, numerous protestors and vocals were met with violence. Men, women, and children were attacked by security forces as they used force to disperse crowds and thwart unrest. Following the attacks, authorities announced protestors were political dissidents and critics they have longed aimed to marginalize. The ill-treatment of protesters has proved to be counterproductive as it has led to a further outcry against policy-makers. 

In addition to being mismanaged, Iran’s abrupt closure of religious sites was unreflective of the unique position of these institutions within religious and non-religious sects of society. 

The management of Shrines in other countries, such that of Iraq, stands counter to Iran. Iraq is home to numerous major religious Shrines, including but not limited to Ali, the first Shia Imams, Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, and his brother Abbas, the al-Askari and Al-Kadhimiya. The Shrines are one of the most influential voices to educate and treat people in addition to medical centers. Shrine management early on made definite conviction that the Shrines are valued refuge-sites and would under no condition be entirely closed. Instead, across social media and news outlets, management communicated active sanitization measurements within 24-hour durations in which a subsect of the Shrine is closed. A clear plan that acknowledged the social perceptions of the Shrines while also addressing disease prevention was announced and carried out. 

While it is understood that progress is continual and that the measures in Iraq are far from conclusive, the management of Iraqi shrines is a clear counter to that of Shrines in Mashhad and Qum. 

The Position of Shrines in Society

Shrines exist across religious and cultural spectrums. While each Shrine is associated with unique ideological significance, all Shrines serve as central spaces that address socio-psychological needs. 

Shrines stand independent of mosques. While mosques are seen as spaces to practice a single method of worship, Shrines allow for individual expression of emotion and spirituality. Mosques are primarily attended by Muslims, while Shrines are visited by Muslims and members of other faiths. 

Shrines are a catalyst for integration and harmony. They are spaces in which age, race, ethnicity, and socio-political positions fade. They are stable, trusted, and transcendent public spaces for people of all backgrounds. 

Shrines serve as symbols of tranquility and peace of mind. In times of tension, these locations serve as locations of meditation and reflection from those who seek to ‘escape’ daily pressures. 

Shrines have served vital social and cultural roles, and the recent closures failed to empower prevention measures using these roles. The sudden closures overlooked the potential of these settings to progress prevention measures and the possible negative social implications, including but not limited to behavioral fatigue, which already threatens Iran’s efforts to limit the spread of disease. 

Sources of Empowerment

Shia Rights Watch presents ways Shrines could have been used to empower nations against COVID-19 below. Note the below suggestions are interventions that can be taken previous to complete closure of all religious sites, regardless of their location.

 

Shrines are perceived to be trusted influences. Iran faces allegations of delayed action. Moreover, the continued movement between cities is a display of deteriorated trust in the government. Shrines as institutions could have been used as voices that educated prevention measures to the people. They could have been mediums by which policy-makers could have enlisted volunteers and extended resources. 

Moreover, both Shrines in Mashhad and Qum are dedicated to martyred individuals. Thus, their history could have held potential in presenting the disease as a palpable threat. 

 

Shrine-goers are members of a faith community. Research shows that within cohesive identity groups, prosocial action has higher rates of compliance relative to activities that benefit individuals. The residents of the tombs housed in the Shrines are valued for the lives they lived and their devotions to the greater good. The presentation of prevention measures as actions to protect other Shrine-goers could increase the compliance rate to behaviors such as hand-washing and social distancing.  

 

Shrine-goers are prosocial volunteers. Historically, communities in proximity to the Shrines show great respect and devotion to these holy institutions and the people that visit them. Policy-makers could have enlisted devotees in efforts to reduce contamination and limit the spread of disease. 

 

Shia Rights Watch values prevention measures that limit the spread of COVID-19. We further that implications of actions taken can be managed and foreseen with insight into the values of the community in which they are carried out. 

Although Iranian authorities claimed the goal of the closure of Shrines in the country to be an act of social distancing, the aftereffect of the measure was counterproductive and even destructive to social wellbeing. Shia Rights Watch expresses its support for efforts that progress the health measure while also emphasizing insight into their long and short term social implications. 

 

Battling Coronavirus and Prejudice in Bahrain

Tension over COVID-19 or the Coronavirus disease looms internationally as nations combat the expansion of the disease. Amidst the chaos, reports of discrimination are also prevalent. Ethnicities native to countries with the highest prevalence of the disease report being the target of violence as well as racial slurs. 

In the Gulf region, discrimination against Shia Muslims is a primary concern. Already a marginalized group, Shia in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia fear being scapegoated for the decline in national health and the expansion of the disease in the country. 

While they make up a majority, the Shia of Bahrain live with limited rights. Their religious identity is undermined, and expression is criminalized. They are regarded as second-class citizens in their home nations. 

Today, sentiments of anti-Shiism are endangering the lives of all Bahrainis regardless of their religious identity. 

Shia Rights Watch raises concerns for bias within anti-coronavirus efforts, which may lead to insufficient countering of the disease. The prejudice which places blame for the propagation of the illness on Shia Muslims is unsupported by medical authorities.  

Moreover, sentiments of anti-Shiism degrade national morale and undermine a unified national effort against the disease. 

Many within the nation continuously ridicule Shia and calling them traitors to their Bahraini nationality, regardless of their health status. 

Today, Bahrain is home to 156 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. 

In late February, Dr. Manaf al-Qahtani, an infectious disease consultant and member of the team for countering the disease, rejected accusations that placed Shia Muslims as central transmitters in the spread of Coronavirus to Bahrain. 

He furthered: 

“Neither the virus nor the disease has any relation to a specific race or a particular sect. It is a widespread virus that anyone may catch. We wish no one would nickname the virus by linking it to a specific party or doctrine. The World Health Organization made sure not to name it “China or Wuhan” virus, referring to the city of Wuhan from which the deadly virus originated.”

Within his statement, al-Qahtani pointed to the anti-Shia sentiment that fuels Bahrain’s lacking system for addressing the spread of the disease.  

Thus far, Bahrain has instituted remote medical vans that test residents, especially those who traveled abroad and had returned previous to the travel bans, which now limits entry into the country.  

While the travel ban serves to limit the spread of the contagion to the island-nation, it also complicates international efforts. 

Currently, there are approximately 2100 Bahraini citizens stranded in Iran. The travelers were tourists across the country and visitors of religious shrines in the city of Mashhad. These individuals remain in Iran as all flights out of Iran are canceled. Some note the inability to pay for hotels and even lacking “clean clothes” after unexpected prolonging of their trip via canceled flights. Reports exist which place families with elderly and children in the Mashhad airport for days. 

Despite calls for extradition, much like that of Canadian and American citizens from Wuhan, China, the Bahraini government has failed to make any efforts to address the needs of its citizens abroad. 

Grievances highlighting a complete lack of regard for Shia Bahraini nationals exist. Not only has Bahrain failed to activate flights for those stranded, but Bahraini authorities have also disregarded foreign interventions and refused to cooperate.

The Bahraini Shia are not the only travelers from the Gulf regions in Iran. Both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have nationals in Iran. Counter to Bahrain, however, both of these countries extradited their nationals and set up hotels with complete medical resources to reduce possible transmission. Kuwait even expensed hotels in Iran to house travelers that remain in Iran. Yet, Bahraini authorities refuse to make any efforts to protect its citizens from the coronavirus. 

On Tuesday, March 10, the Foreign Ministry of Iran announced that with the intervention of the nation of Oman, the first group of Bahraini citizens would be traveling home. Extradition came after efforts were made by Kuwaiti citizens to gather funds for those stranded. Shia Rights Watch notes that the delay in extradition increased the risk of exposure for travelers and counters efforts to reduce the spread of the disease. 

Despite recent efforts to bring back Bahraini citizens from Iran, Shia Rights Watch expresses a concern as to how they will be treated within their own nation. 

Travelers who returned to Bahrain previous to the closure of the countries borders report being humiliated at the Bahrain International Airport, where some remain to this day. They are reportedly held in designated areas that functionally failed to meet international disease prevention guidelines. 

Shia Rights Watch calls on the reframing of the coronavirus epidemic in Bahrain such that prevention is highlighted. Moreover, the organization warns against the implications of naming any single group as propagators of the disease. 

Combating the coronavirus is an international effort. All groups must work together to prevent the spread of the disease without the fear of degradation or marginalization. 

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Incidents of Anti-Shiism, February 2020

Anti-Shiism Monthly February

February stood witness to 151 incidents of anti-Shiism. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, and Afghanistan were all nations in which violence against Shia Muslims occurred.

Bahrain

The treatment of Shia Muslims in Bahrain is worrisome. Shia Muslims in the country, while they make up the majority of the nation, face hardships and restrictions in the hands of the dominant minority, which in the past ten years have made the expression of Shiism more difficult. With a change of laws and regulations which challenge rituals inherent to Shiism, Bahrain has effectively criminalized the practice of Shiism. 

Leaders of the communities are summoned and questioned about their sermons and religious interpretations. In early February, Mulla Abdul Zahra Al- Samahiji was called in for questioning. He was then detained for reasons undisclosed by officials. 

As a result of the adoption of new laws, there is a high density of detainees in Bahrain’s prisons. Those in detainment suffer significantly from the refusal of authorities to meet their most basic rights and the use of violence to extract confessions. 

Maltreatment many times follows the detainees well after their imprisonment terms.  

Sayed Kadhem Sayed Abbas Al-Sehlawi passed away in February as the result of negligence in the duration of his detainment. Al-Sehlawi had reported severe pain in his stomach and back. It was two months before authorities transferred him to a hospital. After his release, Al-Sehlawi continued to be treated, but the extent of the damage was too high. 

Medina Ali and Hajer Mansoor, both once detainees, spoke out about the conditions in which they were held while in prison. They stated they were kept in their cells sometimes 24 hours at a time with limited food and water. They were forbidden, like the rest of the inmates, from any religious rituals or even conversation with the other prisoners. 

The two prisoners recounted physical violence, as well. Ali notes that the head of the prison punched her in the back, leaving days-old pain. Mansoor was hospitalized on numerous occasions as a result of the torture endured. In 2018, Mansoor had discovered a lump in her breast, yet was denied access to medical attention for weeks. 

Mansoor’s son-in-law Sayed Ahmed was also detained in 2017- he is yet to be released. 

Saudi Arabia

Arrests and raids were the top forms of direct violence against Shia Muslims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Residents of Awamiyah report raids in their town. Forces blooded neighborhoods, damaging property.  In an attack in late February, eight were arrested, charged, and sentenced for a total of 58 years in detention. 

Among those in detention are numerous minors and detainees being charged with crimes committed before they reached legal age. Muhammad Issa al-Faraj is one of 11 awaiting execution. Al-Faraj’s charges are from his participation in protests before his 10th birthday. 

Nigeria

Approximately 100 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were acquitted in mid-February. Both members and the leadership were absolved of blames in the events that lead to the Zaria massacre in which hundreds of Shia Muslims were killed. 

This was the latest terminal trial in a case in which the Zaria government had sued 200 members of the IMN. 

None-the-less, violence against the Shia of Nigeria continues. In a violent confrontation with protestors, a minor was killed by the hands of Nigerian forces. Police had used live ammunition to disperse those protesting the lack of justice in the case of Shiekh Ibrahim Zakzaky. 

The case of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife remains ongoing and little development. 

Pakistan

A bomb in Quetta killed eight and wounded 22 others. The detonation took place near the Quetta Press Club and lead to extensive property damage. The weapon is said to have aimed to harm protestors of an international conference at the site.

Quetta is dense in Hazara Shia Muslims.  

Egypt

On February 23, the Egyptian Court of Administrative Judiciary ruled the closure of all Shia websites and TV channels. 

Censorship in Egypt is prominent. In 2018, the ratification fo the Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Law allowed officials to censor websites that are considered to threaten national security or economy. The law further allowed for the release of data and the penalization of visitors to the sites. 

The majority of the websites taken down under the law have been new websites or sources of criticism to State systems. 

Sources report the new judgment to be the function of fear of foreign political influence in the country. 

Shiism in Egypt has a long and prosperous history. The most recent censorship of Shia media is a form of religious repression. Shia Muslims in Egypt have long expressed loyalty for their country and have denounced any political associations. 

Iraq

Iraq was home to 13 incidents of violence, which led to the death of 12 and the injury of 32 others. The events occurred in various areas of Baghdad. Some days, parallel explosions happened across the city. Shia Rights Watch notes that many incidents of violence against Shia Muslims in rural areas of Iraq are not reported in fear of retaliatory violence. 

ISIS claimed at least one of the explosions in the month. The others are unclaimed and underinvestigated. 

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, January 2020

Incidents of Anti-Shiism January 2020

Shia Rights Watch continues its commitment to studying trends of anti-Shiism in the year 2020. 

The first month of the new year targeted violence against Shia Muslims remained prevalent and in need of international attention. 

In January 2020, a total of 121 incidents of anti-Shiism were reported in the nations of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. 

Bahrain

Detainment of Clergymen

Mulla AbdulZahraa Al-Samahiji, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Rayash, Mulla Qassim Zainuldin, Sheikh Abdulmohsen Al-Jamri, and Sheikh Ali Rahma were all clerics arrested in January. Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed Al-Jidhafsi, Sheikh Isa Al-Momen, Sheikh Hamza Al-Dairi,  and Sheikh Jassim Al-Haddad were summoned for interrogation by security forces. 

Those summoned noted a lack of clear reason for their appearance. Upon questioning, the clerics were asked to justify their sermons and their delivery of Quranic interpretations. End-of-the session prayers such that for mercy towards martyrs and the safety of the displaced as the result of conflict were also inquired. 

The clerics were detained for over three hours before their interrogations. Shia Rights Watch notes that summonings and short term arrests are tactics used to induce fear in clerics and communicate an awareness of community events. 

Release under Alternative Punishment Law

In January, Bahraini authorities released detainees Mohammad Faraj and Elias al-Mulla were released under the Alternative Punishment Law. 

Mohammad Faraj was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a deteriorative condition in which damage to the central nervous system disrupts communication between the brain and the body. Symptoms of MS, among others, are vision loss, pain, impaired coordination. 

Elias al-Mulla, now 28, was arrested for participation in pro-democracy activism. Al-Mulla was sentenced to 15 years in prison on coerced confessions obtained through prolonged torture. He was diagnosed with stage 3-colon cancer while in detainment. Sources within the Al-Mulla family note the authorities failed to address his initial symptoms early on. They furthered that upon calls for help, he was met with physical violence.

Al-Mulla and Faraj are just two of the many individuals who were diagnosed with cancer while in detainment. Hameed Khatam passed away from stomach cancer late in January. Khatam was diagnosed while in detainment, charged with “insulting the king” on social media. He was denied treatment and upon his release, his cancer had progressed to stage 4. 

The Alternative Punishment Law in Bahrain has become a beacon of hope for some in Bahrain. At the same time, many Bahrainees express concern for implications of the Law and the broad basis for release and assignment to alternative punishment. Moreover, Shia of the country note that this law is not an application of justice, but a shift in response to limited resources in the country. 

Death Penalty

The death penalty was a topic of concern for the Shia communities in Bahrain in January. Mohammad Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa were among a number of detainees facing execution. The death penalty is especially worrisome, given the coercion of confessions from detainees. Sources withing detainment centers and their loved ones report the use of torture and threats in forcing detainees to signed false confessions. Moreover, detainees are not allowed sufficient due process during their trials. Death sentences in Bahrain are an outright questioning of dignity and human rights. 

Saudi Arabia 

The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is still home to the highest prevalence of violence in the hands of government authorities. Early in January, Mohammad Hussain al-Ammar was arrested after a raid. Raids remain the most prominent form of direct violence in the nation. Homes are entered illegally, and individuals are taken with force. Rarely are their families offered any information on charges or whereabouts of their loved ones. 

The lack of communication by authorities stands true for the arbitrary summonings. Shiekh Ali Rahma was among those summoned for questioning without the presence of sufficient documentation or justification. 

Upon injury and death, families of victims report a refusal by authorities to give access to the bodies of deceased inmates. Residents speculate the refusal to grant access to bodies is a means of concealing evidence of torture. 

None-the-less, Shia of Saudi Arabia rally against injustice. In late January, residents of Qatif gathered in the thousands to mourn the death of young men killed by authorities. 

Iraq

Iraq was home to the highest body counts among countries with incidents of Anti-Shiism. With over 30 total acts of violence against Shia Muslims, 20 individuals were killed, and 16 others were injured. 

Incidents of violence in Iraq are individual assasinations. The detonation of explosions is the leading form of violence leading to injury; 7 different bomb detonations were reported to Shia Rights Watch. 

Syria

In an incident in late January, two gunmen targeted the Sayeda Ruqaya shrine in Damascus, killing one and causing property damage. The shrine is a religious site that hosts the tomb of Ruqaya, the three-year-old daughter of Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was martyred in Karbala, Iraq. Ruqaya is said to have died en-route as the caravan of Hussain’s family was paraded in Arabia after his death. 

The gunmen remain unidentified. 

The incident is not the first of its kind. Sources within Syria report targeted attacks against Shia religious sites, many positing that the attacks are eased by lacking security resources amidst turmoil in the country. 

Afghanistan

Early in the month, a roadside bomb in Mazaresharif killed one and injured three others. Located in northern Afghanistan, Mazaresharif is the countries fourth-largest city.  The term “Mazaresharif” translates to “Tomb of the Prince” and is in reference to a mosque in the city center believed by locals to house the body Ali, a notable Shia Imam. The mosque is also called the Blue Mosque in recognition of blue tiles that decorate the building. 

In August of 1998, the city was home to the most violent massacre of civilians by the Taliban in the countries twenty-year war. Within days, Taliban forces sought out and killed male  Shia Hazara, Tajik, and Uzbeks while kidnapping and raping their female counterparts. The exact number of victims from the massacre remains unknown. 

Nigeria

On the 23rd of the month, Nigerian forces used tear gas and firearms on demonstrators who took to the streets, calling for the release of Shiekh Ibraheem Zakzaky. One person was killed, and another was severely injured. 

In 2019, the Nigerian government outlawed the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, which was lead by Sheikh Zakzaky. Zakzaky himself remains in detainment.  

Pakistan

In a detonation targeting the Shia of Pakistan, 35 were injured and 10 were killed. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives vest targeting a religious school in Quetta.

Quetta is home to Pakistan’s densest population of Hazara Shia Muslims. The Hazara are ethnic Shia who exist as diaspora fleeing Anti-Shiism in Afghanistan.

 

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