Rights Group Condemns Reported Assault on Hussaini Procession in Sayyida Zainab, Syria

Rights Group Condemns Reported Assault on Hussaini Procession in Sayyida Zainab, Syria
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The Documentation Center for Human Rights Violations against Shia in Syria strongly condemned what it described as an assault by members of the so-called “General Security” on a Hussaini service procession in the town of Sayyida Zainab, south of Damascus. The incident occurred during commemorations of Arbaeen, the 40th day marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him).

According to the center’s statement, a group of young volunteers had set up a mourning tent near the Martyrs’ Cemetery and distributed water and juice to pilgrims as part of the religious observance. The statement says that security personnel on motorbikes attacked the volunteers, physically assaulted them, spilled the prepared drinks, and forcibly shut down the procession “in a degrading and aggressive manner.”

The center denounced the incident as a violation of religious freedom and the right to practice faith-based rituals. It directly held the Syrian government, along with senior officials including the prime minister, interior minister, and defense minister, responsible for the actions of the security forces.

Calling on the United Nations, international organizations, and human rights bodies, the group urged pressure on Syrian authorities to prevent further incidents and to ensure that the rights of Shia Muslims to observe their rituals are respected under both Syrian law and international conventions.