Global Shia protests mark Baqi demolition anniversary, call for shrine reconstruction
Shia communities across the world held large-scale commemorations and protests to mark the anniversary of the 1925 demolition of the sacred graves of revered Imams in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina. The destruction, carried out by Wahhabi forces nearly a century ago, remains a painful chapter in Islamic history, stirring annual grief among Shiite Muslims who view the site as one of their holiest. This year’s anniversary, observed on the 8th of Shawwal, witnessed renewed calls for the reconstruction of the shrines and the preservation of Islamic heritage.
Events were held in several countries including India, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran. In India, major gatherings took place in Lucknow and Mumbai, where participants organized religious conferences and mourning processions. Protesters labeled the day as “Black Day” and urged international bodies to pressure Saudi Arabia to allow the rebuilding of the destroyed shrines. A delegation in Lucknow also submitted a letter to Indian Prime Minister, appealing for diplomatic intervention.
In Pakistan, mass rallies were held in cities such as Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Hyderabad. Demonstrators carried symbolic replicas of the demolished graves and banners demanding justice. Shiite clerics criticized the continued neglect of Baqi and urged the Pakistani government to raise the matter through diplomatic channels.
In Iraq, a unified mourning procession took place in Holy Karbala, organized in coordination with the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas. Religious figures used the occasion to emphasize devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt and renew demands for shrine reconstruction. In Iran, Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Sadiq al-Shirazi led commemorations from his residence in Holy Qom. He reiterated his longstanding call for the restoration of the holy site and urged the Muslim world to take a firm stand.
Online, a coordinated global campaign also gained traction, with Shia activists using social media to amplify demands for the protection and rebuilding of the graves. These campaigns echo the directive of Grand Ayatollah al-Shirazi, who has condemned the demolitions as a violation of Islamic sanctity.
Jannat al-Baqi is the burial site of four Shiite Imams—Hasan al-Mujtaba, Zain al-Abidin, Muhammad al-Baqir, and Ja’far al-Sadiq—as well as other prominent Islamic figures.
