SRW releases its March 2025 Report, Highlighting Widespread Violence and Discrimination Against Shia Muslims
The report outlines targeted attacks by extremist groups and state-sponsored repression, emphasizing the urgent need for international attention to these human rights violations.
In Pakistan, significant incidents included a prolonged siege in Parachinar, leading to severe shortages of essentials, and the assassination of religious figures. Notably, on March 20, an attack on a mourning procession in Jhandraka resulted in multiple casualties. In a shocking event on March 26, armed terrorists executed several religious leaders in Kalmat.
Bahrain’s authorities continued to suppress Shia congregational prayers, surrounding Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque for 26 consecutive weeks, effectively denying Shia Muslims their right to worship.
In Lebanon, violence escalated with airstrikes and attacks by extremist groups, resulting in numerous deaths, including five individuals killed in the Bekaa region on March 17. Additionally, Israeli airstrikes targeted civilian areas, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Nigeria witnessed a tragic incident on March 31 when the army opened fire on a peaceful Shia procession, leading to multiple casualties.
Syria faced unprecedented levels of violence, with reports of mass killings, forced displacements, and ethnic cleansing campaigns targeting Shia communities. The SRW reported over 7,000 Shia civilians killed in just five days due to ongoing massacres. Disturbing footage showed Takfiri groups executing civilians and dumping bodies into the sea, highlighting the brutal nature of these attacks.
In Saudi Arabia, authorities arrested individuals for expressing their Shia beliefs, including a Pakistani pilgrim detained for reciting a supplication and an Iraqi woman arrested for a video praying near the Kaaba.
The SRW’s findings underscore the urgent need for global awareness and intervention to protect Shia populations from escalating violence and discrimination.
