Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State explained

Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State
Location: Afghanistan
Iraq
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman[1]
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
[2]
Yemen
Target:Shia Muslims
Date:June 2014 – present
Type:Religious persecution, mass murder, prison shootings, mass rape, terrorism, ethnic cleansing
Victim:-->
Susperp:-->
Numpart:-->
Dfens: Iraq


Motive:Anti-Shia sentiment
Salafi jihadist extremism

Shia Muslims have been persecuted by the Islamic State (IS), an Islamic extremist group, since 2014. Persecutions have taken place in Iraq, Syria, and other parts of the world.

Despite being the religious majority in Iraq, Shia Muslims have been killed and otherwise persecuted by IS, which is Sunni. On 12 June 2014, the Islamic State killed 1,700 unarmed Shia Iraqi Army cadet recruits in the Camp Speicher massacre.[3] [4] [5] IS has also targeted Shia prisoners.[6] According to witnesses, after the militant group took the city of Mosul, they divided the Sunni prisoners from the Shia prisoners. Up to 670[7] Shia prisoners were then taken to another location and executed. Kurdish officials in Erbil reported on the incident of Sunni and Shia prisoners being separated and Shia prisoners being killed after the Mosul prison fell to IS.

IS also targeted Christians and Yazidis in northern Iraq on a "historic scale", putting entire communities "at risk of being wiped off the map of Iraq". In a special report released on 2 September 2014, Amnesty International described how IS had "systematically targeted non-Sunni Muslim communities, killing or abducting hundreds, possibly thousands, of individuals and forcing more than tens of thousands of Shias, Sunnis, along with other minorities to flee the areas it has captured since 10 June 2014". The most targeted Shia groups in Nineveh Governorate were Shia Turkmens and Shabaks.[8]

The fall of Mosul

In summer 2014, Shia properties in Mosul and other IS-held areas were painted with the letter (ر) (rā) for Rafidah, a derogatory term for Shias used by Sunni Muslims. Houses and shops owned by Shias were confiscated by IS and given to local IS supporters or IS foreign fighters.[9] Thousands of Shia Shabaks and Turkmen fled the cities of Mosul, Tal Afar, and the rest of Nineveh Governorate to safer Shia-majority areas further south.

Attacks against Shias in Bashir

Thousands of Shias from villages in Salahudin and Kirkuk governorates fled to neighbouring villages in Kirkuk after three Shia villages were attacked by ISIL and at least 40 civilians including children were killed near the town of Bashir.[9] [10]

Destruction of Shia shrines and places of worship

The Islamic State views Shia Muslims as polytheists and heretics. Therefore, it started a campaign to destroy all Shia shrines, mosques and places of worship in Nineveh and all IS-held areas. Reports stated that at least 10 Shia shrines and hussiniyas including historical ones in Mosul and Tal Afar were demolished or blown up by IS during this campaign. On March 26, 2014, IS blew up the Shia shrine of the companion of Muhammad, Uwais al-Qarni.[11] In July 2016, IS attacked a Shia shrine during the Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi Mausoleum attack, killing anywhere from 56 to at least 100 people.

Genocide claims

On 17 March 2016, United States Secretary of State John Kerry declared that the violence initiated by IS against Shia Muslims and others in Iraq and Syria amounted to genocide.[12] [13] He said:

"In my judgment, Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control including Yazidis, Christians and Shia Muslims" – John Kerry

Kerry's statement came the same week the US House voted 383–0 in favor of classifying the atrocities committed by the Islamic State as a genocide against certain ethnic and religious minorities in its territories.[12] [13] [14]

List of Islamic State attacks on Shias

Afghanistan

The Islamic State – Khorasan Province has committed bombing attacks against Hazara Shia civilians in Afghanistan.[15] [16]

Iran

Iraq

Kuwait

Lebanon

Oman

Pakistan

Islamic State has started to conduct operations in Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Yemen

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 16 July 2024 . IS Takes Credit for Attack in Oman . SITE.
  2. News: John Kerry: ISIS responsible for genocide. CNN. March 17, 2016. March 17, 2016. Elise Labott. Tal Kopan.
  3. News: Terrifying execution images in Iraq; U.S. Embassy in Baghdad relocates some staff . CNN. 2015-12-22.
  4. Web site: Iraqi court sentences 24 to death over Speicher massacre. Middle East Monitor . 6 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150802184916/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/19749-iraqi-court-sentences-24-to-death-over-speicher-massacre. 2 August 2015. dead.
  5. Web site: احصائية رسمية: 1997 العدد الكلي لمفقودي مجزرتي سبايكر وبادوش. Rudaw. 6 August 2015.
  6. News: Isis accused of ethnic cleansing as story of Shia prison massacre emerges. the Guardian. 2015-12-22. Luke. Harding. Fazel Hawramy in. Irbil. 25 August 2014.
  7. News: U.N. accuses Islamic State of mass killings. Reuters. August 25, 2014.
  8. Web site: Iraq crisis: Islamic State accused of ethnic cleansing . 2 September 2014 . BBC News . 25 September 2014.
  9. Web site: Iraq: ISIS Abducting, Killing, Expelling Minorities. 19 July 2014. Human Rights Watch. 26 March 2016.
  10. News: Shiite villagers describe 'massacre' in northern Iraq. Abigail Hauslohner. 23 June 2014. Washington Post. 26 March 2016.
  11. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-shrine-idUSBREA2P19I20140326 "Islamists bomb Shi'ite shrine in eastern Syria: activists"
  12. Web site: Remarks on Daesh and Genocide. U.S. Department of State. 26 March 2016.
  13. Web site: John Kerry: Isis is committing genocide in Syria and Iraq. Holpuch. Amanda. 17 March 2016. The Guardian. 26 March 2016.
  14. Web site: John Kerry says ISIS is committing genocide against religious minorities. Westcott. Lucy. March 17, 2016. Newsweek.
  15. Web site: Afghanistan: Scores killed in Kabul wedding blast. www.aljazeera.com.
  16. Web site: 2022-03-05 . Death toll climbs to 63 in deadly Pakistan IS mosque attack . 2022-03-10 . AP NEWS . en.
  17. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/2/24/thirty-shia-muslims-kidnapped-in-afghanistan Thirty Shia Muslims kidnapped in Afghanistan,24 Feb 2015
  18. News: Isis claims responsibility for Kabul bomb attack on Hazara protesters. Sune Engel. Rasmussen. The Observer . July 24, 2016. The Guardian.
  19. News: Kabul shrine attack kills Shia Muslims during Ashura. BBC News . October 11, 2016.
  20. https://www./en/latest/news/2016/11/afghanistan-attack-on-shia-mosque-is-a-horrific-crime/ Afghanistan: Attack on Shi’a mosque is a horrific crime, November 21, 2016, Amnesty
  21. Web site: ISIS claims suicide attack at mosque in Afghan capital. Ehsan Popalzai, James. Masters. August 25, 2017. CNN.
  22. Web site: 30 dead as suicide bomber hits Shi'ite mosque during prayer. Ameh Comrade. Godwin. October 20, 2017.
  23. http://Afghanistan:%20Dozens%20Killed%20in%20Shia%20Cultural%20Center%20Bombing Tripwire
  24. Web site: ISIS suicide bombing in Kabul kills dozens. Ehsan Popalzai, Euan McKirdy, Angela. Dewan. December 28, 2017. CNN.
  25. "No Safe Place". May 8, 2018. Human Rights Watch.
  26. [Pamela Constable]
  27. "Officials say gunmen kill 32 at ceremony in Afghan capital", KSTP, March 6, 2020, Retrieved April 26, 2022
  28. Web site: Dasht-e-Barchi: an attack on Hazara mothers | MSF. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International.
  29. Web site: Latest: At Least 30 Killed in Saturday's Blast in Western Kabul. TOLOnews.
  30. Web site: At least 50 killed and over 100 wounded in blast near Kabul girls' school. Jennifer. Hauser. May 8, 2021. CNN.
  31. Web site: 25 killed in blast near Afghan school: officials. The New Arab Staff &. Agencies. May 8, 2021. www.newarab.com/.
  32. Web site: Afghanistan: Surge in Islamic State Attacks on Shia. October 25, 2021.
  33. Web site: Afghanistan: Deadly explosion hits mainly Shia suburb of Kabul. www.aljazeera.com.
  34. Web site: Minibus hit by blast in Afghan capital Kabul, 2 killed. www.aljazeera.com.
  35. https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/death-toll-in-afghan-mosque-bombing-rises-to-33-taliban-say-1.5872095 "Death toll in Afghan mosque bombing rises to 33, Taliban say"
  36. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/28/blasts-on-two-vehicles-in-northern-afghanistan-kills-at-least-9 "Twin blasts kill at least nine in northern Afghanistan"
  37. News: FAIZI . FAZEL RAHMAN . 3 October 2022 . Death toll in last week’s Kabul school blast climbs to 52 . AP . 6 June 2023.
  38. News: Suicide bomber targets Kabul education center, killing 19 . 6 June 2023 . PBS News Hour . 30 September 2022.
  39. Web site: Stanikzai . Mujeeb Rahman Awrang . Suicide Attack Targets Worshipers in Pol-e-Khomri, Death Toll 7, 17 Injured . tolonews.com . Tolo News . 14 October 2023.
  40. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/26/attack-on-shiraz-shrine-kills-15-iranian-state-media "Attack on Shiraz shrine kills 15: Iranian state media"
  41. https://web.archive.org/web/20150802184916/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/19749-iraqi-court-sentences-24-to-death-over-speicher-massacre "Iraqi court sentences 24 to death over Speicher massacre".
  42. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/shiite-villagers-describe-massacre-in-northern-iraq/2014/06/23/278b0fb2-76c8-4796-83f7-840c277e93d8_story.html "Shiite villagers describe ‘massacre’ in northern Iraq"
  43. https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/19/iraq-isis-abducting-killing-expelling-minorities# "Iraq: ISIS Abducting, Killing, Expelling Minorities"
  44. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-violence-idUSKCN0QI0DE20150813 "Islamic State claims huge truck bomb attack in Baghdad's Sadr City"
  45. Web site: Rare IS group bombings in southern Iraq kill 33. www.yahoo.com.
  46. Web site: Iraq's Turmoil. Krishnadev. Calamur. May 2, 2016. The Atlantic.
  47. Web site: Death toll from Baghdad blast rises to more than 281. Al Jazeera.
  48. Web site: At least 125 dead in Baghdad bombings as Isis claim responsibility. July 3, 2016. The Independent.
  49. News: Iraq shrine attack: IS kills dozens in Balad. BBC News . July 8, 2016.
  50. Web site: Deadly Baghdad suicide bombing targets Shia area. Al Jazeera.
  51. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/20/middleeast/isis-claims-responsibility-iraq-blast-intl-hnk/index.html "ISIS claims responsibility for Iraq suicide attack that left dozens dead"
  52. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-islamic-state-attacks-badr/2021/11/11/08518c9c-3ca8-11ec-bd6f-da376f47304e_story.html "An ISIS attack in Iraq provokes conflict between neighbors, stirring sectarian violence"
  53. Web site: Kuwait mosque bombed during Ramadan Friday prayers just a couple of hours after France attack. June 26, 2015. The Independent.
  54. News: Beirut suicide car bomb: Lebanon's capital shaken. BBC News . June 23, 2014.
  55. News: Beirut attacks: Suicide bombers kill dozens in Shia suburb. BBC News . November 12, 2015.
  56. Web site: Lebanon thwarts three attacks by ISIS-linked militants. February 23, 2022. Al Arabiya English.
  57. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32717321 "Gunmen kill at least 40 in Karachi attack"
  58. Web site: Gunmen kill many Hazara Shia coal miners in southwest Pakistan. Al Jazeera.
  59. Web site: ISIS claims responsibility for blast killing dozens at Shia mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar. Sophia Saifi, Saleem. Mehsud. March 4, 2022. CNN.
  60. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32843510 "Saudi Arabia attack: Islamic State claims Shia mosque bombing"
  61. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/2/1/dozens-killed-in-blasts-near-damascus-shrine "Dozens killed in blasts near Damascus shrine"
  62. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/damascus-blasts-least-45-dead-110-wounded-bombings-near-sayeda-n507976 "Damascus Blasts: At Least 60 Dead in Bombings Near Sayeda Zeinab Shrine
  63. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-blast-shiite-idUSKCN0V90E1 "Syria opposition considers U.N. offer after "positive" talks"
  64. https://news.yahoo.com/double-bomb-attack-kills-14-syrias-homs-075829593.html "IS blasts kill more than 150 as US, Russia press Syria truce"
  65. https://www..com/en/44405/ "Nearly 200 people killed in six explosions at Sayeda Zeinab and Zahraa"
  66. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/3/21/scores-killed-in-suicide-attacks-on-yemen-mosques "Scores killed in suicide attacks on Yemen mosques"