Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State
Genocide of Shias by IS | |
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Location | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | June 2014 – Present |
Target | Shia Muslims |
Deaths | Tens of thousands[citation needed] |
Perpetrators | ![]() |
Defenders | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Motive | Anti-Shia sentiment Wahhabi-Salafi extremism |
The persecution of Shia Muslims by the Islamic State refers to the persecution of Shia Muslims by the Islamic extremist group Islamic State (IS), which took place in Iraq, Syria, and other areas across 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, ISIL killed 1,700 unarmed Shia Iraqi Army cadet recruits in the Camp Speicher massacre.[2][3][4] ISIL has also targeted Shia prisoners.[5] According to witnesses, after the militant group took the city of Mosul, they divided the Sunni prisoners from the Shia prisoners.[5] Up to 670[6] Shia prisoners were then taken to another location and executed.[5] 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 ISIL.[5]
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 ISIL 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 Shabak people.[7]
The fall of Mosul[edit]
In summer 2014, Shia properties in Mosul and other ISIL-held areas were painted with the letter ⟨ر⟩ (resh) for Rafidah, a derogatory term for Shias used by Sunni Muslims. Houses and shops owned by Shias were confiscated by ISIL and given to local ISIL supporters or ISIL foreign fighters.[8] 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.[7]
Attacks against Shias in Bashir[edit]
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.[8][9]
Destruction of Shia shrines and places of worship[edit]
ISIL 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 ISIL-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 ISIL during this campaign.[citation needed] On March 26, 2014, ISIS blew up the Shia shrine of the companion of Muhammad, Uwais al-Qarni[10].In July 2016, ISIL attacked a Shia shrine during the Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi Mausoleum attack, killing anywhere from 56 to at least 100 people.
Genocide claims[edit]
On 17 March 2016, United States Secretary of State John Kerry declared that the violence initiated by ISIL against Shia Muslims and others in Iraq and Syria amounted to genocide.[11][12] 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 ISIL as a genocide against certain ethnic and religious minorities in its territories.[11][12][13]
List of Islamic State attacks on Shias[edit]
Afghanistan[edit]
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan Province has committed bombing attacks against Hazara Shia civilians in Afghanistan.[14][15]
- On February 24, 2015, 30 Shia men were kidnapped between Kabul and Kandahar [16]
- On July 24, 2016, a suicide bombing occurred killing 80 Shias and 231 injured in Kabul during a protest.[17]
- On October 11, 2016, in Kart-e Sakhi, Kabul, 14 Shias were killed by a suicide bombing.[18]
- On November 21, 2016, a suicide bombing occurred killing 32 and injuring over 80 Shias at the Shia Baqir-ul Ulum Mosque, Kabul.[19]
- On August 1, 2017, in Jadwadia, Herat, Afghanistan a bombing occurred killing 33 deaths and leaving 66 people injured.
- On August 25, 2017, in Imam Zaman Shia Mosque, Dasht-e Barchi, Kabul 35 were killed and 65 were injured by a suicide bombing.[20]
- On October 20, 2017, in Imam Zaman Shia Mosque, Khair Khana, Kabul 69 were killed and 77 were injured by a suicide bombing.[21]
- On December 28, 2017, in Shia Tabayan cultural center, Kabul 42 were killed and 69 were injured by a suicide bombing.[22][23]
- On March 21, 2018, in Kart-e Sakhi, Kabul, 33 were killed and 65 were injured by a suicide bombing.[24]
- On August 18, 2019, a bombing happened at a shia wedding killing 63 and 180 wounded.[25]
- On March 6, 2020, an ISIS gunmen killed 32 and wounded 81 in the Dasht-e-Barchi area during a ceremoney [26]
- On May 12, 2020, Shia Hazara's were attacked by bombing Dasht-e-Barchi hospital killing 24 people and injuring an unknown amount of people.[27]
- On October 25, 2020, a bombing occurred in the Shia Dasht-E-Brachi district killing 30 people and wounding over 70.[28]
- On May 8, 2021, an attack happened at the Dasht-e-Barachi district, near the Shia Sayeed-ul-Shuhada Girls School killing 50 people have wounding more than 100.[29][30]
- On October 8, 2021, Shia Muslims were attacked at Sayed Abad Mosque, Kunduz leading to 72 dead and 140 injured.
- On October 15, 2021, a bombing occurred in the Bibi Fatima Mosque, Kandahar killing 63 Shias and 83 injured.[31]
- On November 13, 2021, a bombing occurred in a Shia dominated suburb leading 1 death and 4 injured.[32]
- On December 10, 2021, a bombing occurred in the Dasht-e-Barchi district in Kabul leading to two Shias dead and four injured. [33]
- On April 21, 2022, four bombings occurred all over Afghanistan, one of the bombings was claimed by ISIS. It was the bombing north of Mazar-e-Sharif, at a Shia mosque. 33 have died and 43 have been wounded. [34]
- On April 28, 2022, A bombing happened near the Shia shrine, Mazar-i-Sharif killing nine people and wounding 13.[35]
Iraq[edit]
- On June 12, 2014, in Tikrit, ISIS forces targeted Shia and non-Muslims for killings. The death toll led to 1,095 to 1,700 deaths. This event has been labeled as the Camp Speicher massacre and is considered the second deadliest act of terror. The number of deaths exceeded the death toll of 9/11.[36]
- On June 16, 2014, near the city of Kirkuk, 40 Shia Turkmen were killed by ISIS[37][38]
- On August 13, 2015, a large bombing occurred in a food market in Sadr City in a Shia neighborhood, this bombing led to 76 people being killed and 212 wounded.[39]
- On May 1, 2016, Two suicide car bombs in the city of Samawa in a heavily Shia populated area went off killing 33 Shias and wounding 75.[40]
- On May 2, 2016, ISIS did a bombing in Baghdad killing 18 Shia pilgrims.[41]
- On Jul 3, 2016, ISIS did a car bombing on a Shia neighborhood near the end of Ramadan wounding over 300, the death toll has been confirmed to be 281.[42][43]
- On July 7, 2016, the Shia shrine of Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi was attacked by a bombing killing 292.[44]
- On July 24, 2016, ISIS did a suicide bombing in Kadhimiya killing 14 Shias and wounding 31 people.[45]
- On July 20, 2021, ISIS did a bombing in a Shia neighborhood on the east side of Baghdad, the bombing resulted in 30 people dead and wounding 50.[46]
- On October 27, 2021, in Al-Rashad, Diyala an ISIS gunman shot nine men in a majority Shia populated village leading to sectarian conflict in the area.[47]
Kuwait[edit]
- On 26 June, 2015, ISIS did a bombing on the al-Imam as-Sadiq Mosque during Friday prayer killing over 25 worshippers and wounding 179. [48]
Lebanon[edit]
- On June 24, 2014, A bombing occurred in a Shia suburb wounding 12 people.[49]
- On November 12, 2015, A car bombing happened outside of a shia mosque in Beirut killing over 37 and wounding 181. [50]
- In February 2022, An ISIS attack on multiple different Shia populated attacks was prevented by the ISF.[51]
Pakistan[edit]
ISIS has started to conduct operations in Pakistan.
- On May 13, 2015, a group of ISIS-linked gunmen attacked a bus killing 46 Shia Muslims. [52]
- On January 3, 2021, an ISIS fighter shot down 11 Shia coal miners.[53]
- On March 4, 2022, a bombing occurred in a Shia mosque in Peshawar during Friday prayer killing 61 Shias and injuring 196.[54]
Saudia Arabia[edit]
- On May 22, 2015, ISIS conducted a suicide bombing at the Shia Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh during Friday prayer, killing 21 and injuring 80.[55]
Syria[edit]
- On February 2015, A bombing occurred near the shrine at a checkpoint, two suicide bombings killed four people and wounded 13.[56]
- On January 31, 2016, a car bomb and two suicide bombers attacked a district in Damascus near a Shia holy site 60 people died (including 25 Shia fighters) and wounded around 110 people. ISIS claimed the attack later on.[57][58]
- On February 21, 2016, a number of bombings occurred in front of the Syeda Zainab Shirne leading to 198 people dying and 178 wounded, including children.[59][60]
Yemen[edit]
- On March 20, 2015, multiple shia mosques were bombed in multiple locations in Sanaa, the casualties were 142 dead and 351 wounded. [61]
See also[edit]
- Genocide of Yazidis by ISIL
- Persecution of Christians by ISIL
- Syrian Civil War spillover in Iraq
- Camp Speicher massacre
- Badush prison massacre
- 2016 Karrada bombing
- Collaboration with ISIL
References[edit]
- ^ Elise Labott; Tal Kopan (March 17, 2016). "John Kerry: ISIS responsible for genocide". CNN. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
- ^ "Terrifying execution images in Iraq; U.S. Embassy in Baghdad relocates some staff". CNN. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
- ^ "Iraqi court sentences 24 to death over Speicher massacre". Middle East Monitor – The Latest from the Middle East. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "احصائية رسمية: 1997 العدد الكلي لمفقودي مجزرتي سبايكر وبادوش". Rudaw. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d Harding, Luke; Irbil, Fazel Hawramy in (25 August 2014). "Isis accused of ethnic cleansing as story of Shia prison massacre emerges". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
- ^ "U.N. accuses Islamic State of mass killings". Reuters. August 25, 2014 – via uk.reuters.com.
- ^ a b "Iraq crisis: Islamic State accused of ethnic cleansing". BBC News. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Iraq: ISIS Abducting, Killing, Expelling Minorities". Human Rights Watch. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ^ Abigail Hauslohner (23 June 2014). "Shiite villagers describe 'massacre' in northern Iraq". Washington Post. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ^ "Islamists bomb Shi'ite shrine in eastern Syria: activists". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-04-13
- ^ a b "Remarks on Daesh and Genocide". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ^ a b Holpuch, Amanda (17 March 2016). "John Kerry: Isis is committing genocide in Syria and Iraq". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ^ Westcott, Lucy (March 17, 2016). "John Kerry says ISIS is committing genocide against religious minorities". Newsweek.
- ^ "Afghanistan: Scores killed in Kabul wedding blast". www.aljazeera.com.
- ^ "Death toll climbs to 63 in deadly Pakistan IS mosque attack". AP NEWS. 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ Thirty Shia Muslims kidnapped in Afghanistan,24 Feb 2015,
- ^ Isis claims responsibility for Kabul bomb attack on Hazara protesters, Guardian
- ^ Kabul shrine attack kills Shia Muslims during Ashura,11 October 2016,BBC
- ^ Afghanistan: Attack on Shi’a mosque is a horrific crime, November 21, 2016, Amnesty
- ^ ISIS claims suicide attack at a mosque in the Afghan capital, August 25, 2017, Ehsan Popalzai and James Masters
- ^ 30 dead as suicide bomber hits Shi‘ite mosque during prayer, October 20, 2017, Ameh Comrade Godwin
- ^ Tripwire
- ^ ISIS suicide bombing in Kabul kills dozens, December 28, 2017, Ehsan Popalzai, Euan McKirdy and Angela Dewan
- ^ “No Safe Place”,May 8, 2018, Human Rights Watch
- ^ Islamic State claims suicide attack on Kabul wedding that killed 63, Pamela Constable,Sharif Hassan,August 18, 2019
- ^ "Officials say gunmen kill 32 at ceremony in Afghan capital",KSTP,March 6, 2020,Retrieved April 26,2022
- ^ Dasht-e-Barchi: an attack on Hazara mothers, Francesco Segno,MSF
- ^ Latest: At Least 30 Killed in Saturday's Blast in Western Kabul,25 OCTOBER 2020,Tolonews
- ^ At least 50 killed and over 100 wounded in blast near Kabul girls' school,Sun May 9, 2021,Jennifer Hauser, CNN
- ^ 25 killed, 52 wounded in blast near Afghan school: officials, TheNewArab
- ^ Human Rights Watch
- ^ Afghanistan: Deadly explosion hits mainly Shia suburb of Kabul,2021, AlJezeera
- ^ [Deadly blasts hit Afghan capital Kabul,10 Dec 2021]
- ^ "Death toll in Afghan mosque bombing rises to 33, Taliban say",CTV News,April 22,2022,Retrieved April 25,2022
- ^ "Twin blasts kill at least nine in northern Afghanistan", Aljazeera,April 28,2022, Retrieved April 29, 2022
- ^ "Iraqi court sentences 24 to death over Speicher massacre". Middle East Monitor. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "Shiite villagers describe ‘massacre’ in northern Iraq"Washingtonpost, June 23, 2014.Retrieved April 19, 2022
- ^ "Iraq: ISIS Abducting, Killing, Expelling Minorities", Human Rights Watch, July 19, 2014.Retrieved April 19, 2022
- ^ "Islamic State claims huge truck bomb attack in Baghdad's Sadr City". Reuters. Retrieved Aprul 15,2022.
- ^ Rare IS group bombings in southern Iraq kill 33,May 1, 2016
- ^ Iraq’s Unrest,May 2, 2016,Krishnadev Calamur
- ^ Death toll from Baghdad blast rises to more than 281,7 Jul 2016, AlJazeera
- ^ Baghdad attacks: Isis claims responsibility after at least 125 die in bombings, Sunday 03 July 2016 08:43, independent
- ^ Iraq shrine attack: IS kills dozens in Balad,8 July 2016,BBC
- ^ Deadly Baghdad suicide bombing targets Shia area,24 Jul 2016, AlJazeera
- ^ "ISIS claims responsibility for Iraq suicide attack that left dozens dead" CNN, July 20, 2021.Retrieved April 16, 2022
- ^ "An ISIS attack in Iraq provokes conflict between neighbors, stirring sectarian violence", Washingtonpost, July 20, 2021.Retrieved April 18, 2022
- ^ Kuwait mosque explosion: 'Isis' bombs Shia Muslims during Ramadan Friday prayers,Friday 26 June 2015 22:02, independent
- ^ Beirut suicide car bomb: Lebanon's capital shaken,24 June 2014,BBC
- ^ Beirut attacks: Suicide bombers kill dozens in Shia suburb,12 November 2015,BBC
- ^ Lebanon thwarts three attacks by ISIS-linked militants,23 February 2022, Alarabiya news
- ^ "Gunmen kill at least 40 in Karachi attack". BBC News. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ Gunmen kill many Hazara Shia coal miners in southwest Pakistan,3 Jan 2021, AlJazeera
- ^ ISIS claims responsibility for blast killing dozens at Shia mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar, Sophia Saifi, Saleem Mehsud, CNN
- ^ "Saudi Arabia attack: Islamic State claims Shia mosque bombing",22 May 2015,BBC
- ^ "Dozens killed in blasts near Damascus shrine",1 Feb 2016,AlJazeera,Retrieved April 27,2022
- ^ "Damascus Blasts: At Least 60 Dead in Bombings Near Sayeda Zeinab Shrine", NBCnews, Jan. 31, 2016, Retrieved April 27, 2022,
- ^ "Syria opposition considers U.N. offer after "positive" talks",Reuters, January 31,2016, Retrieved April 27,2022
- ^ "IS blasts kill more than 150 as US, Russia press Syria truce",YahooNews, February 21, 2016,Retrieved April 27,2022
- ^ "Nearly 200 people killed in six explosions at Sayeda Zeinab and Zahraa",SyriaHR,Feb 23, 2016,Retrieved April 27,2022
- ^ "Scores killed in suicide attacks on Yemen mosques" AlJazeera. 21 Mar 2015, Retrieved April 13, 2022
- 2014 establishments in Iraq
- 2017 disestablishments in Iraq
- 2010s in Islam
- Violence against Shia Muslims
- Ethnic cleansing by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
- Forced migration
- Shia Islam in Iraq
- Shia Islam in Syria
- Persecution by ISIL
- Terrorism in Iraq
- Terrorism in Syria
- Terrorism in the Middle East
- People killed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
- Genocides in Asia
- Racism in the Arab world
- 21st-century mass murder