From Iraq, an Intimate Glimpse of the Religious Holiday of Arbaeen

The World Through a Lens Every year, millions of pilgrims descend on the central Iraqi city of Karbala to commemorate the Shiite holiday of Arbaeen, one of the largest organized gatherings in the world. Credit…

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Sectarianism in Pakistan: State, Society, and Regional Geopolitics. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

With recent developments in Pakistan highlighting the dangers of sectarian violence and the potential for greater social cleavages emerging, this panel discussion will focus on the history and contemporary challenges facing Pakistan regarding sectarianism. Panelists will discuss the complex dynamics between Pakistani state and society, the diversity of cultural, ethnic, and religious identities and movements, and regional geopolitical and security dynamics which impact the country.

Why are anti-Shia sentiments on the rise in Pakistan? | The Express Tribune

Between 2001 and 2018, approximately 4847 Shias were killed in incidents of sectarian violence. Some databases estimate over 10,000 innocent lives were lost during this time. The statistics are evidence of the blatant disregard for Shia lives, the complacency of State institutions and their failure to protect minorities.

See also The Diplomat.

The Growing Influence of Salafism in Muslim Mindanao | Insurgencies | Types of Conflict | IPAC

Marawi Muslims rallied against the 2016 shooting of a Saudi cleric in Zamboanga. The Growing Influence of Salafism in Muslim Mindanao (Jakarta, 8 January 2020) The puritanical stream of Islam known as Salafism is making major inroads in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern Philippines, in a way that could foster greater social conservatism in areas such as education, freedom of religion and women’s rights.

Sectarian Triangles: Salafis, the Shi’a, and the Politics of Religious Affiliations in Northern Nigeria | Politics and Religion | Cambridge Core

“Sectarianization”-the political instrumentalization of sectarian identities-is a profitable strategy for many state and non-state actors. This paper presents a theory of sectarianization, as well as an accompanying typology. The paper does not seek to explain the causes of sectarian conflict; rather, the paper examines how third parties respond to exogenous instances of such conflict.

Incidents of Anti-Shiism, June 2020

SRW is a non- governmental, not-for-profit research and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington D.C.

Anti-Shiism Hinders the Combat of Corona virus in Pakistan – Shia Rights Watch

While the world struggles to combat the novel Coronavirus, Anti-Shiism in Pakistan quells life-saving efforts. On June 17th, the family of a Coronavirus patient in critical condition reached out to the community in search of a recovered Coronavirus patient to donate blood plasma with antibodies. With much effort, a donor was found.

Bahrain and the politics of COVID-19 – Responsible Statecraft

According to Johns Hopkins University, as of May 22, 2020, Bahrain has registered 8,000 positive cases of the coronavirus, with 12 deaths. The reported numbers are suspect, especially as Bahrain’s neighbors report much higher totals of positive cases- Saudi Arabia more than 67,000, Qatar over 40,000, the UAE over 26,000, and Kuwait more than 19,000.

Khomeini and Muḥammad al-Shīrāzī: Revisiting the Origins of the “Guardianship of the Jurisconsult” (wilāyat al-faqīh)

Abstract This article revisits the origins of Khomeini’s concept of the guardianship of the jurisconsult ( wilāyat al-faqīh ) and argues that his own formulation of this concept needs to be embedded in debates around the clerical mandate in the state among clerical activists in Iraq he encountered during his exile.

Legalised Pedigrees: Sayyids and Shiʽi Islam in Pakistan | Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society | Cambridge Core

Legalised Pedigrees: Sayyids and Shiʽi Islam in Pakistan – SIMON WOLFGANG FUCHS