At the end of October, Saudi Arabia appointed Sheik Saleh bin Abdullah bin Fawzan al-Fawzan as the Kingdom’s Grand Mufti. The Grand Mufti is the highest religious official in Saudi Arabia and also the chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, which is the country’s highest religious body. This gives the grand Mufti great influence[…]
02
Oct
Oct
On 2 August 2025, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) delivered an intervention during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, under Item 9. ADHRB highlighted the systematic persecution of Shia citizens in Saudi Arabia and called for an end to sectarian discrimination, the release of detainees, freedom of religious practice,[…]
27
Jun
Jun
The religious discrimination faced by Bahrain’s Baharna and Ajam communities has manifested in one of the most atrocious forms: the deliberate destruction and erasure of their sacred spaces. These indigenous Shia communities, rooted deeply in Bahrain’s history, have long been marginalized by the ruling Al Khalifa regime. But the demolition of mosques, shrines, and cemeteries[…]
03
Jun
Jun
Introduction The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to systematically violate the rights of its Shia citizens amid a complete absence of structural reforms to address entrenched sectarian discrimination. Despite the official promotion of “Vision 2030” as a path toward modernization and openness, Shia communities remain subject to restrictive policies that limit their rights in religion,[…]
07
Jan
Jan
Saudi Arabia, governed as an absolute monarchy under a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam, has long faced scrutiny for its religious freedom policies, particularly regarding the treatment of Shia Muslims and other religious minorities. As the birthplace of Islam, the kingdom enforces a legal and social framework that prioritizes Sunni Islam, specifically its Wahhabi doctrine.[…]
