On March 21, 2025, Americans for Democracy and human rights in Bahrain delivered an intervention during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council. In its intervention under Item 4, ADHRB highlighted the systematic discrimination against Shias in Saudi Arabia, including restrictions on mosques, religious freedom, exclusion from senior positions, & school curriculums promoting hate speech.
We draw the Council’s attention to the systematic discrimination against Shia Muslims in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the Kingdom’s reform pledges, discriminatory policies persist. Shias are barred from building mosques and religious centers, and their freedom to worship and practice rituals is restricted. Competent Shia individuals are excluded from senior government and security roles, and they face economic and developmental marginalization, despite the wealth generated by their regions. Additionally, school curriculums promote hate speech against their beliefs, entrenching a culture of discrimination against this minority.
Shia activists and human rights defenders face extensive repression, with arbitrary arrests and trials that lack the most basic standards of justice. Recently, death sentences were handed down to five young Shia men and a businessman – some arrested as minors – on charges related to their participation in peaceful protests.
In light of these ongoing violations, what concrete actions can the international community and the Human Rights Council take to hold Saudi authorities accountable and ensure the protection of Shia minority rights?
