Iraq: Information on the freedom of religion for Shiites
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRQ22137.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iraq: Information on the freedom of religion for Shiites, 1 November 1995, IRQ22137.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac735c.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994,
despite legal guarantees of sectarian equality, the Government has in recent years repressed the Shi'a clergy and followers of the Shi'a faith. Security forces have wantonly desecrated Shi'a mosques and holy sites, particularly in the aftermath of the 1991 civil uprising (1995, 1091).
The report refers to certain government restrictions on Shia religious rights in 1994, such as bans on: the publication of Shia books; the broadcasting of Shia programs on government radio and television; and funeral processions (ibid.). "Certain processions and public meetings commemorating Shia holy days" were also prohibited (ibid.).
According to the attached 8 December 1994 Chicago Tribune article,
religious activism among Shiite Muslims, who rebelled after the gulf war, is little tolerated. ... Too fervent prayers in Shiite mosques can lead to arrest for suspected membership in the group.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Chicago Tribune. 8 December 1994. North Sports Final Edition. Neil MacFarquhar. "Hussein Use Islam as a Political Tool; Secular Nature of Iraq Is Changing." (NEXIS)
Attachment
Chicago Tribune. 8 December 1994. North Sports Final Edition. Neil MacFarquhar. "Hussein Use Islam as a Political Tool; Secular Nature of Iraq Is Changing." (NEXIS)
