Right now there are Shia Muslims around the world that are being oppressed by their governments and militant groups. As a result, Shia communities have become poverty-stricken from job discrimination, property destruction, and violence against individuals for their choice of religion. Militant groups and suicide bombers purposely target Shia homes, markets, and mosques in order to inflict the most damage upon Shias. Over 2,000 Shia Muslims have been killed in cold blood in 2014 in Iraq and Pakistan alone according to Shia Rights Watch.

Human rights advocates have recognized terms, such as Anti-Semitism, to describe hateful language or acts towards a group of people. Based on the levels of discrimination and violence against Shias, it is necessary to recognize a new term, anti-Shiism. anti-Shiism means prejudice against or hatred of Shia Muslims, and can be applied to acts in the Middle East, South Asia, Western Africa, and even Western Europe.

Adopting the term anti-Shiism will aid in the fight to end violence against Shia Muslims by illustrating the violence against these communities in a history of hate that has been present for decades. Terms such as ‘Sectarian Violence’ have framed attacks in such a way that they appear to be a part of a war between sects rather than the oppression of and violence against a group of people based on their religious beliefs. The usage of the term anti-Shiism will show the world that the violence against Shia civilians is a human rights violation that needs to end immediately.

The United Nations and the international community needs to hear about this issue so that peoples’ rights will be protected no matter their race, religion, or gender worldwide. Please back this petition so that our voices can be heard.