Shia Muslim Foundation Issues Urgent Directive: Vote To Support Our Community And Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) today issued an urgent mandate to American Shia Muslims: Commit fully to civic participation. Voting represents the primary and most powerful mechanism for community defense. Participation in every election cycle: local, state, and federal, directly determines the future security of our institutions, our civil rights, and our families.

Silence in the political process guarantees marginalized status. Policymakers ultimately decide our future. They shape immigration laws, control civil rights protections, and allocate resources for institutional security. Shia voices experience unacceptable underrepresentation in political systems. Casting a ballot is the singular act that closes this representation gap.

Underrepresentation allows hostile policies to advance. It permits the continuation of targeted harassment against our centers and contributes to the erasure of Shia narratives from mainstream platforms. Ignoring the ballot box is a vote for continued vulnerability. A visible, high voter turnout sends an undeniable signal about the collective concerns and legislative priorities of American Shia Muslims.

SMF cannot effectively execute its advocacy work without a mobilized community. Strong electoral engagement validates our legal interventions and our policy discussions. It strengthens our collaborations with federal officials, members of Congress, state legislatures, and key interfaith allies, including churches, synagogues, temples, and other religious centers. Active civic participation is the foundation of our ability to advocate for a safer, more equitable American future.

"We are advocates and community leaders, but the law only helps those who empower it. Our community faces unjust immigration actions, institutional harassment, and the denial of religious freedoms. The ballot box is not a request; it is the ultimate tool of self-defense. Failure to vote is a vote for continued marginalization. Every registered Shia Muslim must cast a ballot without exception.” said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. SMF supports the civic rights of American Shia Muslims, advocates on social and political issues affecting the community, and works to promote the welfare of Shia Muslims worldwide. SMF works in collaboration with local mosques and government officials to secure civil rights and combat targeted persecution.

Arrest made in Terror Plot Against Shia Mosque in Dearborn, Michigan

Shia Muslim Foundation Condemns Threats to Islamic Institute of America Mosque in Dearborn Heights

(Washington, DC – October 1, 2025) — The Shia Muslim Foundation strongly condemns the recent threats targeting the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Reports confirm that a caller threatened to “burn down” the mosque and, in one instance, issued a bomb threat. Local authorities have responded, with Dearborn Heights Police and the FBI opening a joint investigation.

After his arrest, when officers asked if he intended to carry out an attack, he said he would’ve done it “if he had better eyesight.” He is also quoted saying he would use an AR-15 and target a mosque in Dearborn.

He also posted online comments referencing “murdering Black citizens and people who practice Islam,” and made connections to Dylann Roof in his rhetoric.

“This is not an isolated incident,” said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. “Shia mosques across the United States have increasingly faced threats and harassment. The targeting of houses of worship is an assault on religious freedom itself, and it demands urgent attention from every level of government.”

Shia Muslim institutions, including the Islamic Institute of America, have long been focal points for education, community service, and interfaith dialogue. Attempts to intimidate or harm these centers not only endanger worshippers but strike at the heart of American values.

The Foundation emphasizes that these threats are part of a broader pattern of hostility toward Shia Muslims. In recent years, mosques and community centers in Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas have reported threats, harassment, or violence. This escalation underscores the urgent need for federal, state, and local authorities to treat such cases as high-priority matters of public safety and civil rights.

Shia mosques in the United States have repeatedly been targeted by threats and plots, underscoring a persistent vulnerability. In 2011, a man named Roger Stockham was arrested outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the largest Shia mosques in the country. Police found him armed with high-powered fireworks and gasoline, and he had previously made violent threats against the mosque. He was charged with terrorism-related offenses and weapons possession.

In more recent years, authorities have uncovered plots involving explosives and firearms directed at Shia mosques. A 19-year-old from Maine was sentenced to 15 years in prison after federal investigators discovered that he had been building explosives filled with shrapnel and had been planning a mass shooting at a Shia mosque in the Chicago area. Court records showed that he had openly discussed targeting Shia Muslims, and prosecutors emphasized the sectarian motivation behind the plot.

Earlier this year, law enforcement in Illinois confirmed that another Shia mosque had been the focus of a planned attack. The Imams Council released a statement noting that Shia institutions continue to experience elevated threats, and urged greater recognition of this pattern. These incidents echo global attacks against Shia mosques, such as suicide bombings in Afghanistan in 2021 that killed dozens during Friday prayers, claimed by ISIS-K.

Taken together, these cases reveal a clear trend: Shia communities in the United States are not immune to the same sectarian hostility seen worldwide. The repeated threats, from Dearborn to Chicago to Illinois, highlight both the resilience of Shia institutions and the ongoing need for vigilance in protecting houses of worship.

“No community should fear gathering to worship. The American Shia community will not be intimidated into silence, and we will continue to pray, teach, and serve with dignity and resilience,” Husain said.

Shia Muslim Foundation Participates in 3rd Annual UNGA Diplomatic Reception

New York, NY – September 23, 2025 — The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) joined global leaders, policymakers, and civil society representatives at The Concordia Forum's 3rd Annual Diplomatic Reception during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Executive Director Rahat Husain attended on behalf of SMF.

The event, themed “Freedom to Believe – Faith, Rights & the Challenge of Coexistence,” brought together an extraordinary group of participants. Senior officials from the White House, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and high-ranking diplomats from across the globe were among the notable attendees. The gathering also included Shia activists, philanthropic organizations, and community leaders, highlighting the role of faith-based institutions in addressing the challenges of coexistence, religious freedom, and civic inclusion.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policymaking body of the United Nations, where all 193 member states have equal representation. It meets every September in New York City and provides a global forum for countries to discuss international issues, set priorities, and adopt resolutions on peace, security, development, and human rights. While its decisions are not legally binding, the General Assembly plays a central role in shaping global norms and coordinating international cooperation.

Over the past three years, the Concordia Forum UNGA Diplomatic Reception has emerged as a significant space for dialogue, convening heads of state, ministers, senior diplomats, and influential voices from philanthropy, media, and civil society. This year’s reception continued that tradition, reinforcing the urgency of multilateral collaboration on faith and rights.

Following the reception, Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation, emphasized the importance of Shia participation in these discussions:

“The presence of Shia leaders, activists, and community representatives at this high-level convening reflects the growing recognition of our role in advancing religious freedom and civic engagement. At a time when Shia communities continue to face persecution globally, it is essential that our voices are included in shaping international dialogue on coexistence, rights, and accountability.”

The Shia Muslim Foundation continues its work to protect the civic rights of American Shia Muslims, advocate for global Shia communities, and promote interfaith understanding. Participation in international forums such as the UNGA reception reflects SMF’s mission to strengthen bridges between policymakers, civil society, and faith leaders.