Shia Rights Violations in Nigeria and the Analysis of the Rights of Religious Minorities in the Realm of International Law

In the realm of contemporary international law, paying attention to the rights of minorities and/or to the cultural and religious rights of human groups is known as a formal realm and there is an emphasis on the significance of observing the minimum behavioral standards in behaving with them. But there is a problem with all institutes observing the prohibition of discrimination against the minorities. The problem is that their predicted mechanisms are either limited to some non-binding recommendations or finally turned to those of a political institute. However, the world viewpoints about the traditional concepts of supporting the minorities have been changed in the world of rights. Shia, one of the important religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria, has been incredibly spread and at the same time, with the growth of the hopes and wishes of the people seeking the truth, the opposition of opponents against the Shiites and their leaders has been increased. Investigating these oppositions precisely such as the failed assassination of Sheikh Zakzaky, the attack on the peaceful Quds day protests in 2014, the attack on the Shiite's Hussainia are contrary to the international human rights law and the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. For decreasing such assaults, the following are recommended: intervention, official and diplomatic practices in supporting the support groups of human rights consciously and integratedly, using information and communication tools such as independent news networks and/or cyberspace for media coverage, declaring and illustrating the Shiite's innocence and human rights violation in Nigeria. Therefore, this research first explains both the cultural rights of minorities in doing religious practices and their different freedoms and then focuses on the human rights violation of religious minorities in Nigeria.