SHIA MUSLIM FOUNDATION APPLAUDS POPE LEO XIV'S CALL FOR CEASEFIRE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

SMF Joins the Pontiff in Urging an Immediate End to Violence and a Return to Dialogue

WASHINGTON, D.C. The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) today praised Pope Leo XIV for his bold and morally unambiguous call for a ceasefire in the ongoing U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. Speaking during his Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the Pope delivered his strongest statement since the conflict began seventeen days ago, and SMF stands fully behind it.

“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict. Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for." — Pope Leo XIV, Angelus Address, March 15, 2026

The Pope’s remarks arrive as civilian casualties mount across the region. Iranian authorities and rights organizations estimate that between 1,200 and 1,300 civilians have been killed since hostilities began on February 28. Among the most devastating incidents was a missile strike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, Iran, on the first day of the conflict, which killed an estimated 165 to 180 people, most of them children. The Vatican’s own newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, ran an aerial photograph of the mass grave being dug for those young victims under the headline “The Face of War.” The Pope specifically referenced attacks on schools, hospitals, and residential areas, and renewed his closeness to the families of those killed.

As an organization rooted in the Shia Muslim tradition and committed to the dignity of all human life, SMF echoes the Pope’s appeal without reservation. The killing of civilians, regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation, is intolerable. The destruction of schools and hospitals is not a military strategy; it is a moral catastrophe. We call on the United States, Israel, and Iran to heed this call for a ceasefire and to pursue every available avenue of diplomacy before more lives are lost.

“The Pope has said plainly what many world leaders have been unwilling to say: this violence has to stop,” said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. “We share his conviction that no lasting justice, no genuine stability, and no real peace can emerge from the barrel of a gun. The people of Iran, Lebanon, and the entire Middle East deserve better than this. We add our voice to the chorus rising from every faith and every corner of the world: the bloodshed must end.”

SMF also shares the Pope’s deep concern for Lebanon, where the spillover from the Iran conflict has triggered what aid organizations are describing as a humanitarian crisis. More than 800,000 people have been displaced. The Pope called for paths of dialogue that can support Lebanon’s authorities in finding lasting solutions, and SMF joins in that appeal, particularly on behalf of the vulnerable civilian populations caught in the crossfire.

The Shia Muslim Foundation was founded in 2020 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to Shia Muslim civic rights, policy advocacy, and humanitarian welfare. SMF urges all parties to the conflict to immediately pursue a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.

Shia Muslim Foundation calls for immediate ceasefire and urgent return to diplomacy after United States strikes on Iran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, DC - February 28, 2026) The Shia Muslim Foundation calls for an immediate ceasefire following the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran and the retaliatory attacks that followed. The current trajectory risks rapid regional escalation, civilian casualties, and long term destabilization.

World leaders have resoundingly called for a return to peace.

"I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. "I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table," he said. "I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter."

"We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian life," French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement, adding that they wanted a resumption of negotiations.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide rejected the legal framing of a preventive strike and warned against a wider war. (Reuters) Oman publicly lamented the collapse of talks it had been facilitating, underscoring the cost of abandoning diplomacy. (Reuters) Russia condemned the strikes as armed aggression and called for an immediate end to the military campaign. (AP News)

“The region does not need another open ended conflict,” said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. “The Shia Muslim Foundation calls for an immediate ceasefire, rapid diplomatic engagement through the United Nations, and sustained negotiations to prevent more loss of life."

The Shia Muslim Foundation urges:

1. An immediate ceasefire and halt to all further strikes and reprisals

2. An urgent United Nations Security Council session focused on de escalation, civilian protection, and a diplomatic off ramp

3. Public commitments from all parties to comply with international law and protect civilians, including critical infrastructure

4. Renewed diplomacy with credible intermediaries, including states that have already worked to host negotiations

The Shia Muslim Foundation also calls on United States policymakers to prioritize restraint and diplomacy. Military escalation will predictably trigger retaliation, broaden the battlefield, and place civilians across the region at heightened risk.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a Washington, DC based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to support the civic rights of American Shia Muslims and advocate on issues affecting Shia communities worldwide.

Media Contact

Farhana Kassamali

farhana@shiamuslimfoundation.com

Shia Muslim Foundation Condemns Islamabad Mosque Attack, Pledges Solidarity with Pakistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On February 6, 2026, a suicide bombing targeted Shia Muslim worshippers during Friday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque in Tarlai Kalan, a residential area of Islamabad, Pakistan. According to initial reports, the attacker detonated explosives near the entrance area as congregants were gathered for prayer. The blast resulted in significant casualties, with dozens reported killed and many more injured, some critically. Emergency services responded promptly, transporting victims to nearby hospitals and securing the surrounding area while authorities initiated an investigation into the attack. The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) stands in solidarity with the people of Pakistan following the deadly attack. SMF condemns this horrific act of violence and mourns the innocent lives lost.

The Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque is located in the Tarlai Kalan area of Islamabad and serves the local Shia Muslim population as a place of regular congregational worship. The facility functions as both a mosque and an imambargah, hosting daily prayers, Friday services, and religious commemorations observed throughout the Islamic calendar. Like many neighborhood mosques in Islamabad, it operates as a community-based religious center supported by local worshippers.

The mosque is named after Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Prior to the recent attack, it was not widely known outside its immediate community and was not associated with national political or security events. Its primary role has been religious and communal, providing routine prayer services and space for religious gatherings for residents of the surrounding area.

"A house of worship is a sanctuary. To target worshippers during prayer is an assault on faith, peace, and our shared human conscience," said the Shia Muslim Foundation. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, united in grief and resolve."

SMF affirms its support for the Government of Pakistan and its citizens, recognizing the nation's longstanding resilience against extremism. The Foundation emphasizes that while terrorism seeks to divide societies, the response must be a renewed commitment to unity and the protection of religious freedoms.

This tragedy resonates deeply within the global Shia community and among all who value human dignity. SMF reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the safety and civic rights of Shia Muslims worldwide and promoting peaceful coexistence.