Syed M Shah

24/03/2026

About last night... Got a chance to host UN Special Rapporteur on Francesca Albanese with Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan and Director Karim Shah during a screening of " : Doctors Under Attack" - a moving documentary documenting the bombing of 36 hospitals there with over +1700 doctors and medical staff killed and hundreds arrested, tortured and killed in custody.

It is an earth-shattering piece that really raises the basic concern of our own and that is what mainly Francesca spoke about. She said my own loss is nothing to what the people in Gaza have faced and more broadly Palestinians over decades. So what I am sanctioned and I am worse off materially - what does that matter before my own sense of humanity. She spoke passionately to the packed theater at Cinelux, Geneva - a locally owned community theater.

Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a known doctor who not only did a 14th month stint on the ground in Gaza but went back and witnessed first-hand not only the general violence around her but also what her colleagues had to witness and bear - targetting, loss of family, torture and imprisonment for the simple fact they upheld the Hippocratic Oath. She not only served in her medical profession capacity but was an important voice letting the world know what was happening in there.

Karim Shah spoke about the silencing of main media and how BBC had repeatedly delayed the airing of this documentary and eventually decided against it because it was not "impartial" - from viewing the 1-hour documentary you can be the judge. There is nothing but facts and testimonials from doctors on the ground themselves and also IDF and Israelis were given opportunity to respond but only 2 witnesses, anonymously testified to the gruesome details of the torture, mistreatment and brutality of imprisoned Palestianian's at the notorious Sde Teiman.

Francesca's message was simple - we have crossed a red-line that may be difficult to come back from and will damage all of us. We need to reawaken the humanity within us all and get involved to stop this trajedy from existing another day. And if we didn't... like a colleague of Dr. Haj-Hassan said... we could be witnessing "the prelude of the end of humanity."

The documentary was produced by Films

28/02/2026

Absolutely condemnation of this type of typical behavior by Sindh Police and more broadly police across . When a poor man comes to seek justice you make him wait and suffer particularly when the criminal is some rich and powerful. I swear you are the creation of instability in the country when you do not provide - you are creating a threat to and such police officers need to be removed permenantly from their posts.

27/02/2026

السلام علیکم

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

رمضان مبارک to all of you.

As this month is about the Quran please join myle and Dr. Safi Kaskas and Dr. Joseph Lumbard this weekend at the International Quran Research Academy (IQRA) Monthly Meeting on the topic of the Qur’an in Ramadan – Beyond the Word and Into the Spirit”

February 28, 2026 - 6 AM (US Eastern Standard Time)

Join via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85844378135?pwd=Fodr6ib3q1ktVibGEwRk8WiS2GxxVw.1

We encourage you to join a few minutes early and invite your family and friends to benefit from this spiritually enriching session as we prepare our hearts for Ramadan.

*Support the Mission:*
If you would like to support IQRA’s global Qur’anic initiatives this Ramadan, you may contribute here:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML73GSQ9DQP5V/checkout/BGVJG6WIDS6MFUMH4VD43EPA

May God place blessings in your time and make this gathering a source of guidance and light for all of us.

جزاک اللہ خیر

21/02/2026

https://www.new-beginnings.org/connecting-with-families-in-pakistan/

New Beginnings hosted a lunch for families in Pakistan, creating space for connection, shared experience, and in-country support during the adoption and guardianship process.

18/02/2026

to all those observing this month and what a wonderous one I hope this one to be as the Muslim Students of Geneva Graduate Institute gathering together to establish the Muslim Students Initiative (MSI) in its 100th year.

Geneva has been the center of International relations, diplomacy and law - specializing in humanitarian affairs. I came to Geneva with the vision that the Islamic world has much to offer in these discussions. In the most challenging time periods of International affairs - this city has been impacted like no other and there are two (2) ways this can further transpire - either it strengthens or breaks down.

It is in the cusp of this moment I sincerely feel that 57-OIC nation states and Muslims more broadly across the world populating 25% of this globe have much to offer in the cusp of reform and rethinking of - particularly since we have failed to be as engaging in the past, this is the moment to change that.

From leading voices in International Humanitarian Law like that of Ahmed Al-Dawoody, Ph.D. to experts like Michael Gassner right here in Geneva. To leading initiatives on at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, IOM - UN Migration, UNICEF and many other UN and International Organizations to focused work on conflict resolution and mediation by Cordoba Peace Institute - there is much much more to offer and build on.

Islamic law and ethics are a key tool in such important discussions that bring not only impact to the Islamic world but beyond and I feel and know very strongly there is an important Muslim contribution to global affairs but it is up to Muslims to join and contribute to these discussion.

It is in that spirit I wanted to start MSI at IHEID and hope to continue in that to help build the global society of harmony that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) taught us Muslims to fulfill.

So to my non-Muslim colleagues, friends and connections - do not be afraid to engage, we are here to share, learn and carry our wieght in global affairs - you will be surprised at the expansive areas of mutual gain from an Islamic perspective - from migration to climate change to IHL to the hottest topic these days - sustainable finance and funding.

And to my Muslim colleagues, friends and connections - do not be afraid to engage - there is much you can contribute to global conversations, Geneva is inclusive - you just have to reach out and join the discussion.

17/02/2026

resharing an old series - hope it continues to give benefit to others.

This is Episode 1

17/02/2026

Team Revival had the distinct honor of meeting Justin Jones, Associate Professor of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford.

The meeting provided an engaging platform for intellectual exchange on the contemporary challenges surrounding Muslim family laws and minority rights frameworks. The discussion focused on how these legal regimes impact ordinary citizens seeking remedies and access to justice, particularly in socio-legal contexts where religious law intersects with state legislation.

The conversation further explored the normative value religion contributes through its ethical teachings, especially in shaping principles of justice, equity, reconciliation, and social responsibility. Emphasis was placed on understanding how religious jurisprudence can coexist with constitutional governance while ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and dignity.

Team Revival remains committed to fostering scholarly dialogue that bridges academia, legal reform, and community empowerment.

06/02/2026

Join me after Jumah as we explore 's Constitution and it's various from the inception of the state in 1947 until today at the City of Knowledge Islamic Research Institute

مطالعہ آئین پاکستان |
ڈاکٹر سید معاذ شاہ | سٹی آف نالج اسلامک ریسرچ انسٹیٹیوٹ

بوقت: دوپہر 03:00 تا 05:00

بتاریخ: 06 فروری 2026

بروز: جمعہ

رابطہ:
03362342386

📍 Venue: City of Knowledge
B-105-13-D 1, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tfczpFhGtPkvntQx5

05/02/2026

Got a chance to speak about an important topic buzzing in the corridors of Palais des Nations in Geneva to the General Assembly in New York and beyond - a reshaping of the and ending of the card-blanche veto powers of five UN states - US, Britain, France, Russia and China. The most recent call being made by the Pakistan Ambassador to the UN last week.

The veto powers of these states has often been used to stop meaningful action by the UNSC - particularly notorious is the use of it by the US and that too in order to protect Israel most of the time. The upcoming election of the Secretary General of the UN will also be impacted by each of these 5 nations in that they have the power to prevent anyone single-handedly from getting the job - demonstrating unfair decision making powers when it comes in comparison to other states, causing erosion of trust and disenfranchisement of other member countries.

This call to reform isn't just something recent but a long standing matter supported by many nations that has reached a boiling point due to recent actions of the United States namely due to policies of the US President Donald from Venezuela to threats on Greenland utterly challenging core assumptions. Along with exit from nearly 70 UN and international bodies the US clearly demonstrates it is not satisfied with the current mechanisms of the international regime. The alternative is too recent to determine serious maturity as even its own members have fundamental doubts about it and joined for political reasons rather then substantive ones.

So reform is the only option and the call the end the veto power is now becoming need of hour to prevent collapse of the international regime and may be a great opportunity particularly if US may choose to step out of the UN entirely and perhaps may be the only real way to keep UN together in these precarious international times.

With Sana Maqbool on Pakistan TV

24/01/2026

28/11/2025

Got a chance to share my thoughts on Unfold with Ahmad Jawad Tehami on the recent US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF) report on and . The report was quite scathing and not surprising due to recent political environment but does highlight the important deterioation of for minority groups in India.

The report stated that India’s political system enables systematic intolerance toward religious minorities. The 1976 symbolic insertion of “secular” into the Constitution remains symbolic. Unlike Pakistan, India provides no reserved parliamentary seats for minorities, resulting in chronic underrepresentation - in one notorious state election of Uttar Pardesh (UP) in 2014 - not one single Muslim was elected eventhough UP has largest Muslims population then any other state and consists of 20% of it's population.

The USCIRF report recalls historic violence—including the Babri Masjid demolition killing ~2,000 and Modi’s alleged inaction during the 2002 Gujarat massacres, which led to a U.S. visa ban until due to politics it was lifted when he became prime minister of India.

The RSS–BJP nexus drives policies aligned with Hindutva: building a Hindu temple on the Babri site, revoking Kashmir’s autonomy, dismantling Muslim personal law toward a Uniform Civil Code and changing religious charitable foundation law of Waqf (often using gender-washing techniques - suggesting this is being done in interest of women rights), and passing a Citizenship Act which excludes specifically Muslim refugees (while other minorities are accepted). State anti-conversion and cow-slaughter laws enable persecution, while federal agencies reportly cannot intervene without state consent, allowing mob violence to go unchecked by local authorities with impunity.

Minorities are disproportionately targeted in the justice system: 70% of prisoners are under-trial, of whom majority are minorities and of them majority Muslim, with 40M pending cases clogging lower courts. These measures violate ICCPR Article 18 on freedom of religion. USCIRF urges the U.S. to designate India a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), impose targeted sanctions, scrutinize arms sales (in specific Reaper drone sales), and engage directly with affected minority communities.

Hope this report will put the appropriate pressure on India to act responsibly as an international player and work towards removing these grevious imbalances that is leading to religious and minority persecutions under the BJP government. (See report here - https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/2025%20Issue%20Systematic%20Religious%20Persecution%20in%20India%20%28002%29.pdf)

Take a listen to my comments.

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