Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations

Liwa Zainebiyoun

Not yet designated terrorist by a Western country
Base of operations: Syria

Liwa Zainebiyoun (People of Zainab Brigade) is a contingent of Pakistani Shi'a fighters in Syria, officially fighting to defend the Sayyida Zainab shrine in Damascus. A Facebook account for Liwa al-Fatemiyoun (the Afghan Shi'a contingent in Syria) has confirmed to the author of this database its existence, claiming that it draws on Afghan Shi'a based in Pakistan, as well as Pakistani Shi'a based in Iran and Syria. This would suggest links with Iran and Liwa al-Fatemiyoun. More recently some evidence of funerals in Iran for Liwa Zainebiyoun fighters has turned up. Considering the persecution Pakistani Shi'a have endured, they form a viable pool for Iran to recruit fighters on the basis of a sectarian narrative of Shi'a under genocidal threat.

As of October 2015, Liwa Zainebiyoun now has an overt social media presence.

Liwa Zainebiyoun Emblem	Liwa Zainebiyoun Martrydom Poster	Liwa Zainebiyoun: Islamic Resistance of Pakistan	Liwa Zainebiyoun: Jaysh Hezbollah Pakistan