Lion of Shia

Does being in an insane state violate Prayer and Fasting in Shia Islam?

i thought you were refering to ayatollah shirazi.

News At least 31 killed, dozens wounded in suicide blast at Islamabad mosque Powerful explosion rocks Shia mosque in Pakistani capital’s Tarlai Kalan area during Friday prayers. A suicide bombing attack at a Shia mosque in Islamabad has killed at least 31 people and wounded dozens more, in one of the worst such incidents to hit Pakistan’s capital. The powerful explosion occurred at Khadija Tul Kubra mosque, in southeastern Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan area, during Friday prayers. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the mosque’s security guards tried to intercept the suspect, who opened fire at them before detonating his explosives among the worshippers. Asif alleged the attacker had been travelling to and from Afghanistan. In a statement, the Islamabad administration said 169 people were transferred to hospital after rescue teams reached the site of the explosion. Footage shared on social media and verified by Al Jazeera showed bloodied bodies lying on the floor of the mosque, surrounded by broken glass and debris. Islamabad resident Aun Shah said his father was “badly” injured in the attack. “He has a hole in his stomach,” he said. Security personnel stand guard outside the mosque following the deadly blast [Farooq Naeem/AFP] Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the incident as a “cowardly suicide attack on innocent worshippers”. “Targeting places of worship and civilians is a heinous crime against humanity and a blatant violation of Islamic principles. Pakistan stands united against terrorism in all its forms,” he posted on X. At the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, AFP news agency journalists saw several adults and children being carried in on stretchers or by their arms and legs. Advertisement Medics and bystanders helped unload victims with blood-soaked clothes from the back of ambulances and vehicles. At least one casualty arrived in the boot of a car, while friends and relatives of the wounded screamed as they arrived at the hospital’s heavily guarded emergency ward, the news agency reported. People mourning outside the mosque [AFP] In a statement, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his “deep grief” following the incident. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari said “targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity”. ed families in this difficult time,” he added. Top Pakistani Shia leader Raja Abbas Nasir said the incident was not only “a serious failure in protecting human lives but also raises significant questions about the performance of the authorities and law enforcement agencies”. The United Kingdom’s ambassador to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, condemned the attack in a statement on social media, calling the violence “abhorrent”. “Outraged and heartbroken by the horrific attack at Imambargah in Islamabad during Friday prayers,” she said. “My thoughts and prayers are with those killed and injured and their families.” The Delegation of the The European Union in Pakistan said it “condemns all acts of terrorism” and offered its condolences to the families of the victims. In November last year, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the Islamabad District Judicial Complex, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens. In September 2008, a suicide bomber detonated a dump truck at Islamabad’s Marriott hotel, killing at least 63 people and wounding more than 250. Al Jazeera’s Abid Hussain contributed to this report

IF Iran is Attacked or Khamenei is killed a captured will there be a Shia uprising? Iranian parliament warns of jihad if Supreme Leader is attacked, ISNA By Reuters January 20, 20267:43 AM CSTUpdated January 20, 2026 Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, January 17, 2026. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab DUBAI, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Any attack on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would trigger a declaration of jihad, or holy war, the Iranian Students News Agency quoted Iran's national security parliamentary commission as saying on Tuesday. Tensions between Iran and the United States have grown following a severe crackdown of protests across Iran, which U.S. President Donald trump warned could lead to a response from Washington. "Any attack on the Supreme Leader means a declaration of war with the entire Islamic world and must await the issuance of a Jihad decree by Islamic scholars and the response of Islam's soldiers in all parts of the world," the parliamentary commission said.

Do Shia law allows retaliation for the insane?

you sure those narrations are authentic?

Won't Women be too?

Is the Dajjal mentioned in Shia hadiths like Sunnis?

Al Jazeera Pakistan minister warns of ‘open war’ with Afghanistan if peace talks fail Story by Al Jazeera and News Agencies • 3h 'We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,' says Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif [File: Salahuddin/Reuters] Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan have met in Istanbul for talks on how to ensure a recent ceasefire deal between the two countries holds, with the Pakistani defence minister warning of “open war” should the efforts fail. The discussions, which began on Saturday and are expected to continue on Sunday, come just days after a truce was brokered in Doha by Qatar and Turkiye to end deadly clashes between the neighbours. The cross-border violence killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more. “We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said from the eastern Pakistani city of Sialkot on Saturday. “But I saw that they want peace,” he added. Reporting from Istanbul, Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu said the “technical-level talks” in Turkiye are expected “to pave the way for a permanent solution between the two neighbours”. While Afghanistan’s Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib is leading his country’s delegation in Turkiye, Pakistan has not given details about its representatives. On Friday, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the negotiations must address “the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil towards Pakistan”. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring what it calls “terrorist groups”, including the Pakistani Taliban (TPP). Kabul denies the allegation and has blamed Islamabad for violating its sovereignty through military strikes. Afghanistan relations have steadily improved in the recent past. Current Time 0:05 / Duration 26:41 India Today India's Taliban gambit: New Kabul ties to outmanoeuvre Pakistan 0 View on Watch Key crossings between the countries remain shut following the recent fighting, with Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimating that traders are losing millions of dollars each day that the closure persists. Ibraheem Bahiss, an International Crisis Group analyst in Afghanistan, told the AFP news agency that a key topic of discussion during the Istanbul talks would be intelligence-sharing on armed groups. “For example, Pakistan would give coordinates of where they suspect TTP fighters or commanders are, and instead of carrying out strikes, Afghanistan would be expected to carry out action against them,” he said. Meanwhile, the ceasefire that was announced in Doha last Sunday continues to hold. “There has been no major full-scale terrorist attack emanating from Afghan soil in the last two to three days,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said. “So, the Doha talks and outcome were fruitful. We would like the trend to continue in Istanbul and post-Istanbul.”

Newsweek US and Venezuela: Three signs point to risk of war Story by Amir Daftari • 1h • 4 min read A growing show of force in the Caribbean is fueling fears that the United States and Venezuela are inching toward military confrontation. Over the past months, Washington has assembled an extensive naval and air presence near Venezuelan waters—the largest seen in decades—while authorizing the CIA to operate inside the country. Officially framed as part of a counter-narcotics campaign, the operations have escalated with U.S. strikes on multiple vessels allegedly carrying narcotics. Venezuelan authorities report that these strikes have resulted in at least 37 deaths, though the U.S. has provided limited detail about those on board. The attacks have drawn regional condemnation and heightened concerns that the real objective may be to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave power. Why It Matters The U.S. has not displayed this level of military strength in Latin America since the Cold War, and the convergence of conventional forces with covert intelligence operations marks a dramatic escalation. For the Trump administration, the campaign is presented as an effort to choke off drug routes and target so-called “narco-terrorists.” For critics, it represents a familiar pattern: the prelude to regime change dressed in the language of law enforcement. Video Player is loading. Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 France24 - Video The Americas' Axis of Affinity: US coercion, influence, and the ghosts of gunboat diplomacy 0 View on Watch For Venezuela, the situation has become both a national security threat and a political test. The government has placed its armed forces on alert and turned to the United Nations for support, warning that the U.S. campaign could violate its sovereignty. With both militaries now positioned for confrontation, the risk of escalation, intentional or otherwise, has sharply increased. These three developments highlight how rapidly the standoff is intensifying. A U.S. B-52H bomber participates in the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show on May 25, 2024. 1. Expanding U.S. Military Presence Since late summer, the U.S. has deployed eight warships, including three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, a cruiser, and a littoral combat ship, supported by Marines, drones, aircraft, and Coast Guard detachments. These naval forces are coordinated with key bases in Puerto Rico, including Muñiz Air National Guard Base and Punta Borinquen Radar Station, which provide logistics, surveillance, and rapid deployment capabilities. The island also hosts F-35s and other aircraft, extending U.S. operational reach across the Caribbean. The military buildup has been reinforced by air operations. Last week, B-52 Stratofortress bombers conducted “bomber attack demonstrations” near Venezuela, followed by B-1 Lancers that on October 24 flew toward Venezuelan airspace with refueling and surveillance support. The U.S. described the mission as a “training exercise,” though the timing and proximity raised concerns. President Donald Trump denied the planes were sent “near Venezuela for a show of force,” calling reports “false,” despite independent tracking data showing otherwise. Naval and aerial deployments are complemented by drones and helicopters, including the Boeing MH-6M, operating in the region. While Washington frames the buildup as a counter-narcotics effort, its scale and coordination have drawn comparisons to prewar mobilizations, highlighting the growing intensity of the standoff. 2. Venezuela’s Military Readiness In Caracas, the response has been swift. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced that Venezuela’s armed forces are on full alert, labeling U.S. actions as deliberate provocations. Maduro has called for a “national mobilization,” activating over 4.5 million members of the National Bolivarian Militia and deploying military forces along the Caribbean coast. Venezuela has also emphasized its arsenal of more than 5,000 Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles, asserting that it is prepared to defend the nation and maintain stability. Venezuela has also petitioned the United Nations Security Council to condemn what it calls “illegal strikes” on vessels near its coastline, after U.S. forces claimed to have destroyed several small boats allegedly carrying narcotics. The Trump administration insists the operations were justified, with the president saying one vessel was “loaded up with mostly fentanyl” — a claim some experts dispute, noting the synthetic opioid is largely produced in Mexico rather than South America. The Maduro government has seized on these contradictions to argue that the campaign is politically motivated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, one of Maduro’s most vocal critics, previously described him as a “horrible dictator” and hinted that U.S. policy is aimed at removing him from power. Members of the Bolivarian Militia march in support of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 23, 2025. 3. Covert Operations Recently, when asked if the CIA had authority to target Maduro, Trump called the question “ridiculous” and declined to answer. He added that the U.S. is “looking at land now,” signaling that possible military operations on Venezuelan soil are being considered. According to multiple U.S. media outlets, including The New York Times and Reuters, the CIA is providing intelligence to support military actions, using satellites, drones, and signal intercepts to track vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The U.S. military carries out the strikes, but details about who is targeted remain limited, raising legal and ethical concerns. CIA involvement has long been viewed with suspicion in Latin America due to a history of covert interventions and support for right-wing regimes, including past attempts at regime change in Chile and Brazil. Its current operations highlight the agency’s growing integration with U.S. military planning and surveillance in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump speaks to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a roundtable on criminal cartels at the White House on October 23, 2025. What Happens Next Venezuela has called for calm amid escalating tensions with the U.S. Maduro has emphasized that the country will not accept foreign interference, declaring: “No crazy war, please!” With U.S. military deployments growing in the Caribbean and diplomatic channels largely frozen, both nations remain on high alert. Venezuela’s appeals to the U.N. have so far gained limited traction, while Washington continues its operations in the region. The key question now is whether these shows of force are purely symbolic or if the next strike, flight, or covert action could trigger a direct confrontation between the two countries.

I've been having issues lately with my deen. I've been confused, sometimes going to Sunni Mosques'(only twice since I converted to Shia) and followed some prayers of Sunni. I want to be Shia, but my community hasn't been reasonable. Some Cop told my center i was not Shia and it was my brother, even though my brother goes to church. The man of the center believed him, now he says I'm Sunni and not Shia. Some Shias there don't take me seriously, I try to be Shia but get confused because of my condition. My Question is Can I still be Shia and Am I still Shia? i asked Reddit and they Said I'm not Shia.

Time Why India Is Embracing the Taliban Story by Happymon Jacob • 2h • The Taliban evokes bitter memories in India. The Islamists were seen as complicit in India’s worst plane hijack in 1999 and the 2008 attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, which killed several Indian citizens, including two senior diplomats. It is for these and other reasons that the Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s trip to Delhi is so remarkable. Muttaqi, who is still on the U.N. sanctions list, had to get a travel exemption to arrive in India last Thursday for a week-long visit. India referred to him as the Afghan foreign minister, allowed him to hold press conferences at the Afghan embassy premises in Delhi that are still manned by officers of the previous Western-backed government, and had its foreign minister S. Jaishankar share the stage with him. Delhi also plans to reopen its embassy in Kabul soon. But as Muttaqi went about a public relations blitz in India and held talks with Indian officials, deadly clashes erupted along the Durand Line border between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent days. The timing alongside Muttaqi’s visit to India—Pakistan’s arch-rival—underscores the complex India-Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics at play. Why is Delhi reaching out to Kabul? India has maintained relations with the Taliban ever since it seized power in Kabul four years ago. But a series of regional developments has led to the unprecedented change in India’s policy toward the Taliban we are seeing today. The military conflict between India and Pakistan earlier this year, China’s active and growing support for Pakistan, Russia’s lukewarm response to that war despite its historical defense ties to India, and Washington’s recent embrace of Pakistan have created a sense of unease and claustrophobia in Delhi. Related video: Pakistan Defence Minister accuses India of sponsoring Taliban as war with Afghanistan continues (Oneindia - Video) Oneindia - Video Pakistan Defence Minister accuses India of sponsoring Taliban as war with Afghanistan continues Read More: Why American Presidents Love Pakistani Strongmen Like Asim Munir Delhi has few friends or trusted partners left in a large swath of the Indian subcontinent, from the Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat border to Kashmir in the north, China to its north-east and South Asian states such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan. Afghanistan is important in such a geopolitical context, and the Taliban appear to be willing to play ball. Yet Delhi’s outreach to the Taliban has faced severe criticism given its human rights record. The uproar caused by the initial press conference that excluded female journalists was just one reminder of this. Notwithstanding this criticism, though, there is still a growing view within Delhi that foreign policy should be pragmatic and driven by interests rather than ethical considerations. Delhi has been consistently prioritizing cold interests over all else—engaging with the junta in Myanmar, refraining from openly criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, engaging both Iran and Israel, and getting closer toward recognizing the Taliban as Afghanistan’s official government. The new thinking in Delhi is that it should work with whoever holds power in a country. Welcoming Muttaqi to Delhi reflects this approach. The Delhi-Kabul-Islamabad balance of power What makes the current India-Taliban engagement more consequential is the Pakistan factor. Without that, Delhi might not have engaged the Taliban as eagerly as it is doing now. There are three competing impulses from three capitals. Islamabad fears a closer defense and security partnership between two unfriendly states located on either side of it. Kabul wants to hedge against its deteriorating relationship with its former patron Islamabad, which accuses the Taliban of harboring a separate but allied group that has carried out deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Delhi is motivated by revisiting historical connections with Afghanistan, securing potential economic and trade access to Central Asia, and establishing a friendly presence on Pakistan’s western flank with potential strategic benefits. These competing impulses have resulted in distinct strategies. Islamabad wants to keep a wedge between Delhi and Kabul or, at best, control the Taliban. Kabul wants to boost cooperation with an India that is also at odds with Pakistan, and as the Taliban continues to seek formal international recognition as the government of Afghanistan. Delhi seeks to engage whoever is in power in Afghanistan as a counterbalance to Pakistan. In short, Delhi and Kabul are thinking that “the enemy’s enemy is a friend,” while Islamabad sees a strategic partnership between countries on its flanks as detrimental to its interests. Given these complex three-way dynamics, Delhi will likely continue to upgrade ties to the Taliban regime, and support its efforts to gain greater independence from Pakistani influence. Conversely, although Pakistan once played a significant role in assisting the Taliban and therefore helping it return to power in Kabul, an Afghanistan with more international friends to turn to is not in Pakistan’s interest, as it could undermine Islamabad’s control over Afghan affairs including the 1,600 mi. international border that it hopes to renegotiate. All crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan were shut on Sunday following ongoing clashes. In that sense, by hosting Muttaqi, Delhi may have deepened the growing rupture between Afghanistan and Pakistan that was on display during the recent border clashes. Islamabad is now more likely to consider Delhi’s growing friendliness with the Taliban to harm Pakistan’s interests a real possibility, regardless of Delhi’s actual intentions. Among the general Indian public, however, the growing ties between Delhi and the Taliban is raising eyebrows. But Delhi will continue to try to thread the needle between these concerns and its desire to forge closer regional partnerships at Pakistan’s expense. Contact us at letters@time.com.

US preparing to deploy up to 200 troops to monitor Gaza ceasefire Story by Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY • 14h WASHINGTON — The United States is preparing to deploy up to 200 troops to help monitor a ceasefire and help support a stabilization force in Gaza, U.S. officials familiar with the planning said. "Up to 200 U.S. personnel, who are already stationed at CENTCOM, will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel, and they will work with other international forces on the ground," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The troops will be stationed in Israel and other countries and will act as observers to ensure that there are no violations. No U.S. troops are intended to go into Gaza, an official said. U.S. Central Command's role will largely be to provide oversight of a joint task force that is likely to include Egyptian, Qatari, Turkish, and UAE armed forces, a senior official added, and help deconflict with Israeli Defense Forces that are currently positioned in Gaza. Israeli military vehicles manoeuvre, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad© Ammar Awad, REUTERS Details of the deployment were still being worked out on Oct. 9 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government formally approved the first phase of a peace plan put forward by President Donald Trump.

Hamas says it has agreed to parts of the Gaza peace proposal outlined by Trump Story by Joe Walsh • 45m Hamas said in a statement Friday it has agreed to parts of the ceasefire deal that President Trump outlined earlier this week, including a demand to release all hostages — but the group suggested other portions of the deal should be subject to negotiation. A U.S. official told CBS News the United States views Hamas' response as positive, though there are details that still need to be hammered out, such as the decommissioning of weapons, which may begin as soon as next week. raeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the deal on Monday. Earlier Friday, Mr. Trump gave Hamas until Sunday evening to accept the deal, or "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas." After Hamas released its statement, Mr. Trump said on Truth Social that he believes the group is "ready for a lasting PEACE." He pushed Israel to cease hostilities in the Gaza Strip. "Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it's far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out," the president wrote. "In light of Hamas's response, Israel is preparing to immediately implement the first phase of Trump's plan for the immediate release of all hostages," a statement released by Netanyahu's office early Saturday morning local time read. "We will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel that are consistent with President Trump's vision." In a separate statement, the Israel Defense Forces said that its high-level military officials held a meeting overnight, in which Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the IDF chief of staff, "instructed to advance readiness for the implementation of the first phase of the Trump plan for the release of the hostages." In a video posted to Truth Social later Friday, Mr. Trump called the deal "unprecedented in many ways" and thanked several Arab and majority Muslim countries that assisted with the deal as mediators, including Qatar and Egypt. "This is a big day," Mr. Trump said in the video. "We'll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down and concrete." Hamas says it's willing to release hostages, hand over control of Gaza Hamas said it is willing to release all living hostages and the remains of deceased hostages "in accordance with the exchange formula set forth in President Trump's proposal." The proposal laid out by the White House called for Hamas to release all hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023, within 72 hours, and for Israel to release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 other Gazans who were detained following the start of the conflict. The deal also called for an immediate end to fighting if both sides accept the deal, and for Israel's military to withdraw to an "agreed upon line." Hamas also said it is willing to "hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and with the support of Arab and Islamic parties" — another portion of Mr. Trump's proposal. The group was less clear on other portions of the deal. The statement said some aspects of Mr. Trump's proposal "remain linked to a comprehensive national stance, grounded in relevant international laws and resolutions." It said those issues will need to be discussed "within an inclusive Palestinian national framework" that includes Hamas. It's not clear if Hamas has agreed that it will play no role in the governance of Gaza, which was one provision of Mr. Trump's proposal. The plan, unveiled Sept. 29 by Mr. Trump and backed by Netanyahu, called for Hamas to free all remaining Israeli hostages and for the Israeli military to begin withdrawing from parts of the Gaza Strip in phases, starting with an initial withdrawal before the hostages are freed. It also proposed handing over parts of Gaza to a "technocratic" Palestinian committee and deploying a temporary security force backed by Arab states. Netanyahu, who joined Mr. Trump for a joint news conference at the White House when the 20-point proposal was announced, had said he supports the plan, and that if Hamas does not accept the offer, "Israel will finish the job by itself." "We're giving everybody a chance to have this done peacefully," Netanyahu had said, warning Hamas what would happen if they didn't agree to the proposal. "But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done." The president told Netanyahu on Monday that if Hamas were to reject the proposal, "you'd have our full backing to do what you would have to do." Mr. Trump had said his goal is to ensure a "sustainable, long-term peace." The president on Monday also said he and Netanyahu were "waiting for signatures and waiting for approvals from a lot of different countries that are involved in this." Israel and Hamas have been at war since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, Israel has waged an intense aerial bombardment and ground campaign in the Gaza Strip. More than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not specify how many of the dead were civilians or militants. Some 50 hostages are still in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive, according to Israeli authorities. Claire Day, Margaret Brennan and Melissa Gaffney contributed to this report.

Newsweek Who is Ruwa Romman? Palestinian-American launches governor run in Georgia Story by Andrew Stanton • 9h • 4 min read Georgia state Representative Ruwa Romman, a Democrat, announced she is running for governor in the 2026 midterm elections on Monday. Newsweek reached out to Romman’s campaign for comment via email on Monday. Why It Matters Georgia’s gubernatorial is expected to be among the most contested races of the midterms as Democrats are hoping to flip the governorship in one of the most closely divided swing states. Georgia narrowly backed President Donald Trump in 2024 but supported former President Joe Biden in 2020. The state has become more competitive as the Atlanta metro area has grown and exerted more influence over the state’s politics If elected, Romman, 32, would be the first Muslim-American governor ever elected in the United States. Romman, who is of Palestinian heritage, has also garnered national attention for her advocacy amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Georgia state Representative Ruwa Romman attends a protest in Philadelphia on June 14. What To Know Romman, who represents a suburban seat outside of Atlanta, announced her campaign on Monday, highlighting her support for raising the minimum wage and plans to address struggling hospitals across the state. “I will use every tool at my disposal as governor to raise the minimum wage, to feed hungry kids, to reopen hospitals, to take homes back from corporations and to invest in small businesses,” she said in her campaign launch video. “Georgia belongs to all of us, not just corporations and special interests.”Romman immigrated to the U.S. from Jordan when she was 7 years old and is the granddaughter of Palestinian refugees. She represents a suburban district in Gwinnett County and was first elected to the Georgia State House in 2022. She was notably proposed as a speaker at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) by uncommitted delegates who were withholding support for former Vice President Kamala Harris over the Biden administration’s handling of the crisis in Gaza. Democrats ultimately opted against allowing her to speak. Instead, she delivered a speech outside the DNC, calling for a ceasefire. She also voiced support for Harris’ candidacy in an opinion article for Rolling Stone, where she wrote that she supported Harris “for the people in my district and state who cannot survive another Trump presidency.” “My vote is a promise — a promise that I and those who stand with me will not stop demanding the end of mass slaughter and violence everywhere. It’s a promise that, if Vice President Harris wins, we will work both for the people in my district and to use every avenue to demand she end this genocide and the decades-long, bigoted policies that have led to mass destruction, death, and displacement of Palestinians,” she wrote at the time.She is joining an already crowded field of Democrats including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and former state Senator Jason Esteves. On the Republican side, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones has won the endorsement from Trump, but other candidates like Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are also running. Jeffrey Lazarus, professor of political science at Georgia State University, told Newsweek on Monday that Romman may see an opportunity in that few of Democrats running for governor are from the party’s more progressive wing of the party. “That being said, I don’t anticipate Rep. Romman being a major figure in the Democratic primary. There are already two really big names in the race in Duncan and Keisha Bottoms. Plus Michael Thurmond, who’s not quite as high profile as the other two, but does have decades of experience in Georgia politics,” he said. Romman’s base may be “difficult to expand,” as there are fewer progressive voters outside of Atlanta, he said. Her bid may be intended to build up her personal political brand, which could be a “savvy move,” Lazarus added. Incumbent GOP Governor Brian Kemp is unable to run for a third term due to term limits. What People Are Saying Lazarus also told Newsweek: “There’s a good bet the race comes down to Bottoms vs. Duncan based on name recognition alone. (The most likely way that changes is if one of the other candidates somehow captures the attention of the state’s political donors.) And if it does come to that, my money would be on Bottoms. Even under normal circumstances it’s more difficult to win a primary election as an ideological centrist than as someone closest to the median voter of the party. And that task gets all the harder when your opponents can say ‘This guy was a Republican until yesterday! And you want him representing Democrats?'” Georgia state Representative Ruwa Romman said in remarks reported by the AP: “For far too long, people have been too cautious or too willing to compromise with special interests and large corporations, and it’s left too many people behind.” Democratic state Representative Esther Panitch said in remarks reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “With the future of our country at stake, we can’t afford to indulge an unserious candidate’s ego for the highest office in Georgia.” What Happens Next Georgia’s primary is set for May 19, 2026. The Cook Political Report considers the race as a pure toss-up. However, Sabato’s Crystal Ball classifies the race as “Leans Republican.” Update 9/29/2025 5:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Lazarus.