Tensions+between+Shiites+and+Sunnis

= = toc =__Initial Differences__= After Muhammed's death in 632 A.D., the problem of choosing his successor arose, as he had not dealt with the issue. The followers of Islam split into two groups. One group believed that the leader of the faith (the caliph) had to be Ali, who was Muhammad's cousin, and the closest person to being an heir to Muhammad. They became known as the Shiat-Ali (partisans of Ali), and later, as the name they're now known by, the Shiites. The other side of the conflict believed that any man was allowed to be caliph if he was favored by the people. This group came to be called the Sunnis ("followers" in Arabic- short for "followers of the prophet"). The Sunnis favored a man named Abu-Bakr, and Abu-wound up becoming the first caliph, while Ali later took the position of the fourth caliph. Although Abu-Bakr was generally accepted as a good leader, tensions between the two groups remained as the Shiites believed only descendants of Muhammed were to lead the faith.



= = =__Modern Differences__= The reasons for the tensions between the Shiites and Sunnis have varied greatly, and are no longer just because of their different views on the Caliphate rule. One substantial distinction between the two groups is how they populatedifferent areas. In modern day Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan, the Shiites are the majority of the population; however, in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, the Sunnis are the majority. Furthermore, the power in Shiite nations belongs to the imams (religious leaders), rather than the government, when in Sunni nations, the opposite is true. After centuries of butting heads, the two parties gained an extreme intolerance of one another, viewing each other as infidels, and therefore causing countless clashes. Struggles for power constantly occur throughout the Middle East, and greatly impact the Muslim world.

=__Tensions in Iraq__= Tensions between Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq have gotten so great that violent breakouts occur often and the government has become extremely unstable. Death squads are sent into neighborhoods of both Sunnis and Shiites and people are taken off the street and killed. The corrupt government in Iraq is dominated by Shiite-Sunni conflict, and since Shiites gained power in 2009 they have denied instances of violence against Sunnis and have wiped out Sunni political opposition. The cultural gap between the two groups is obvious as well; many Sunnis claim to feel alienated and and say they are being pushed out of neighborhoods, and the two groups are so hateful of each other that they don't seem to have anything in common, much less religion. Such violence directed towards Sunnis can be seen here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/07/notebook/main1294151.shtl

=__Tensions in Iran__= In Iran, Shiites drastically outnumber Sunnis. Because of this, many conflicts arise between the Shiite government and the people. In Iran, the imam is the supreme leader of the nation, and therefore over rules the government and the Persian (Iranian) people. The Sunni minority has been suppressed for many years and is not allowed to practice their own religion freely, due to the strict laws imposed by the Shiite imam, Ayatollah Khomeini. Many times the Sunnis have protested against these laws but were quickly beaten (or killed) by the Persian government. When the Imam began to rule during the Islamic revolution in 1979, the tensions between the Persian Sunnis and Shiites began. Today, the tensions remain, and Sunnis are still constantly being overpowered by their Shiite brethren.



Works Cited:
What Is the Difference Between Sunni and Shiite Muslims--and Why Does It Matter?>Sullivan, Paul>HNN.US>[] Christian Science Monitor- Islam's Sunni-Shiite Split [] Counsel on Foreign Relations- IRAQ: Sunni and Shiite Unrest [] Encyclopedia Britannica- Ali and the First Caliphs http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/15223/Ali/260773/Ali-and-the-first-caliphs The difference between Sunnis and Shiites>Tristam, Pierre> MiddleEast.about.com>[] NYTimes- Iraqi Vice President Denies Ordering Assassinations http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/world/middleeast/sunni-leader-in-iraq-denies-ordering-assassinations.html CBS News- Shiites, Sunnis Battle for Iraq http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/07/notebook/main1294151.shtml