Shiites in the Arab world

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Islam is historically divided in to two major sects: Sunni and Shī‘a Islam each having their own sub-sects. Large number of Shī‘a Arab Muslims live in some Arab countries including Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the UAE and Qatar. Shī‘a Muslims are a numerical majority in Iraq and Bahrain and make up a plurality in Lebanon. Smaller Shī‘a groups are present in Egypt and Jordan. Despite the heavy presence of Shī‘a Muslims in some Arab countries, particularly amongst the population of the Persian Gulf Arab countries, they have been treated poorly throughout history. Additionaly in recent times, Shī‘a Muslims alongside with Kurds have faced genocide by the pan-Arabist regime of Saddam Hussein. For both historical and political reasons, the Shī‘a have fared rather poorly in much of the Arab world, and the topic of Shi‘ism and Shī‘a groups are among the most sensitive issues for the Sunni elite.^[1] This article discusses both the history of Shī‘a Islam in the Arab world from the dawn of Islam and their current situation in the Arabic speaking world.

1 History
2 Yemen
3 Saudia Arabia
4 Iraq
5 Lebanon
6 References
7 See also

[edit] History

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[edit] Yemen

Arab Shiites in Yemen have been traditionally suppressed, often violently.^[2] Massacres have taken place by government forces using tanks and airplanes to obliterate the uprising of Shia groups in the country.^[3]

[edit] Saudia Arabia

The Shī‘as of Saudia Arabia live predominatly in the Al-Ahsa province although large number are scattered throughout the kingdom. Ismai'li Shī‘as also are significant in Najran. The official state position of Saudia Arabia supported by state-backed theologians consider Shī‘a Mulsims as heretics. Since the Wahabi takeover with the help of the Saudi family, Shī‘as were subjected o the harsh, puritanical and anti-Shī‘a ideology of the Wahabis backed by the state. By the 1925 the Saud family had taken Mecca and Media and through the alliance with the Ikhwan, they damaged important Shi'i tombs in the latter city and were only prevented from destroying the tomb of Prophet Muhammad himself by the personal intervention Ibn Saud. The harshness of Wahabi rule was relaxed when in 1929-1930, Ibn Sa'd turned on the Ikhwan and destroyed them. From that time onward, although open manifestation of Shī‘a Islam is prohibited, Shī‘as are better tolerated than the era of 1913-1929. In contemporary Saudia Arabia, the Shī‘a have been denied any sginificant position in the government and lack autonomy in their regional affairs. Shī‘a are excluded from at least 50 percent of Saudi universities and research institutions. The testimony of the Shī‘a Muslims is not permitted in the court and there are no Shī‘a judges in Saudi courts.^[4]

[edit] Iraq

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Iraqi Shī‘as are predominately situated in the southern part of Iraq, in Baghdad (the capital), Karbala, Najaf, Hila, al Diwaniyah, all throughout the south until Basra.

Unlike other sects of Islam, the Shī‘as of Iraq have been treated horrifically under the regime of Saddam Hussein—many Iraqi Shī‘as of Persian descent were expelled from the country in the 1980s, despite being the majority of the country at 63%.