Recent Rise in Sunni–Shi'ite Tension
Inter-Arab Relations|480, 481, 482| December 16, 2008
Introduction
The conflict between Iran and Sunni countries – especially Saudi and Arabia Egypt – has escalated the tension between Sunnis and Shi'ites in the Muslim world. This escalation has had several manifestations:
I. Cyberwar between Sunni and Shi'ite Hackers By: L. Azouri
The sectarian tension is also mirrored on the Internet. Hundreds of websites associated with either the Sunna or the Shi'a – including sites of clerics, papers and government ministries – have been hacked, and defaced with offensive messages and images. Among the prominent Sunni websites that have been attacked are the Saudi Al-Arabiya website, the website of former Saudi mufti 'Abd Al-'Aziz bin Baz, the website of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Religious Endowments, and a website of the Saudi Higher Education Ministry. The Shi'ite websites that have been targeted include those of the supreme Shi'ite religious authority in Iraq, Ayatollah 'Ali Hussein Al-Sistani, a website of the Shi'ite community in Egypt, and many others.
To read full report, visit http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA48008.
II. Anti-Shi'ite Statements by Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi By: E. Glass
Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, head of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, made harsh anti-Shi'ite and anti-Iran statements in the Egyptian and Saudi press. He warned against the danger posed by the spread of the Shi'a in Sunni countries, characterizing it as part of Iran's campaign for regional hegemony. He added that there was no possibility of rapprochement between Sunnis and Shi'ites, since there were fundamental principles of the Shi'ite faith that the Sunna could not accept. Despite strong criticism of his statements by Iranians and Shi'ites in the Gulf, Qaradhawi only reiterated them, refusing to either retract them or apologize.
To read full report, visit http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA48108.
III. Sunni-Shi'ite Tension in Saudi Arabia By: Y. Admon
The Arab press reports that the Saudi authorities have been discriminating against Shi'ites in the country, e.g., by preventing Shi'ite representatives from participating in the June 2008 Interfaith Dialogue Conference in Mecca, closing Shi'ite mosques, arresting senior Shi'ite clerics, and persecuting Shi'ite pilgrims from Iran. In addition, Saudi Sunni clerics have made anti-Shi'ite statements, accusing the Shi'ites of heresy and of trying to take over the Muslim world. Some clerics have even condemned initiatives for Sunni-Shi'ite rapprochement aimed at easing the tension between the two sects.
To read full report, visit http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA48208.
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