1 Caroline YEOH From: [email protected] on behalf of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer [[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:04 PM To: Caroline YEOH Subject: The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer Syria fuels schism between Sunnis and Shiites Posted: 13 Aug 2011 08:45 PM PDT By James M. DorseyThe struggle for greater political freedom in Syria is emerging a s a lightning rod for a far greater schism in the Middle East and North Africa – one that i s more worrisome and that threat ens to divide the region and several ofits societies not only along political lines but also along sectarian lines. A majority of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia have in the last week for the first time since anti-government protesters took to the streets in March condemned Syrian president Bashar al Assad’s crackdown not because they are abhorred by the r egime’s brutality or because they favor political and economic change but because Mr. Assad enjoys the backing of predominantly Shiite Iran. By viewing the protests sweeping the region as a product of subversive Iranian policies inspired in some cases bydeep-seated Sunni prejudice against Shiites, Arab leaders led by Saudi King Abdullah are seeking to further isolate Iran, Syria’s staunchest ally, and t aint demands for far-reaching change as the product of foreign intervention rather than a homegrown, grassroots movement that is challenging decades of autocratic rule. Bahrain has so far emerged as the Arab state most effected by the Sunni-Shiite divide but the schism is a lso impacting politics in Iraq and potentially could stoke tension in Lebanon. Syrian protesters have succeeded, at
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
8/3/2019 Syria Fuels Schism Between Sunnis & Shiites
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:04 PMTo: Caroline YEOHSubject: The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer
The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer Syria fuels schism between Sunnis and Shiites Posted: 13 Aug 2011 08:45 PM PDT
By James M. Dorsey
The struggle for greater political freedom in Syria is emerging as a lightning rod for a far greater schism in the
Middle East and North Africa – one that is more worrisome and that threatens to divide the region and several of
its societies not only along political lines but also along sectarian lines.
A majority of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia have in the last week for the first time since anti-government
protesters took to the streets in March condemned Syrian president Bashar al Assad’s crackdown not because
they are abhorred by the regime’s brutality or because they favor political and economic change but because Mr.
Assad enjoys the backing of predominantly Shiite Iran.
By viewing the protests sweeping the region as a product of subversive Iranian policies inspired in some cases by
deep-seated Sunni prejudice against Shiites, Arab leaders led by Saudi King Abdullah are seeking to further
isolate Iran, Syria’s staunchest ally, and taint demands for far-reaching change as the product of foreign
intervention rather than a homegrown, grassroots movement that is challenging decades of autocratic rule.Bahrain has so far emerged as the Arab state most effected by the Sunni-Shiite divide but the schism is also
impacting politics in Iraq and potentially could stoke tension in Lebanon. Syrian protesters have succeeded, at
8/3/2019 Syria Fuels Schism Between Sunnis & Shiites