Saudi-Iranian Dispute Intensifies
January 4, 2016
Today, Bahrain and Sudan joined Saudi Arabia in breaking off diplomatic ties with Iran, and the United Arab Emirates downgraded its relations with Iran. Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran on Sunday after an angry mob stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran, the Iranian capital. The spark behind this latest row between long-time rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran was the execution of Shī`ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr on terrorism charges in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The people of Saudi Arabia are predominantly Sunni Muslims, and Shī`ite Muslims around the world condemned the cleric’s execution as motivated purely by sectarianism (prejudice in favor of one’s own sect).
Middle East Map. Credit: WORLD BOOK map
Differences between Shī`ite and Sunni Muslims have resulted in violence in the Middle East for centuries. Iran is the largest—but also one of the few—Shī`ite-dominated countries. As such, it is often at odds with the Sunni-controlled countries that make up the majority of the Muslim world. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 for playing a central part in protests against the Saudi government. However, he claimed never to have advocated violence or terrorism. Saturday’s execution in Saudi Arabia also included 3 other Saudi Shī`ites, as well as 43 Sunnis accused of working with Al-Qa`ida.
Other World Book articles:
- Islam (2009) – A Back in Time article
- Middle East (2012) – A Back in Time article
- Saudi Arabia (2012) – A Back in Time article
