Sectarian tensions continue to flare in the Middle East following Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr and Iranian protesters’ retaliatory attack on the Saudi embassy. The death of Sheikh Nimr, a vocal opponent of Saudi Arabia’s Sunni monarchy, has given rise to pro-Shiite demonstrations across the region and spurred Kuwait to become the latest Sunni-led state to sever or downgrade ties with Iran. We discuss the origins of the Sunni-Shiite divide and the geopolitical impact of Islamic sectarianism.
Sectarian Hostility on the Rise as Rift Between Saudi Arabia and Iran Deepens
Sectarian tensions continue to flare in the Middle East followingSaudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr and Iranianprotesters' retaliatory attack on the Saudi embassy. The death ofSheikh Nimr, a vocal opponent of Saudi Arabia's Sunnimonarchy, has given rise to pro-Shiite demonstrations across theregion and spurred Kuwait to become the latest Sunni-ledstate to sever or downgrade ties with Iran. We discuss the originsof the Sunni-Shiite divide and the geopolitical impact of Islamicsectarianism.
Guests:
Shadi Hamid, senior fellow, Brookings Institution; author of "Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the Middle East"
Lesley Hazleton, journalist; author of "After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam"