The sectarian schism between Sunni and Shia Islam lies at the heart of religious tension and political conflict in the Middle East. Or does it? The schism has been exploited by political groups and leaders to spur conflict from Yemen to Iraq. Regardless of how sectarianism is used and abused for political ends, a new spirit of reconciliation between the main branches of Islam is needed.
To bridge this divide Dr Ahmed El Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar University in Cairo, called for a meeting of religious scholars from Iraq, Syria and Yemen to work on an agreement “that neither Sunnis accuse Shiites of apostasy, nor Shiites accuse Sunnis of that”. Given the mixed populations of these countries, Dr El Tayyeb’s choice is telling and important. The Grand Imam is going to the heart of sectarianism in the region in the hopes that a genuine moment of reconciliation comes out of the chaos we all are facing. Getting the parties to show up to such an event and choosing a suitable location will be difficult, but the call for reconciliation is an important step during these challenging times.
In the West, historical sectarian conflict has given way to a lasting coexistence between the main branches of Christianity. There remain theological issues. During the Second Vatican Council, in the 1960s, the Catholic Church recognised Protestants as fellow Christians. Dr El Tayyeb’s call for a religious agreement that recognises Sunni and Shiite Islam could be the beginning of a transformation, especially in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
The need for understanding between Sunni and Shiite is unavoidable. Extremist groups such as ISIL use the language of sectarianism to justify their murderous rampages and repugnant behaviour. Likewise, Bashar Al Assad in Syria and the Houthis in Yemen use sectarian ideology to inform their military campaigns and attempts to control land and populations. It is time to end the widespread misinterpretation of religious text and root out the radicalism that they inspire.
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