Sunni Shia Middle East Map. The Middle East and Iran Sunnis and Shiites in the Middle East Their mutual antagonism has its roots in the division between the two major sects of Islam, Sunni and Shiite, which dates back to the death of the Prophet Mohammed in 632 AD. The majority of the world's Muslims are Sunni, between 85 and 90 per cent according to most counts, and spread across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Islam in the Middle East The Economist guide to Sunni and Shia from www.economist.com
The Umayyads consolidated Islamic rule over what we know today as the traditional center of the Islamic world as seen in the map above: North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Where do Sunni and Shiite Muslims live in the region? Who rules over each country? FRANCE 24 takes a closer look with an interactive map.
Islam in the Middle East The Economist guide to Sunni and Shia
The Umayyads consolidated Islamic rule over what we know today as the traditional center of the Islamic world as seen in the map above: North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Today this religious division takes also political dimensions, it's a struggle for regional influence between Shia political powers, led by Iran, versus Sunni political powers, led by Saudi Arabia. Sunni-led allies of Saudi Arabia have cut diplomatic ties with Shiite Iran, further polarizing the Middle East along the two major branches of Islam.
Islam in the Middle East The Economist guide to Sunni and Shia. The Iraq War further influenced regional power dynamics, solidifying Shi'ites as the predominant force in Iraq Today this religious division takes also political dimensions, it's a struggle for regional influence between Shia political powers, led by Iran, versus Sunni political powers, led by Saudi Arabia.
Why Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter rivals BBC News. Sunni-led allies of Saudi Arabia have cut diplomatic ties with Shiite Iran, further polarizing the Middle East along the two major branches of Islam. The majority of the world's Muslims are Sunni, between 85 and 90 per cent according to most counts, and spread across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.