It is not difficult to find stereotypes, comics and thoroughly paranoid, When the conversation turned to the two main sects of Islam tensions in the Middle East between.
Shiite Islam's power cunning, corrupt elements. Sunnis are called extremism, intolerance oppressors.
The hatred between the two is in the Arab world now than ever before, more deadly, because Syria's civil war. Officials said on Sunday, four Shiite Sunni sectarian conflict unusual in a village west of Cairo, Egypt, was beaten to death.
Hard-line clerics and politicians, both sides in the region have added fuel, depicting the struggle is essentially a sectarian war of their survival.
But public opinion is complex. Some genuinely see each other's mistakes - whether faith or political problems. Other departments to see purely political goal for the cynical creation. Even some people in other denominations view negatively fear the danger of sectarian flame burning out of control. There are those who are willing to return to the days of only one or two decades ago, when the difference is not so important, sects get along better, and even intermarry.
And some simple frustration dispute can be traced Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century death there is so much unrest.
"14th century after the death of the Prophet, in an area full of destruction, killing, occupation, ignorance and disease, you tell me, Sunni and Shia do?" Ismail AL-HAMAMI ridicule, 67 years old Sunni Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip. "We are all Muslims .... (Shiite) is Muslim, you can not ignore the facts."
AP reporters Cai Fang and Liao Zhengge region Shia and Sunni. Face a variety of perspectives, they found people increasingly gruesome hatred and anger struggle.
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Background
Rooted in the Sunni and Shia divide the question, who should succeed Muhammad Muslim leadership after his death 632. Shia Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son said that his rightful successor, but cheated when Sunni authority to appeal to those four "rightly guided caliphs" - Abu Bakr, Omar and the Ottoman and, finally, Ali.
Sunni majority throughout the Islamic world. In the Middle East, there is a strong Shiite majority in Iran, Iraq and Bahrain, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other parts of the Gulf remarkable community.
Believe that the "Koran" Word of God. But there are also differences between the two sects in theology and religious practice.
Some are minor: Shiite Muslims praying on both sides with their own hands, with his hands crossed on his chest or abdomen Sunni.
Other notable. For example, the Shiites, believe his sons, Imam Ali and a string, not only legitimate political authority in Muhammad, but also held a special religious wisdom. Most Shiites believe there are 12 imams - many of whom are "martyred" Sunni - and 12 disappeared one day return and restore justice. Accused Shiite Sunni Ali Mohamed I raise the level - is not correct, because the Shia agree that Muhammad was the last prophet, a central tenet of Islam.
Early Islamic heated debate, still resonate. Even secular Shiite parents say their children will never hated Abu Bakr after Omar Osman - Aisha, Muhammad's wife, who helped raise the Caliph Ali, in his revolt. When the outgoing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Ahmadinejad visited Egypt earlier this year, chief of Al-Azhar, Sunni theology fortress, bluntly told him that if sectarian harmony, Shiites must stop "insulting" and "companions of the Prophet."
However, only the most hardcore will say that these differences are reason enough to hate each other. For this, politics is necessary.
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Iraq
If Syria's war has made the region's sectarian hatred, releasing them in the Iraq war played a significant role. In the US-led invasion overthrew Saddam Hussein in 2003, the long-oppressed Shi'ite majority a chance to see one take power. Sunnis fear flip to their repression. The result is a vicious sectarian fighting continued until 2008: Sunni extremist Shiite pilgrims in the bus and shot down, Sunni Shiite militias kidnapped, tortured their bodies backward.
Abdul - Sattar Abdul - Jabbar, aged 56, is a prominent Sunni cleric Abu occasionally preached Hanifa mosque in Baghdad's predominantly Sunni neighborhood Ajax Miyet He. His two sons were killed by Shiite militias. He accused the United States and Iran on Iraq civil strife.
"From the beginning, the Americans try to create sectarian rift," he said. "Iran is a country's regional ambitions, this is not a Shiite country, it is a country-specific plans and agenda."
Now, he worried that the dispute back, he accused the Shiite-led government.
"We feel that the government does not consider part of our nation in Iraq," he said. "There is no magic solution. Shiites believe if you change their politicians, it would be a great help."
AHMED SALEH AHMED, 40, Sunni, Shiite Baghdad mainly used in operating a construction company. He is a Shiite woman to marry. They live in the 阿贾米耶赫 neighborhood and raise their two daughters and son as a Sunni.
Nevertheless, his wife, a small clay stone prayer, Shiite - Sunni - set in front of their prayer rugs. She frequently visited another Shiite shrine in Baghdad. Ahmed sometimes helps his wife's family preparing food in religious Shiite pilgrims. But he acknowledged that sometimes the family tensions.
"We were able to contain and resolve a civilized manner," Ahmed said.
Iraqis like to talk about politics, he said, "when things get heated, we tend to change the subject."
When their children ask sectarian differences, "We do everything we can to make these ideas clear, because we can for them, so they do not get confused," he said. "" We try to avoid discussion of sectarian issues in front of children. "
Ahmed sectarian tensions that have been very nervous, because people abuse from the "Arab Spring" democratic ideas emerge.
Democracy "need to be open minded, forgiveness and understanding of each other's capabilities," he said. "No man is born believe in democracy, it is like to go to school - you have to learn that democracy should be the people who want to do good, rather than those who were in retaliation."
Hussein Rubaie, 46-year-old Shiite, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment under Saddam. His majority Shiite district of Baghdad Sadriya saw considerable bloodshed, in the worst strife, he feared its return.
The whole area is in flames, we are all burned, "he said." "We have a lot of people who are ignorant and easy to drive sectarian sentiments."
In his view, his friends, including Sunnis. "Only my friends whisper sectarian thing, because they think it is a shame to talk about such matters," Rubaie said, "but I am afraid that one day may come when this will become soft talking in the street fighting. "
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Lebanon
In some Lebanese Shiites, it's fashionable to wear a necklace shape, the legendary sword Ali medal. Community pride, which is a sign of the times, the Shiite Hezbollah said that the sect is Sunni extremists threatened uprising in Syria.
In Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war period, the main battle is between Christians and Muslims. But in the past decade, has been the most dangerous divide between Shia and Sunni.
Presence in Lebanon, Shiites, about a third of the population, is a poor underclass below the Christians and Sunni, each about one-third as well. Shiite Hezbollah guerrillas discontent helped the rise of its power in the community to win more power. Now, many Sunni discontent Hezbollah's political rule government. 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Sunni, Sunni anger increased after being accused Hezbollah members. Since then, the two sides clashed in the streets.
Syrian civil war has fueled tensions. Lebanon's Sunni insurgency largely mainly Sunni, and Shia support President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which is dominated by his Alawi sect, a branch of Shiite. Hezbollah fighters dispatched to help Assad fight the rebels, angered Sunni region-wide.
RANIA, 51 years old, is a Lebanese Shiite bank executive, married to a Sunni and living in Ras Beirut, the capital of one of the few mixed communities.
At age 22, when she married, "I do not know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites is what."
Now she tends to support Hezbollah. Hard-line group, although not a fan, she believes Hezbollah and Syria targets because they are Israel's position. She said her husband is anti-Hezbollah and Syria rebels.
Rania, who gave her name because she does not want to be stigmatized about her social, religious or marital status, she said she did not talk about politics with her husband, in order to avoid controversy.
"I support a (political) side, he supported, but added:" We have to find a way to live with it, Rania, a 22-year-old daughter.
She said that education plays a big role. "I found the comments about it so that people who are just ignorance and stupidity feed hatred and stereotypes," she added. "
KHALED CHALLAH is a 28-year-old who has lived for many years in Syria, Lebanon, the Sunni businessman. He comes from a conservative religious family, but only occasionally go to the mosque. He said that the only way he would be able to tell a Sunni and Shiite mosques difference between preaching pastor talked about if Syria.
Shiite Imam will speak against the rebels, and called to resist them, and Sunni chiefs want to talk about the Syrian government, "he said."
He said he still does not understand the mood of Shiite Karbala, Ali's son, Hussein, was killed Sunni Umayyad dynasty in the 7th century army battle enthusiasm. Hussein's martyrdom is a decisive trauma, their faith, deepen their feeling of oppression. Each year, Shiite Muslims around the world celebrate the festival procession turned into mourning, men or cutting their own battle.
"This means more Shiites, the memory of the battle, more than the Sunnis," Challah said.
He said the Sunni "behavior sometimes like they are the only Muslims."
Challah called "very stupid." This is the same root from the Sunni and Shia, they worship the same God. "
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Iran
Shiite powerhouse Middle Eastern oil wealth and powerful Revolutionary Guard Shi'ite cleric-led government. Tehran has expanded its influence in the Arab world, mainly through its Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories alliance. Iran has proposed, is not sectarian, but for Israel's "resistance" as the center of the alliance.
Sunni Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies have been trying to stop Iran, in part as a warning Shiite transmission. Saudi Arabia hardline Sunni Wahhabi interpretation of Islam that the Shiites as heretics.
REZA TAJABADI, Shiite clerics in Tehran, accused the Wahhabis - Sunni Islam and related ultraconservative Salafi movement - to incite sectarian hatred.
If you create a difference Wahhabi exit, then Shiites and Sunnis will be able to put aside their minor differences, which are not comparable. "
ABOLFATAH DAVATI, another Shiite cleric, historical differences between the two sects. As has been the dominant Sunnis, through history, to become subject to the Sunni rulers. Shiite cleric, he says, has been an independent authority.
"Sunni rulers and reasonable support policies, such as the killing of Imam Hussein, even now the most important task, they put their ruler's decision," he said. "
"In contrast, the Shia do not depend on the government, so the Sunnis can not tolerate this, they publish religious decree which increases the cracks."
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Egypt
In a country where the vast majority are Sunni Muslim population, many Egyptians knew little about the Shia. Shiite population is tiny, and largely hidden - so secret, and their number is not really known. However, the ultra-conservative Salafis, many of them Shiites as heretics browsing has become politically more powerful and vocal dictator Hosni Mubarak since the fall of 2011. They often preached against Shiites, warning that it will spread to Egypt.
MONA Mohamed Fouad in Egypt is a rare: Her mother is Iran's Shiite, Sunni Her father is Egyptian. She thinks that she is Sunni.
Fouad said, "People are always surprised and shocked" when they found her mother is Shiite, 23, who works as a digital marketing company. "But usually if they know that they are very interested in, they asked me many questions."
Fuad said that her sister had heard colleagues have criticized the Shia. In her fiance's office and they distributed leaflets telling people to beware Shiite indoctrination, "she added.
Fuad said: "People make fun of us should read the Shiite Muslims who believe that all terrorists and we say that they are ignorant foreigners, but we do the same thing on their own,." "There is a difference in interpretation, different opinions, but in the end of the day, we believe the same thing."
She told her from the beginning, her mother is Shiite Sunni fiance. "I told him to tell his family, so if they have any questions, we end it immediately."
ANAS Aqeel, a 23-year-old Salafi, spent the first 18 years of his life in Saudi Arabia, he sometimes encountered Shiites. "We did not always controversial beliefs, but they alienated me," he said.
"I once saw a Shia in Saudi Arabia a prophet, near the tomb of his companions speak discomfort I had a conflict with the expulsion of the place," Aguirre said.
He feared Shiite spread their faith. Although he said that not all Shiites are the same, he added: "Some of them deviate from the" Koran "and the Prophet's companions said that bad if someone is wrong, he insisted his misconceptions , then we can not call him a Muslim. "
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Palestinian Territories
Almost all Palestinian Sunni Muslims. Their main Shiite alliance with Iran, Hamas connected to the world. But those tensions, the Hamas ruled Gaza Strip to break its relationship with Syria because of civil war.
AHMED MESLEH, from the West Bank town of Ramallah, 28-year-old blogger, said he met with a trip to the Lebanese Shiites and encounter them through Facebook. But some friends of him, because his online comments.
"If we take the Shiite religious point of view, then we can describe Shiites have deviated from the true teachings of Islam a sect, I think they are more than the Jewish and Israeli Muslims and Islam a greater threat, "Mesleh said.
He cited the death of Hussein, the Shiite mourning procession, he said: "They whipped their own way, this is unreasonable."
Middle East conflict "is in its core religious conflict to destroy Islam Shia in Lebanon, they are the ones to control the situation and lead to sectarian conflict."
ISMAIL AL-HAMAMI, and a 67-year-old Palestinian in Gaza Shati refugee camp, said that politics is not a religion, is to promote sectarian tensions.
"In Gaza, Iran used to support weapons, and now they support Assad ...... In Iraq, they (Shiites) executive, who is Sunni Saddam Hussein, and with with the help of the Americans, they put all over the country and now they are on the U.S. in Iran and Syria. "
"So, the relevant religion? It is all about politics."
Beneficiaries of sectarianism, he says, "Those who want to sell arms to both sides ...... those who want to keep the Arab and Muslim countries, live in the dark. Beneficiaries occupation (Israel) and selling The people who gave us religious slogans. "
"God knows who is right or wrong."
 
 



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