The West often sees Islam as a monolith but in reality it is a patchwork of sects, schools and ways, not to mention some fully fledged religions wearing Islamic masks to avoid persecution. And as always in Islam, religious differences are a cover for political rivalries.

Involved in the schism are three camps. One consists of traditional Sunni Muslims who have just won a share of power in several countries, notably Egypt. The second camp is that of Salafis, Sunni Muslims who dream of reconquering “lost Islamic lands” such as Spain and parts of Russia and to revive the caliphate. In the third camp are Shia militants who hope to overthrow Sunni regimes and extend their influence in southern Asia, Africa and Latin America....

Iran, the leading Shia power, and Saudi Arabia, its Sunni rival, have been fighting sectarian proxy wars for years, notably in Pakistan, Iraq and Lebanon. Last year more than 5,000 people died in sectarian clashes in Pakistan. Under its neo-Ottoman leadership Turkey has abandoned the ringside to join the fray, notably in Libya and Syria. Now Egypt is also testing the waters....

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Filed under: * Culture-Watch • History • Religion & Culture • Violence • * Economics, Politics • Foreign Relations • Politics in General • * International News & Commentary • Asia • Pakistan • Middle East • Egypt • Iran • Iraq • Saudi Arabia • Syria • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Faiths • Islam

1. Tomb01 wrote: How can this be?  Isn’t Islam the ‘religion of peace’? August 22, 4:17 pm | [comment link]

2. Katherine wrote: He’s right about the various factions, of course.  Islam began to fracture within a few years of Muhammad’s death.  But it seems to me that the “Arab Spring” is already in deep winter. August 22, 7:55 pm | [comment link]

3. MichaelA wrote: The Arab Spring is still the Arab Spring, warts and all.  But be thankful for this fracturing in Islam which helps to limit the effect of Islamist take-over and dominance of the Spring movement. August 22, 8:54 pm | [comment link]

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