Month

Archives: Sunnis

Syria’s forgotten pluralism and why it matters today

By Andrea Williams | (The Conversation) | - - The Syrian Civil War has been raging for six years. It has killed nearly half a million people and left over 12 million,…

After Mosul: Can Iraq survive without a unified National Army?

By Balsam Mustafa | (The Conversation) | - - The operation to retake Iraq’s second city of Mosul from the so-called Islamic State [group] (IS) has entered its crucial phase. The Iraqi…

Dear Trump officials: Stop confusing Muslim Conservatism with Terrorism!

By Z. Fareen Parvez | (The Conversation) | - - The Trump administration has been using the phrase “radical Islam” when discussing the “war on terror.” From his inauguration address to remarks…

Does Turkey’s Erdogan Dream of Neighboring Mosul?

By Lucy DerTavitian | (Informed Comment) | - - The battle over Mosul appears to have ignited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s expansionist Ottoman era fantasies. He gained a few more adversaries…

Sectarian Tensions flare in Baghdad as some Sunni Arab families forced from Neighborhoods

By Ibrahim Saleh | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | - - Several Sunni Muslim families were forced out of their mainly Shiite Muslim neighbourhood in Baghdad recently. Locals fear the creeping return of…

Sunni Clans in Iraq threaten Reprisals against ISIL Collaborators

Kamal al-Ayash | Anbar | (Niqash.org) | - - In Ramadi, tribes are marking houses belonging to suspected Islamic State [group] collaborators with special graffiti. Often the houses are demolished two or…

Will Iraq’s next Government be . . . Iran-backed Shiite Militias?

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | - - The [so-called] Islamic State [IS] group has caused a realignment of Iraq’s political map. Next year’s provincial elections will signal who will…

Defeating ISIL in Iraq will Take Sunni-Shiite Reconciliation, not Just Tanks

By Neil Thompson | (Informed Comment) | - - As Iraqi, Kurdish and Syrian forces squeeze its territory in the Arab world and Turkey hunts down the group’s support networks and sympathisers…

Is Religion really Driving Middle East Violence?

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Pew Research has released a report saying that "As a whole, the region continued to have the highest levels of religious hostilities in…

Ordinary Iraqis defy sectarianism after Islamic State’s attacks on Baghdad

By Balsam Mustafa | (The Conversation) | - - “I’m happy that I graduated. I’m so grateful to my parents and I dedicate my success to both of them.” These were the…

Abuses of Fallujah Sunnis Raise Question: Does Iraq Gov’t Control of Shiite Militias

Human Rights Watch | - - (Beirut) – The announced investigation into allegations of abuse of civilians around Fallujah by Iraqi government forces is a test for the government’s ability to hold…

How The US, Iraqi Army And Shiite Militias United – Then Split – In Fallujah

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | - - Anti-extremist forces have been fighting in Fallujah for a week. But before they began, there were serious negotiations between the partners-in-battle. And…

Baghdad gov’t paralysis allows ISIL to blow up nearly 100 Children, Women & Men

Baghdad gov’t paralysis made capital vulnerable to massive ISIL bombings

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Daesh (ISIL, ISIS) launched a series of suicide car and truck bombs in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing nearly 100 and wounding nearly 200…

Fall of Iraq, Rise of Sunnistan? Sunni Politicians In Washington Promote Idea of Partition and a Sunni Region

Mazin Sahib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | - - Leading Sunni Muslim politicians have opened an office in Washington to represent Sunni interests. There’s talk of an autonomous Sunni region again as…

With Iraq’s Shiite Gov’t in Collapse, Can Country finally get past US-crafted Sectarianism?

Niqash.org | Baghdad | - - Iraq’s Crises Highlight Major Divide Between Country’s Shiite Politicians The Shiite political alliance that dominates Iraq is cracking under pressure from the country’s crises. But some…

Islam: Do you know the difference between Sunni & Shiite?

AJ+ | (Video Report) | - - AJ+: "What's The Difference Between Shia And Sunni Islam?"

If Iraq can take Ramadi from ISIL/ Daesh, it will Need to reach out to Sunnis

By Balsam Mustafa and Scott Lucas | (The Conversation) | - - After days of mounting expectation, the Iraqi government finally announced a serious offensive to retake the city of Ramadi, the…

If Defeating ISIL/ Daesh is so imp’t, why isn’t Ramadi Campaign all we’re talking about?

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | - - Given the large number of vehement pronouncements by US presidential candidates about the dire threat from Daesh (ISIS, ISIL), and attacks on President…

Poll: Muslims actually HATE ISIL/ Daesh

Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola, Jimmy Dore & Francesca Fiorentini | (The Young Turks) | - - N. B. Charts courtesy Pew Research Center [N.B. 6% of Buddhists in Malaysia think well of…

Iraq: Eastern front against ISIL slowed by Internal Iraqi Divisions, Unenthusiastic USAF

Iraq: Eastern front against ISIL slowed by Internal Divisions, Unenthusiastic USAF

By Mustafa Habib | (Niqash.org) | - - Iraqi fighters in Anbar are waiting to push the Islamic State group out of cities like Ramadi. But they wonder when it will happen,…