I believe that most of us probably don't even glance at news that reports a few dozen bomb blasts and scores of deaths in Iraq. It turns out that these are part of an age old conflict between shia and sunni Muslims.
Closer to India, Pakistan is being used for proxy war between shias and sunnis - making a joke out of the assertions about the religion of peace. But look at this; I will post a few quotes below and comments thereafter http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/alqaida-the-second-act-the-hate-preachers-fuelling-sectarianism-9205931.html > “Half of Jihad is Media” is one slogan posted on a jihadist website, > which, taking media in its broadest sense, is wholly correct. The > ideas, actions and aims of fundamentalist Sunni jihadists are > broadcast daily through satellite television stations, YouTube, > Twitter, Facebook. As long as these powerful means of propagandising > exist, groups similar to al-Qa’ida will never go short of money or > recruits. > > Much of what is disseminated is hate-propaganda against Shia and, more > occasionally, against Christians, Sufis and Jews. It calls for > support“Half of Jihad is Media” is one slogan posted on a jihadist > website, which, taking media in its broadest sense, is wholly correct. > The ideas, actions and aims of fundamentalist Sunni jihadists are > broadcast daily through satellite television stations, YouTube, > Twitter, Facebook. As long as these powerful means of propagandising > exist, groups similar to al-Qa’ida will never go short of money or > recruits. > Much of what is disseminated is hate-propaganda against Shia and, more > occasionally, against Christians, Sufis and Jews. It calls for support > for jihad in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and anywhere else holy war is being > waged: a recent posting shows a romantic- looking suicide bomber who > was “martyred” carrying out an attack on an Egyptian police station in > Sinai. > > Looking at a selection of online posters and photos, what is striking > is not only their violence and sectarianism but also the > professionalism with which they are produced. The jihadists may yearn > for a return to the norms of early Islam, but their skills in using > modern communications and the internet are well ahead of most > political movements in the world. > > On the other hand, the content, as opposed to the technical > production, is frequently violent and crudely sectarian as in three > pictures from Iraq. The first shows two men in uniform, their hands > tied behind their backs, lying dead on what looks like a cement floor. > Blood flows from their heads as if they have been shot or their > throats cut. The caption reads: “Shia have no medicine but the sword – > Anbar victories.” > > The second picture shows two armed men beside two bodies, identified > by the caption as members of the anti-al-Qa’ida Sunni Awakening > movement in Iraq’s Salah ad-Din province. The third shows a group of > Iraqi soldiers holding a regimental banner, but the words on it have > been changed to make them offensive to Sunni: “God curse Omar and Abu > Bakr” (two early Sunni leaders). > > More sophisticated are appeals for money for jihadi fighters by Sunni > clergy and politicians, one raising $2,500 (£1,500) for every fighter > sent to Syria and claiming to send 12,000 fighters to the country. One > picture shows seven shelves, as if in a shop, but when you look > closely you see that each shelf carries a different type of grenade. > The caption reads: “Anbar’s mujahedeen pharmacy for Shia.” > > It is not just Twitter and Facebook accounts that are used but two > television stations, Safa and Wesal, based in Egypt but reportedly > financed from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with journalists and > commentators who are vocally hostile to the Shia. Wesal TV broadcasts > in five languages: Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Indonesian and Hausa. > for jihad in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and anywhere else holy war is being > waged: a recent posting shows a romantic- looking suicide bomber who > was “martyred” carrying out an attack on an Egyptian police station in > Sinai. > > Looking at a selection of online posters and photos, what is striking > is not only their violence and sectarianism but also the > professionalism with which they are produced. The jihadists may yearn > for a return to the norms of early Islam, but their skills in using > modern communications and the internet are well ahead of most > political movements in the world. > > On the other hand, the content, as opposed to the technical > production, is frequently violent and crudely sectarian as in three > pictures from Iraq. The first shows two men in uniform, their hands > tied behind their backs, lying dead on what looks like a cement floor. > Blood flows from their heads as if they have been shot or their > throats cut. The caption reads: “Shia have no medicine but the sword – > Anbar victories.” > > The second picture shows two armed men beside two bodies, identified > by the caption as members of the anti-al-Qa’ida Sunni Awakening > movement in Iraq’s Salah ad-Din province. The third shows a group of > Iraqi soldiers holding a regimental banner, but the words on it have > been changed to make them offensive to Sunni: “God curse Omar and Abu > Bakr” (two early Sunni leaders). > > More sophisticated are appeals for money for jihadi fighters by Sunni > clergy and politicians, one raising $2,500 (£1,500) for every fighter > sent to Syria and claiming to send 12,000 fighters to the country. One > picture shows seven shelves, as if in a shop, but when you look > closely you see that each shelf carries a different type of grenade. > The caption reads: “Anbar’s mujahedeen pharmacy for Shia.” > > It is not just Twitter and Facebook accounts that are used but two > television stations, Safa and Wesal, based in Egypt but reportedly > financed from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with journalists and > commentators who are vocally hostile to the Shia. Wesal TV broadcasts > in five languages: Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Indonesian and Hausa. > I have myself laughed and mocked Pakistanis after YouTube was blocked in Pakistan, but surely there is a case for some sort of regulation about what can be allowed? Opinions? Thoughts? >
