Sunni…Shi’a.. ISIS …is, what’s it all about?
Ida Lichter, MD
Recent Quotes from the Media… confusion!
“Islamic State slaughters 50 Sunni tribesmen, women and children in Iraq” SMH 3
November 2014
“Rise in Deadly Attacks on Shiites in Iraq Stirs Anger at Government…. The Shiitedominated central government, led by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al- Maliki, is battling
an increasingly deadly Sunni insurgency” New York Times 27 September 2013
“Sunni tribal leaders offer to battle Islamic State if Baghdad makes concessions” SMH
16 August 2014
“Iraq bombings, shootings kill 72 during Shiite pilgrimage” The Australian, June 14
2014
The Arab spring…
The Arab Spring was a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests (both nonviolent and violent), that began on 18 December 2010 and spread throughout the
countries of the Arab League and surroundings.
While the wave of initial revolutions and protests had expired by mid-2012, some
believe the ongoing large-scale conflicts in Middle East and North Africa are an
aftermath of the uprisings.
The Lay of the land…
Sunni or Shi’a…
The disagreement between Sunnis and Shias dates back to 632
A.D. when the two main Muslim groups split over who should
lead them after the Prophet Mohammed died.
Today the struggle is about religion, politics and boundaries.
Leaders of the two groups are rivals. In Iraq and Syria, Sunnis
have joined hardline rebels, while Shia fight with government
forces.
By Country…
1%
3%
Iraq
Iran
10%
Shi'a Muslim
Shi'a Muslim
34%
63%
Sunni Muslim
Sunni Muslim
Christian, other
89%
Zorastrian, Jewish,
Christian, Baha'i
Saudi Arabia
Syria
10%
Sunni Muslim
16%
100%
Alawite,Druze,other shi'a
Wahabi Muslim (Sunni)
74%
Christian
Jewish are less than 1%
Sunni or Shi’a
The vast majority of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are Sunni,
in countries like Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria,
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Shia Muslims are actually a tiny minority overall. They are in
charge in Iran and Iraq.
Sunni vs Shia by location…
ISIS or ISIL…
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
ISIS is a Sunni, extremist, jihadist, unrecognized state and self-proclaimed caliphate based in
Iraq and Syria in the Middle East.
ISIL wants a Sunni Muslim state governed by Sharia law.
Founded in 1999, and it was the forerunner to Al Qaeda.
Al Qaeda split from ISIL in 2014 as a result of political differences.
Declared a “Worldwide Caliphate” - the concept of a single theocratic, one-world
government , overthrowing the world's current political systems. Movement to reestablish
a caliphate began in the 1920’s.
ISIL’s desired Caliphate…
New York Times, June 2013
Creating a brand?
Muslim Women
Reformers, by Ida
Lichter
The eyes have it…
Wajeeha Al Huwaider, Saudi Arabia
Mukhtar Mai, Pakistan
Sima Samar, Afghanistan
Shirin Ebadi, Iran
Immigrant Women’s Health Service…
The Immigrant Women's Health Service (IWHS)
was established in 1987 to address the needs of
immigrant and refugee women in regard to health
information and health services.
The IWHS has two centres, one in Fairfield and
another in Cabramatta. A team of bi-lingual and
bi-cultural workers help, support and advocate for
migrant women from different communites.
Today we’ll be donating $1,650 to this wonderful
cause on behalf of Ida Lichter.
Thank you…
Thanks to Alvaro Bros for building
our stage.
Thanks to Cooley
Auctions for letting us use
their space for free.
More attacks….
New York Times, June 2013
Year
Number of
Attacks
2004
51
2005
58
2006
5
2007
56
2008
62
2009
78
2010
86
2011
34
2012
603
2013
419