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Home , Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Ali Khamenei, Vali Nasr

june 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 7

Iran’s Shi`a Reach Out to design to make inroads into the Arab urged the Shi`a to rethink some of the Sunni world. The 2006 war effectively sect’s beliefs and practices, maintaining Mainstream Salafists hastened the deterioration in relations that unless re-examination first occurs between Shi`a and Sunnis, the old-age among the Shi`a the gap with the Sunnis By Alex Vatanka rift that had been violently rejuvenated will only widen. “You can see how following the fall of Saddam Hussein much Sunnis refer to the exaggerated the iranian state, politically and in Iraq. As with previous pan-Muslim statements in our books and traditions, spiritually led by Shi`a gatherings in , the claim of and accordingly call us pagans,” he said. Khamenei, is publicly unwavering in the Iranian organizers was to provide “There are plenty of such statements,” its commitment to forge unity among a forum to generate debate among and unless “corrective measures are Muslim countries. Tehran is again Muslims of different sects and continue implemented the Sunnis will retain the reaching out to Arab adherents of to push for a charter on Islamic unity. opinion that Shi`a are apostates because Salafism and , the historical According to ’s state-funded Press they see their [Shi`a] as gods, antagonists of the Shi`a. Khamenei TV, the charter has already been signed which is not the case.” Rafsanjani also has declared the present Iranian year by 2,000 Muslim scholars, a key facet urged Shi`a to refrain from “insulting (ending March 2009) as the Year of of which is the rejection of takfirism, [the] Prophet’s disciples, the four National Unity and Islamic Solidarity. a school of thought among hard line caliphs and those who are regarded as Iran’s rival for leadership in the Islamic Sunnis that considers Shi’ism as heresy saints by Sunnis.”5 world, , is also emphasizing and sanctions violence against the the necessity of religious dialogue. Two latter.2 Advancing the need to curtail recent pan-Islamic conferences held in unorthodox Shi`a traditions and Tehran in May and in in June The conference in Tehran was practices has been a constant feature of were aimed at lessening intra-Muslim chaired by Ayatollah Mohammad Ali the theological debate in Iran, and pre- differences, although in both instances Taskhiri, Iran’s director-general of dates the present Islamist government scant explicit measures to achieve this the World Forum for the Proximity of that came to power in 1979. In recent objective were produced. Islamic Schools of Thought. Taskhiri, years, however, the urgency has handpicked for the position by mounted, at least in the eyes of those In practice, Shi`a-majority Iran Ayatollah Khamenei, courted Salafist clergy who are loyal to the concept of and its Arab Sunni neighbors are at participation for the event and spoke the Shi`a velayat-e faqih (Guardianship best reluctant, and at worst unable, of similar efforts having reduced Sunni of Jurisprudent) and the model of the to agree on a path to religious “misunderstandings” of Shi`a beliefs . This is due to the rise reconciliation between ’s two and practices and particularly in regard of the popularity of Islamic mysticism largest branches. Much of the recent to Pakistani Sunnis.3 At the event, no in Iran, and the emergence of Shi`a publicized enthusiasm for dialogue senior Salafist/Wahhabi clerics were practices among some rural and poor among Islam’s various sects is above all present, although there were Arab urban communities in Iran that put driven by political motivations aimed Salafist participants from countries emphasis on revering Imams `Ali, at containing sectarian violence in the such as , the United Arab Husayn or Hasan, and Fatima al-Zahra, Middle East. Genuine Islamic accord, Emirates and Saudi Arabia. the Prophet’s daughter. A number of particularly among Shi`a and Sunnis, Iranian Shi`a clergy have spoken against would require the full backing of senior Ali , Iran’s such trends, and warn that it effectively religious authorities, but this has not president from 1989-1997, and presently amounts to kufr (disbelief), as in Islam been forthcoming. chairman of two of Iran’s most powerful no human being should be worshipped.6 political institutions—the Assembly of Salafists Travel to Iran Experts and the Expediency Council— 5 See summary of speech by Voice of the Islamic Repub- From May 4-6, 2008, the Iranian devoted his address to the gathering on lic of Iran, Tehran, May 9, 2008. For a relatively recent authorities hosted some 850 Muslim likely rewards Muslim countries could Shi`a critique of the Wahhabi sect, see Hamid Algar, clerics () and intellectuals from garner if they overcame internal strife Wahhabism: A Critical Essay (New York: Islamic Publica- st 45 countries in Tehran for the 21 4 and isolated extremists. On May 9, tions International, 2002). Note that Algar makes an un- annual Islamic Unity Conference.1 Rafsanjani continued the same line, by ambiguous distinction between “Salafism” and “Wahha- The initiative had first been touted by stating in a sermon that “the extremist bism,” and it is the latter that is the target of his censure. Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Shi`a and Sunnis are separating two 6 Shi`a Muslims hold the following five people above Mottaki, in December 2006 who then important sections of the Muslim all others: Prophet Muhammad, Fatima al-Zahra (his stated that “the Islamic Republic world,” which is a “waste,” but that if daughter), his son-in-law and cousin, `Ali, and his of Iran has always called for unity anything “disagreements in the Muslim grandsons Hasan and Husayn. See , The Shia among Muslims.” Mottaki’s pledge world are increasing.” He then notably Revival (New York: W.W. Norton, 2006). For an in- was political and made on the back of teresting sermon on Sunni perceptions of Shi`a on this accusations by Sunni states that the 2 “Iran to Host Islamic Unity Conference,” Press TV, matter, see Hojjat-ol Eslam Mehdi Daneshmand at www. summer 2006 war between Hizb Allah May 4, 2008. youtube.com/watch?v=_HOvsFspC3M&. Danesh- and Lebanon was an Iranian and Shi`a 3 “Salafi Scholars Can Also Express Their Opinions in mand decries some Shi`a practices that have emerged Iran,” , May 1, 2008. in Iran, such as Shi`a ceremonial chanting that equates 1 “International Islamic Unity Conference Starts in Teh- 4 “Criticizing the Extremism of the Islamic World,” Husayn with Allah, suggesting that they amount ran,” Islamic Republic News Agency, May 4, 2008. Etemad’e Melli, May 5, 2008. to kufr or the rejection of the oneness of Allah, and which june 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 7

In relation to Sufism, or Islamic mystic While the tough worded letter was a mere King Abdullah is engaged in a struggle sects, the state views their unorthodox re-statement of a sentiment prevalent of his own with radical Wahhabi clergy and unregulated religious practices as among Saudi Wahhabis, it was issued and their sympathizers in the kingdom. a challenge to the theocratic regime’s only three days before the opening of Nonetheless, the intended political monopoly on religious authority and an inter-faith dialogue conference held message in Mecca was palpable. At guidance, which it deems to basically by King in the opening ceremony, King Abdullah underpin its political legitimacy. Islam’s holy city of Mecca between walked into the conference hall with -7. Bringing together some 500 Rafsanjani, who later sat on the king’s Since 2006, for example, Iran has Islamic scholars and academics, the left on the center stage, interpreted by witnessed a number of government Mecca-based League Saudi media to signal that the Wahhabi crackdowns on Sufi orders, the first of (MWL), which organized the event, had kingdom does not have a problem with which occurred in the holy Shi`a city hoped the initiative would represent moderate Shi`a.12 of in February 2006 when around 200 people were hurt in clashes between “Much of the recent Conclusion police, Islamist Basiji militias and Sufi In the final analysis, in neither Tehran disciples. Another Sufi place of worship publicized enthusiasm for nor Mecca did the attendees produce belonging to the Nimatullahi order was dialogue among Islam’s tangible action plans to facilitate razed to the ground on November 11, Shi`a-Sunni unity. This is a reflection 2007 in the western city of Boroujerd. various sects is above of the level of suspicion and doctrinal Official media reported that the clashes all driven by political divide, which is exacerbated due to the came after adherents attacked a Shi`a geopolitical rivalry of Iran and Sunni mosque whose clerics had been publicly motivations aimed at Arab states particularly since 2003.13 condemning Sufism over the minaret containing sectarian At the same time as Saudi Shi`a were loudspeakers.7 effectively facing disfranchisement in violence in the Middle relation to the Mecca conference, there Others Issue an Anti-Shi`a Letter East.” were reports of arrests of Sunni clergy Regardless of the nature of its in Iran’s Kordestan and Balochistan motivations, Iranian pleas for Islamic provinces, and fear that the United unity made little impression on some Arab Emirates is financing the spread of Saudi Arabia’s most senior Wahhabi Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah in of Wahhabism in southern Iran. The clerics. Twenty-two of them issued the West as forces of moderation in the Shi`a-Sunni gap is indeed real.14 In an anti-Shi`a statement on June 1 in Islamic world. Still, and despite official the case of the Mecca conference, the which they accused the Shi`a of abusing Saudis distancing themselves from objective was officially more about Sunnis under their control. “If they the letter, it, combined with the fact Muslims reaching out to Jews and [Shi`a] have a country, they humiliate that Saudi Arabia’s indigenous Shi`a Christians, somewhat fanciful given and exert control in their rule over minority were officially barred from the deep-seated intra-Muslim distrust and Sunnis,” and specifically mentioned Mecca conference, somewhat lessened while holding the conference in Mecca, conditions in Iran and Iraq. “They the ability, if not the sincerity, of Saudi a city where non-Muslims are by law sow strife, corruption and destruction officials to reach out to the Shi`a.10 banned. among Muslims and destabilize security in Muslim countries…such as .”8 Iranian media reported the ban on The tone of the letter is not dissimilar to Saudi Shi`a attendance and also gave 12 “Saudis Launch Islamic Unity Drive,” BBC, June 4, anti-Shi`a material found on extremist coverage to reports of three Shi`a 2008. Salafist or jihadist websites that glorify mosques and eight Shi`a clergy and 13 Recently, Saudi Wahhabi scholar Ibn Jabarayn called violence against Shi`a, or the 2007 community elders being arrested in the for the massacre of the Shi`a in a tape recording broad- statement of Ayman al-Zawahiri who Eastern Province of the country while cast on the internet. The exact edict is, “The blood of the accused Iranian Shi`a leaders to be the intra-faith conference was in session rafezi [derogatory word for Shi`a] is halal [religiously 11 “intent on establishing certain [Islamic] in Mecca. In spite of the malign Saudi permissible].” concepts which nullify the intellects of ban, Iranian media by and large avoided 14 According to a report by the Iranian website www.as- their followers and prevent them from any scatting of condemnation, perhaps riran.com, UAE-based Salafists are providing cash and understanding the Qur’an and Sunna, a reflection of Iranian appreciation that religious Salafist literature to ethnic Arab seafarers from except through [the Shi`a clergy’s] Iran on visit to the UAE. The aim is to spread Salafism 9 interpretations and explanations.” 10 Saudi officials barred not just the Shi`a, but all non- in southern Iranian coastal areas, home to many ethnic Wahhabi sects. According to the pan-Arab newspaper Arab Sunnis. According to www.jahannews.com, a Sun- enables Sunnis to represent Shi`a as heretics and justify al-Quds al-Arabi, “Fatimide, Isma’ili, Shi’is or any non- ni cleric in Balochistan was also recently arrested on alle- violence against them. Salafi Sunni citizens [were] excluded. The Arab Shi’i gations of cooperating with the Iranian ethnic Baloch and 7 “Iran’s Sufis in the Limelight,” Jane’s Islamic Affairs participation was restricted to Shaykh Jawad al-Salihi Sunni terrorist organization, Jund Allah. Meanwhile, Analyst, March 2008. who lives outside Iraq, is opposed to the Iraqi Govern- www.mizannews.com reported that two Sunni clerics, 8 Donna Abu Nasr, “Saudi Clerics Criticize Shiites for ment, and calls for its downfall.” See al-Quds al-Arabi, Seifullah Hosseini, Friday prayer leader of Khatam al- Destabilizing,” Associated Press, June 1, 2008. June 5, 2008. Anbia mosque in Saqez, and Hossein Hosseini, Friday 9 “Qaeda Video Taunts Bush, Iran, Shiites,” CNN, May 11 “Closure of Shi`a Mosques and Arrest of Shi`a Clergy prayer leader of Hamzeh mosque in Javan-roud in Kord- 5, 2007. in Saudi Arabia,” RajaNews.com, June 7, 2008. estan, were arrested. june 2008 . Vol 1 . Issue 7

Nevertheless, the recent Iranian and Saudi attempts should not be dismissed. Both events had the backing of the highest echelons of powers in the respective states. Khamenei and Rafsanjani, often deemed as fierce rivals, judged the matter of intra- Islamic dialogue sufficiently worthy to both rally behind it. King Abdullah, too, has maintained the momentum for such a dialogue in his kingdom despite often stiff opposition, as seen in the anti- Shi`a letter signed by the 22 Wahhabi clerics who sought to undermine him.

It is clear that political and not religious drivers have been the primary catalysts in both instances, and both Iranian Shi`a and Saudi Wahhabi clerical establishments continue to contain dangerously sectarian voices that will prove stubborn in their views. Still, in an age when sectarian violence has almost become the norm in various Middle Eastern arenas, from Iraq to Lebanon and from to Yemen, the two leading Shi`a and Sunni states in the world can ill afford to let others take the initiative.

Alex Vatanka is the editor of Jane’s Islamic Affairs Analyst and based in Washington, D.C. He is also an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute, and an adjunct lecturer at the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School. His current research focus is on Iran and its relations with its neighbors, and his most recent publication was : Iran’s Most Powerful Man (Middle East Institute, February 2008). He is fluent in Farsi and holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Essex in the .