Germany in the Vortex of the Sectarian Warfare in the Middle East.

2017-07-06 / 2017-07-24

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Various parties suggest Germany neither should take a clear position in the sectarian warfare among Muslims, nor can it play an active role in this subject at all. If circumstances are analysed in depth, such statements have to be rethought – Germany already is much entangled, with little awareness, though.

Since the middle of the 18 th century, the sectarian warfare in the Islam World is a recurring conflict. It is closely related to the founding of the first state of Saudi Arabia as well as the neighbourhood and the profound antagonism against Iran. The countries represent diverse – in many cases even opposite – interpretations of the Islam. The rather strict Wahhabi Sunnis of Saudi Arabia stigmatize the secular Shiites of the Iran as disbeliever. Both countries use their petro-dollars to “export” their persuasion of the “right Islam” into the World.

In addition, Iran supports Shiites believers and Shiite groups in other countries, the Alavids in Syria, Huthies in Yemen, Hizbullah in Lebanon, Muqtada as-Sadr in Iraq, and Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami und Harakat Islami in Afghanistan. To keep the balance in the region, Saudi Arabia holds up the IS (ISIS, ISIL), ISK (also IS Khorasan) and the Wahhabi movements. Both sides want to undermine each other’s role in the Muslim World. As a result, the Sunni minority in Iran is suppressed, while Saudi Arabia represses the Shiite minority.

In the late 70s – in context with the Iranian Revolution – and until the 80s, the sectarian warfare moved to Afghanistan, which was occupied by the Soviet Union at the time. Both, Iran and Saudi Arabia, pumped hundred millions of dollars into the mentioned militant groups to install the proxy war. Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami and Harakat Islami fought for Iran, while the Salafists and the Islamic Center stood for Saudi Arabia at the front. After the withdrawal of the troops of the Soviet Union, the Muslim fighter groups remained and took over control of Afghanistan. The opponents continuously finance the militant groups. The money is propelled through their Embassies in Kabul and finance the respective opposing Madrasas (religious schools), orphanages, universities, TV channels, radio stations, printing presses, libraries, think-tanks, cultural and business centres. In the mosques – financed by this money – their so-called Islamic dogmas of each of the opponents are preached every day.

Over centuries, Shiites and Sunnis have lived side by side and in respect together in Afghanistan. The war of Iran and Saudi Arabia disrupted the Afghan society just for some years. But the ongoing war with the accompanied poverty, illiteracy, backwardness, ethnic tensions and tribal structures have put much pressure on the Afghan people. Iran and Saudi Arabia are about to instigate another sectarian warfare in Afghanistan.

The political and martial unrests in Syria are fuelled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepāh-e Pāsdārān-e) and by the Shiites recruited in Afghanistan in their war against the Syrian rebels. They should prevent the Saudi attempt for a change of regime in Syria. In retaliation Saudi Arabia concocted Islamic State of Khorasan, the IS branch for Afghanistan and Central-Asia. Saudi Arabia wants to send the hate message through Islamic State of Khorasan to Afghanistan, central Asian countries and Iran.

IS Khorasan claimed several suicide attacks against Shiite societies during 2016. End of July, the target was a rally of the Junbish Roshnai movement against a power trail through their territory, resulting in 20 fatalities and 250 wounded. The attack on the shrine in Kart-e Sakhi of Kabul on the evening before the Shiite Ashura Festival claimed at least 14 deaths and 36 wounded. In November, 32 were killed and 80 wounded in the attack on the Shiite mosque and cultural centre Baqir-ul-Olum. These incidents indicate Saudi Arabia decisive to dismantle kernels of Shiites in Afghanistan and in the entire region. According to intelligence information the Islamic State of Khorasan moved from Southern and Eastern of the country to the northern and western Afghanistan to initiate brutal assaults against Shiites in Iran and central Asia.

Subsequently, the religious scholars of both Shiite and Sunni Muslim societies of Afghanistan ought to convene a joint body to convey a decree to the world community that such efforts of both Iran and Saudi Arabia are condemn as irreligious. The said efforts of these countries contradict the core of the national interests and national security of Afghanistan. The ambitions of Iran and Saudi Arabia otherwise will turn Afghanistan into ashes.

Germany is unknowingly stuck in this conflict

As of today, Saudi Arabia still is a major customer to the German arms industry. In 2016, Germany sold arms in the value of 529 million Euro – this is much for Germany, but just 5% of the expenses in weaponry of Saudi Arabia. Iran and the Shiite certainly are aware of these arms deals and they are a huge thorn in their side. Germany exposes itself in this war, it takes part, and logically is a target for terror attacks – as we painfully became aware in December 2016. On top of this, the neutral position of Germany will be questioned.

In this situation, Germany could itself regain its neutral position by bringing together the Shiite and Sunni Muslims in Afghanistan, Germany and in Europe. To the benefit of the Muslim societies, Afghanistan and Germany.