Co-opting and Coercing Shi‘ism

This chapter begins with a discussion of sectarianism in Iraq. It acknowledges that sectarianism certainly existed, and that many of the regime’s policies were based on Sunni assumptions about Islam. However, the regime actually attempted to reduce sectarianism in the country in favor of a united Arab nationalist identity. The chapter then discusses the regime’s attempts to gain control over Shi’i Islam in Iraq including Shi’i religious leaders and their institutions. In particular, the regime attempted to control the seminaries (hawza) in Najaf and Karbala as well as the Shi’i commemoration ceremonies in the month of Muharram. The plans outlined in chapter 2 attempted to apply unified policies to the Shi‘is as well as to all Iraqis; however, it was often less successful among Iraq’s majority Shi‘i population.