Saudi-Iran frictions at graves revered by Shiites

AP ^ | 010410 | HADEEL AL-SHALCHI,

[Artemis Webb]

MEDINA, Saudi Arabia – At the cemetery where the Prophet Muhammad's family is buried, an Iranian Shiite Muslim pilgrim overcome with emotion was jerked by a Saudi soldier, who barked a sharp order: "Stop crying!"

The soldier, a gun at his hip, then hovered over the pilgrim as he wrapped up his prayers to make sure he didn't start weeping again.

The Baqee cemetery is where the bitter rivalry between Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran gets personal. Iranians and other Shiites flock to the graves to pay respects to several revered descendants of Islam's prophet, while Saudi soldiers and morality police try to prevent dramatic displays of fervent praying or weeping.

Shiites' prayer books are snatched away, they are ordered to read only Saudi-approved verses written on billboards at the site, and groups of worshippers are broken up.

Part of the reason for the heavy restrictions is religious. Saudi Arabia's strict version of Sunni Islam, called Wahhabism, considers customs like crying — or even praying — at gravesites and revering saints repugnant because it smacks of idolatry. In fact, many Wahhabi clerics consider Shiites heretics.

But beyond the religious practices lies politics.

[PubliusMM]

The religions of pieces...bringing us the best of the seventh century for over 1400 years. And, the barbarism continues even today.

[I Buried My Guns]

It’s like the East Coast/West Coast rivalry, but with boy rape and cousin-marriage!

[La Lydia]

The Saudis need to get a clue and stop letting Iranians enter their country until there is a regime change in Iran. Wonder what the arabic phrase is for “fifth column.”

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The Saudis have little patience for the antics of the Iranians, and when they intervene, even in cases of crying or chanting, they are doing so because these are things Shiites do to stir things up. While this might fool westerners, the Saudis are wise to these tricks.

Not too long ago, the Iranians smuggled into Mecca a bunch of axes that they used to slaughter Sunnis, before they were captured. The Saudis chief executioner was very busy that year, cutting off heads, quite literally. The Iranians knew what they were doing, and they were also aware of the penalty for what they were doing.

[Wurlitzer]

Well as long as they only keep killing themselves I’m all for it. Darwinism at work.

[G8 Diplomat]

>Wonder what the arabic phrase is for “fifth column.”

Al- ‘amud al-khamis