mrzurnaci said:
Etain, I'll be the civil one here and say you're right to say that not all Sunnis are ISIS supporters BUT...
If you read about every single persecution that happened to Assyrians, it was all under Sunni Muslim leadership or rule...
Here are a few notable examples.
Assyrian genocide -> perpetrated by Sunni Muslim Turks who enticed Sunni Muslim Kurds to help them with the promise of loot and money.
Invasion of Timur -> Timur's invasion of Northern Mesopotamia is the sole reason why we are a minority in our very own homeland. Timur himself was a Sunni Muslim.
Our modern persecution by ISIS whom are also Sunni Muslims of course...
Our persecution and discrimination by the Baathist parties in both Syria and Iraq. Iraq's baathist party was majority Sunni Muslim with Syria's exception of a Shi'a Muslim despite Iraq's baathist party discriminating against Assyrians alot worse than Syria's...
The fact that the only Middle Eastern country with a large size of non-Muslims that is under Muslim rule is Iran which is Shi'a Majority.
The Shi'a majority were even nice enough to allow Assyrians and JEWS to vote for someone to represent them in their parliament. What Sunni Muslim country do you think would do that?
How about a non-Assyrian example using Pakistan which is majority Sunni Muslim with Shi'as, Christians, and Ahmadis being persecuted?
The only time Sunni Muslims are truly peaceful is when they have no political/military power whatsoever...
I think Sunnis cause the most trouble because they're the majority within that region. However, both of sects (Sunnis and Shias) are guilty of persecution against the other muslim sect. For instance, the Iranian sunnis (Mainly laristanis), baluchis (sunnis) and non-muslims (bahais) have faced major persecution by Iran since 1979 but, it's not given enough publicity because Iran is NOT vocal like Stupid Saudi. Most of the above have moved to the gulf region mainly Oman,UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain to escape persecution. Not to mention, that Hezoballah army (Shia army) is split from the lebanese army (The country's army - druze,christians and sunnis) because they're allied with Iran and wish to serve Iran (As quoted by my Lebanese maronite best friend), in other words, when chaos happens that army will only serve the shias.
Anyhow, Saudi began spreading it's cancerous Wahhabism to the Sunnis in every neighbouring gulf country vocally whilst Iran spreads its extremist Shi'ism behind the doors. We're probably going to experience WW3 soon, but, I hope they're sensible enough to realise it will cause a large economic loss.
I, being an Ibadi, I'm scared from both sides (especially nowadays, we never used to have problems back in 2010 before the arab spring) and I prefer not to engage with any politically. However, from my personal experience and my grandparents', Sunnis were much nicer but then again it's OUR experience and your experience was different. For instance, my grandfather worked in Bahrain and Kuwait because they were prosperous back then and had education as well as job opporutnities. The shias made it clear that the jobs are to only be occupied in this order/priority: 1) Bahrani (Without an i - The shia population of Bahrain) 2) Bahraini (The sunni population) 3) Gulf with the exception of Omani Ibadis...so they really weren't nice either. Also, the first church to be built in the UAE for the non-native christians was approved by the Sunnis in the late 50s or 60s while the Shias heavily opposed it (scholars and shias in Sharjah) and kept causing tensions until above late 80s. They then got over it and accepted it. I honestly believe the sects and who's better would be dependent on each country for instance, I would pick sunnis in Bahrain, shias in Iraq, sunnis in Lebanon, shias in Syria. As for your example about Iran being the muslim majority and being nice to non muslims, that's invalid. The gulf countries do not have a non muslim population (unless they're non-native living in the UAE or bahais pre-1971 hence they have their nationality), if anything, a fair comparison inclusive of M.E christians being
treated well, would be between Jordan and Iran (Sunni Arab and Shia with native non muslims).
In conclusion, there will ALWAYS be an oppressed minority whether we like it or not, be it: Verbal (bullying or racism) or physical abuse EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD (we can't see or know about everything in this world). Ok, I hate politics so enough, but, we just have to solve things with a strong will, dignity and ears open to listen to all sides. Trust me, we did not have it easy for us (us Northern emiratis).. I could talk about murder pre-1971, but, bun that since everyone has blood on their hands in the M.E
and we're living happily right now or, at least before WW3 starts
