The new status of shiis in post Saddam Iraq and its possible political impact on gulf countries

The dispute over caliph position between (Hz.) Ali and Muawiya has caused severe damage in the Muslim world. This dispute has shaken the unity among Muslims and resulted in the formation of a new sect.This new sect is called Shiism. This new sect gained momentum and supporters after the dispute. The eleventh Imam Hassan Al-askeri did not have a male child and this lead the Shia members to prefer to stay away from politics and government affairs, because according to some of the theses developed by a number of Shii clerics, the eleventh Imam should have a male child. The clerics have also claimed that the eleventh Imam (Al-Mahdi) who will lead the Shii?s, has entered a phase of secrecy. Thus, according to this newly formed thesis the Shii?s will stay away from politics till the awaited eleventh Imam will emerge. But in Persia after the Shah Ismail had declared Shiism as the formal religion of the state, the conflict between Sunni?s and Shii?s took a new turn.When modern Iraq was formed, the Shii?s were still keeping their stance of not getting involved in politics. Especially in 1921 when Iraq was under the British mandate and the modern Iraqi government was formed under the English supervision, and not to take part in those governmental institutions that were formed by the occupation forces was seen as the right choice by them. Later on when the Baath party came to power, the Shii?s were excluded and also the Shii?s accused that regime of being infidel and stood against its power. One other factor that led Shiism to passivity was the view of Al-hui who was the most prominent reference of Shiism at that time. Al-Hui believed that it is not appropriate for a Shii cleric to get involved in politics.Since 9 April 2003, after Saddam Hussein was toppled a new environment was formed in Iraq in which the Shiis do their best to gain political power. In contrast to 1921, this time the Shiis did not stay away from politics and did not oppose the occupation forces; instead, they cooperated with the USA and formed the majority of the newly formed government of current Iraq. This Shii cooperation with USA was due to Al-Sistani?s assertion. In the preparation of the new Iraqi constitution, the Shiis played a major role and they were so influential that they succeeded in including all their demands in the permanent Iraqi constitution as permanent laws.This new status of Iraqi Shiis has negatively affected the Shiis in the gulf countries in the Middle East, because many Shii citizens in those countries have given up many of their rights to their states such as performing religious ceremonies and participation in the government. Now they have started to pressure their governments after observing the Shiis in Iraq. The effects of post 2003 Iraq were not limited to the gulf countries alone, but to the whole region of the Middle East. The support that the Shiis get from the USA in Iraq and in the eradication operations of Sunni radicals played a great role in Shiism?s gaining this status in Iraq.Key Words:1)Shiite2)Arab Gulf States3)Permanent Constitution4)Sectarian Conflict5)İraq