Shiites in Iraq

The Shiites have long dreamed of rising to power in Iraq, a dream that was first squelched when they failed in their rebellion against the British in 1920, a time of occupation that many still look back on with bitterness. Again in 1991 the Iraqi Shiites (a majority in Iraq's population), with encouragement from the United States, rebelled against the abusive power of Saddam Hussein, only to fail when President George H. W. Bush withheld military support.

The Shiites' Long Road to Power

C.E. 632-680

The Shiite-Sunni Split

When the Profit Muhammad died in 632, some (who would become known ass Shiites) believed his son-in-law and cousin Ali should be the first Caliph, but he was passed over. Ali eventually became the fourth caliph, but was assassinated in 661. Two decades later, in 680, Ali's son Husayn was killed in a battle in Karbala when he challenged the seventh caliph, cementing the split between the sects.

1920-1932

Revolt Against the British

With the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the end of WWI, Britain and France carved up the Middle East. Control of Iraq went to Britain in 1920, and Shiites and Sunnis joined together briefly on rebellion. Britain crushed the revolt and installed a non-Iraqi, Faisal, as king, setting up a succession of Sunni governments.Viewing Shiite clerics as a threat, Faisal sought to lessen their power. Iraq gained independence in 1932 but stayed a monarchy.

1933-1957

Demands for Equality

Denied adequate representation in government and the civil service, Shiites demanded reforms. Demonstrations broke out in Shiite areas and led to a failed revolt in 1935. Although more Shiites became educated and the monarchy gradually increased the number of Shiites in government positions, the Sunnis remained firmly in control. Hoping to gain greater political clout, many Shiites joined the underground Iraqi Communist Party.

1958-1978

Baaths Rise to Power

The monarchy was overthrown by a military coup in 1958, and unrest ensued. The Baath Party took over the government in a 1968 coup, and Saddam Hussein rose in power. To thwart the appeal of communism among Shiites, a group of Shiite leaders formed a political party, al-Dawa, to oppose the secular state. As the Baaths repressed religious practices and executed several Shiite clerics, both secular and religious Shiites were drawn into Islamic ideology.

1979-1989

An Islamic State Next Door

The same year Saddam took over as president of Iraq, Iranians overthrew the shah and installed a Shiite theocracy. Fearing the emboldened al-Dawa's growing power, Saddam launched a campaign to abolish the party and in 1980 had its leader, Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, executed. Many Shiites were deported or fled to Iran. Yet when Saddam invaded Iran in 1980, Iraq Shiites fought against Iranian Shiites in the eight-year Iran-Iraq war.

1990-2002

The Persian Gulf War

Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, prompting U.S.-led forces to push Iraq back inside its borders. George H.W. Bush encouraged the Shiites and Kurds to revolt against Saddam but withheld military support. The uprising was violently put down by Saddam's forces. Tens of thousands of Shiites were killed and many more went into exile. The United Nations passed resolutions demanding that Iraq eliminate all weapons of mass destruction.

2003

U.S. Invasion of Iraq

After negotiations at the UN broke down, U.S.-led forces entered Iraq in March, 2003 and overthrew Saddam's regime. The U.S. created and interim Iraqi Governing Council (IGC), made up of 25 representatives, including 13 Shiites. Two leaders of major Shiite families returned from exile and were assassinated. U.S. occupation forces faced continued opposition, The former leader, Saddam Hussein, was captured on December 13, 2003 and imprisoned to await trial by Iraqi authorities after judicial authority was established..

2004

Shiites Poised for Power

The IGC signed an interim constitution despite the objections of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who wanted a charter approved by an elected national assembly. The U.S. occupation was set to end June 30.

2005-2006

Armed Insurgency Dominates Iraq

An interim Iraqi government was established at the end of the formal U.S. occupation and Iraqis participated in elections to choose their representatives. Work was begun on a permanent constitution to govern the ultimate Iraqi democratic government. Insurgents, created havoc throughout the country using terrorist tactics in an attempt to force the U.S. and others foreign power to leave Iraq and to disrupt to process of the formation of the new government. Targets of the insurgency were primarily U.S. armed forces and Iraqis cooperating with the U.S. and the new government, although the population in general also felt the wrath as a tactic to cause general disruption. The insurgency consisted many of Sunnis unhappy about loss of power, former Baathists supporters of Saddam, and militant fundamentalist Muslims form outside Iraq. Shiites wrestled with alternative ways to share power with the minority Sunnis in the new government. On November 5, 2006, he was convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraq Special Tribunal and was sentenced to death by hanging. On December 26, 2006, Saddam's appeal was rejected and the death sentence upheld. He was executed in front of lawyers, officials, and a doctor at approximately 6:00 a.m. on December 30, 2006. As 2006 drew to a close, the country plunged deeper into civil war as sectarian violence worsened. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed and many more exiled due to sectarian violence. United States and British military forces have become substantially ineffective in controlling the violence and continue to be targets by both sides. It also became apparant that Iran us increasingly lending direct material support to Shiite factions inside Iraq.