Islamic World Sum-up And Update

Conflicts 4 cultural-political conflicts dominate the Islamic World today One Religious-ethnic…Israel/Palestine One Cultural… the invasion of Western values and the Islamic Fundamentalist reaction to it One Political… Traditional Islamic vs Secular Autocratic vs Democratic One Intra-religious… Sunni vs. Shia

Updates

Iraq Conflict between Shia and Sunni Arabs continues people died in terrorist attacks in April 2014 The are probably many more as Anbar province (where ISIL dominates) was too chaotic to make a count. This is the worst month since 2008! ISIL claims credit for many of the attack A recent election (April 30) has changed things very little

Egypt After pro-democracy protests led to the fall of the dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011 The Muslim Brotherhood an Islamic Political party was the only one ready for elections in 2012 Mohammed Morsi was elected President in June 2012 He soon began to act like theocratic dictator. Protests followed In July of 2013 the Military threw Morsi out of power. Since then the Military has ruled Egypt.

Syria The Syrian regime is led by a Shia, President Assad Most Syrians are Sunni Assad’s regime is very repressive In 2011 protests led to a pro-democracy rebellion Since Assad has brought in the Shia Militia Hezbollah from Lebanon into the war Sunnis called for Jihad Assad used chemical weapons against his own people…they have since been removed He has switched to “Barrel bombs” Oil barrels full of explosives and bits of metal that are dropped on rebel neighborhoods killing rebels and innocents The rebels have been losing Ground, most recently the major city of Homs.

ISIL Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant The War in Syria has become a religious one. ISIL so radical an islamist group Al- Qaeda rejects them has taken control of parts of Iraq & Syria

Afghanistan Although the Taliban and its allies have not been totally defeated Most American troops will be withdrawn by the end of Some will remain behind to train and support the local army.