Thanks to all who responded to my TARGET about the differences between the Sunni,
Kurds and Shiite. Here is a compilation of the hits I received:
Here is a site from University of Georgia - I
have used it I got it from the lii.org folks
http://www.uga.edu/islam/iraq.html
<http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/RMOI-6F73PR?OpenDocument>
<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/iraq/ethnic.html>
Islam website; Resources for the Study of Islam
<http://www.furl.net/item.jsp?id=4364504>http://www.arches.uga.edu/~godlas/
<http://www.arches.uga.edu/%7Egodlas/>
Rethinking Schools - Just For Fun Map Game
<http://www.furl.net/item.jsp?id=4364498>http://www.rethinkingschools.org/just_fun/games/mapgame.html
Middle East Report Online: The Specter of Sectarian and Ethnic Unrest
in Iraq, by Nocholas Blanford
<http://www.furl.net/item.jsp?id=4364491>http://www.merip.org/mero/mero010704.html
Most of Iraqis (55-60%) are Shite. In the world, the majority of Muslims are Sunni.
The difference between Sunni and Shite is the dispute between who should be the
ruler
of the Islamic world after the death of the Prophet Muhammad- - Ali or Abu-Bakker.
The Shites believe that Ali should have been the ruler because he is a cousin of
Muhammad.
Most of the Kurds are Sunni but they are not Arabs. They speak Kurdish, not Arabic.
The northern part of Iraq is Kurdish, the south is Shite Arab, and the center of
Iraq is Sunni.
Most of the oil is in the north and south. Kurds want to be autonomous and believe
in federalism. Shites in the south agree with that but, that part is more
complicated.
Sunnis say that Iraq is an Arab state and should stay an Arab state. Economically
they feel they will be at a disadvantage. They don't want to disintegarte Iraq into
3 states.
The draft constitution is not accepted by the Sunni Arabs. This may start a civil
war in Iraq.
They need more time but they are being rushed to meet the deadline.
Here is a summary of a relevant article in Christian Science Monitor.
I could not access the full text but if you can get a copy, it might be helpful.
Christine
from the Aug 24, 2005 edition
Why Iraq's Sunnis fear constitution
By Dan Murphy and Jill Carroll BAGHDAD With the clock ticking down on Iraq's
constitutional negotiations, the question everyone wants answered is what, if
anything, can be done to satisfy Sunni Arab demands? Probably not much, but that's
unlikely to stop Iraq's parliament from approving the constitution by Thursday's
deadline, said Humam Bakr Hamoudi, a Shiite politician and chairman of the
constitutional drafting committee. Sunnis oppose changing Iraq from a strong
central state to a l... (1101 words)
Here' a little article that might help.
http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/currentaffairs/region/middleeast/irq050127
And this is a lesson plan from PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/iraq/ethnic.html
I found this link at Beliefnet.com:
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/65/story_6568_1.html. The article describes the
differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. I hope this will be helpful.
Thanks again for all your help.
Susan Guerrant
Librarian-Henley Middle School\
5880 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
Crozet, VA 22932
434 823 4393
sguerrant@k12albemarle.org
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