The Secular Roots of a Religious Divide in Contemporary Iraq

By

Stacy E. Holden

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The Revolution of July 14, 1958.

1958 Revolution in Iraq

The Revolution of July 14, 1958.

Ali Khamenei (right) in a trench during the Iran-Iraq war, 1980s.

Ali Khamenei during the Iran-Iraq war

Ali Khamenei (right) in a trench during the Iran-Iraq war, 1980s. Khamenei served as President of Iran from 1981-1989 and assumed the office of Supreme Leader of Iran in 1989.

A joint US–Iraqi Army training exercise.

November 2009 training exercise

A joint US–Iraqi Army training exercise near Ramadi in November 2009. The Islamic State of Iraq had declared the city to be its capital.

Hasan ibn Ali served his father, Ali, during the Battle of Siffin.

Battle of Siffin, 657 CE

Hasan ibn Ali served his father, Ali, during the Battle of Siffin, 657 CE. Folio from a 14th century Tarikhnama (Book of history) by Balami.

Pilgrims gather for the ashura commemoration in Karbala, Iraq.

Ashura commemoration

Pilgrims gather for the ashura commemoration in Karbala, Iraq, January 19, 2008. The 10-day event commemorates the death of Husayn.

The Battle of Karbala, 680 CE.

Battle of Karbala, 680 CE

The Battle of Karbala, 680 CE. Painted by Abbas Al-Musavi between 1868 and 1933.

British troops entering Baghdad, Iraq.

British troops in Baghdad

British troops entering Baghdad, Iraq, March 1917.

King Faysal I of Iraq.

King Faysal I of Iraq

King Faysal I of Iraq.

Baath Party Flag.

Baath Party Flag

Baath Party Flag.

Hassan al-Bakr, General Secretary of the Arab Socialist Baath Party

Hassan al-Bakr

Hassan al-Bakr, General Secretary of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, circa 1974.

Saddam Hussein, fifth president of Iraq.

Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein, fifth president of Iraq, circa 1979.

Imam Ali Mosque, Najaf, Iraq.

Imam Ali Mosque

Imam Ali Mosque, Najaf, Iraq.

Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq.

Imam Husayn Shrine

Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq.

Members of the U.S. Army pose under the 'Hands of Victory' sculpture.

Members of the U.S. Army in Iraq, 2003

Members of the U.S. Army pose under the "Hands of Victory" sculpture in Baghdad, Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, November 2003.

Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki.

Nuri Al-Maliki

Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki during a trip to Baghdad, Iraq, April 7, 2011.

A Quran written by Imam Hussain ibn Ali.

Ibn Ali Quran

A Quran written by Imam Hussain ibn Ali over 1300 years ago.

Millions of Shi'i Muslims gather around the Husayn Mosque.

Husayn Mosque in Karbala, Iraq

Millions of Shi'i Muslims gather around the Husayn Mosque in Karbala, Iraq.

Flag of the 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS) or 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL).

ISIS or ISIL Flag

Flag of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) or "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL). This flag is also used by al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and Boko Haram.

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Cite this Site

Stacy E. Holden , "The Secular Roots of a Religious Divide in Contemporary Iraq" , Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective

September, 2015

https://origins.osu.edu/article/secular-roots-religious-divide-contemporary-iraq.