In another reminder that the turmoil in the Middle East is not all about us, the Saudis executed, along with 46 criminals, a prominent Shiite leader. Protests have broken out throughout the Muslim world. Iranians have occupied the Saudi embassy, and the two countries have severed diplomatic relations.
Those two types of Islam are hostile to each other, about like Catholics and Protestants during the 30 Year’s War. Many of the predations of ISIS, which is Sunni (as is al-Qaida), have targeted Shiites, whose center is Iran. Some Islamic countries, like Iraq and Syria, have mixed populations, which is a big reason for their instability.
From News from The Associated Press:
Saudi Arabia announced Sunday it was severing diplomatic relations with Shiite powerhouse Iran amid escalating tensions over the Sunni kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.