Sunni Shia Divide Explained

Here is an excellent explanation of the Sunni-Shia divide from BBC Radio (thanks to Emma Le Neve Foster for tweeting the link).

 The Pew Research Center has some good graphics about the divide, the differences in Sunni-Shia  beliefs and the way Sunnis and Shias view each other.

Below is a map that shows where most Shia live. Iran has the largest population of Shias which, says the Pew Research Center, accounts for its support of Pakistan and Syria, which both have Shia populations.

NPR also ran good story on the divide several years ago. You can listen to the story here.