Persecution of Shi'ites in Moderate Malaysia

Sunnis make up the majority of Muslims at 85%.  Shi'ites make up most of the other 15%, with Sufi and a few other minor sects filling the rest.  In Malaysia, the majority is Sunni, and they have been agitating against the Shi'ites for years.  Now you might think that Islam is a brothethood of Muslims, each believeing in Muhammad and Allah, thus a natural bond between them.  Not so, they have been at each others throats since the death of Muhammad in 632AD.

The Malaysian government only recognized the Sunni aspect of Islam, and has had a ban on Shia and other sects for a long time.  Malaysia is moderate....if you are a Sunni.


From the Orlando Sentinel Jan 14 by Eileen Ng

Muslim-majority Malaysia is known for religious tolerance, but not when it comes to Shiites

KUALA LUMPUR — In this Muslim-majority country, it's OK to be Christian, Buddhist or Hindu. But not Shiite.
Well, not really, as religious persecution from Islam towards any other faith is a known fact.  Malaysia has tried hard to maintain a veneer of moderation but that seems to be vaporizing as we watch.

Malaysian religious police raided a three-story shop-house last month and detained more than 100 Shiites who had gathered to mark the death of one of their most beloved saints, Prophet Muhammad's grandson, who was killed in the year 680.

It was one of the largest such sweeps in years, sparking outrage and fear in the country's small but growing Shiite community. Some religious scholars see it as a worrying sign that Islamic authorities are becoming more hard-line.

"Malaysia is trying to become a country a la Taliban that only allows one school of thought," said prominent scholar Asri Zainul Abidin.
And the conversion is happening, Mr. Abidin, right before your eyes.

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