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4/1/2006 - Blood Brothers: The Sectarian Story in Pakistan by Nicholas Schmidle

Blood Brothers The Sectarian Story Pakistan By Nicholas Schmidle April THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY began other Mehfil Murtaza imambargah congregational Shia Muslims central Karachi Several dozen worshippers performed their prayers After finished people Sixteen stayed prepare burial Hameed Ali Bhojani leader local Shia commu At around Bhojani bathroom washing corpse someone kicked pointed The armed intruder joined handful other Sunni Muslim militants belonged sectarian organization called Sipah Sahaba Army Companions Prophet The gunmen rounded everyone premises dragged They determined every Shia found Bhojani ordered others throw wallet wristwa Then professionalism veteran firefighters hoisting water cannon killers sprayed lineup gunfire Hameed Ali Bhojani others pronounced scene Two stopped breathing hospital The people survived wounded initial burst gunfire After falling ground buried under bodies absorbed bullets sandbags Hameed Ali Bhojani younger brother Altaf recently agreed He middle bespectacled On Sunday I Altaf wears powder shalwar kameez typical Shia mourning spiky stubble He walks arthritic sighs loudly finally settles squeaky wicker framed couch After drink Altaf tells about months before Hameed murder other brother Shaukat while sitting Karachi At Shaukat Altaf We couldn understand sectarian something In Karachi throes notoriously violent periods pinpointing clear motive murder difficult But months later looking Hameed lying blood surrounded bullet casings rolling around floor marbles Altaf grasped gravity situation Pakistan embroiled sectarian SINCE AS MANY people killed Pakistan sectar violence first months alone Sipah Sahabahas implicated number incidents The party founded Its stated mission transform Pakistan Sunni Muslim state following cific codes Sunni jurisprudence being Muslim state cater equally Sunnis Shiites Integral vision labeling Shiites Muslim minority Pakistan In U S State Department listed Sipah Sahaba terrorist organization Some linked Qaeda In January Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf banned Sipah Sahaba In response regrouped under Millat Islami Pakistan which itself banned November In April Interior Min istry lifted restric tions Millat Islami Pakistan allowed public gathering Islamabad Approximately people showed Movie salesmen DVDs featuring beheadings attacks American soldiers Iraq Afghanistan The crowd broke chants Shia Kafir believer Shia Kafir Conspiracy theorists which there differences putes between Sunni Muslims Shia Muslims created United States divide eventually Muslim World Closer analysis reveals picture sorts foreign involvement inspiration For example sectari anian dynamic Middle East today I politicians almost totally polarized sectarian camps fight their specific interests This consequently emboldened Sunni groups Shia Iran Shia groups Sunni Saudi Arabia increase their visibility after cades centuries political acquiescence Therefore kills dozens Shiites Iraq these reverberates throughout region Sunni Shia tensions resurfaced Lebanon according March report The New Republic Online previously unheard Sunni Shia emerging Palestine None these isolated incidents Recent history shows behind sectarianism almost always hidden Pakistan exception Of course history records centuries chasm within Islam After Prophet Muhammad death AD fight broke should rightful successor leader Muslim world Some title caliph leader should Abu Bakr Others believ Prophet appointed Ali cousin first convert Those porting Abu Bakr close friend Mohammad known Sunnis Those supporting Ali known Shiites Ali eventually named caliph after being passed Abu Bakr Omar Othman other close friends Mohammad Historical discrepancies theological differences aside however these sects coexisted relative peace centuries Pakistan early In movement Pakistan Dr Syed Husain M Jafri there distinction between Sunnis Shias Dr Jafri Professor Islamic Studies The Aga Khan University Karachi early His smooth wears starched white shirts He reminds Mohammad Ali Jinnah father Pakistan Shia Paki movement common movement You cannot separate sectarianism Pakistan politics And others points Islamic Revolution Iran beginning SOON AFTER THROWING THE SHAH country early Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini power Iran His unique reading Shiite theology volved around notion velayat faqih Rule Supreme Jurisprudent This represented radical break Shia Islam political theological because created place society clerical class Those attained higher levels religious wisdom Khomeini argued political leadership Armed undeniable religious credentials amounts wealth Khomeini touted greatness Iran revolu His rhetoric emboldened Shiites around world Pakistan Shia minority eager follow Pakistan leader General Zia Haq Iran trying export revolu country While General Zia extremely devout introducing Islamic reforms Pakistani society Shiites vinced these changes would their expense These suspicions confirmed Zia particular enforcement Hudood Ordinance style punishments Sharia mandatory observance noontime prayer government offices NES Since Sunnis Shiites differently Shia mandatory prayer services unnecessarily exposed sectarian differences But policy pushed Shia imposition zakat percent explicitly sanctioned Sunni legal philosophy Shiites observe their version religious And weren happy about getting double taxed In July Tehrik Nifaz Fiqh Ja afria TNFJ Pakistani Shia party close Iran massive protest Islamabad against zakat The onstrations large enough extract concessions Zia otherwise uncompromising government Zakat government declared would automatically deducted accounts Shia citizens everyone Gen Zia happy about TNFJ making trouble Pakistan domestic scene something jihad Afghanistan It coincidence Pakistan outbreak tarianism began around For previous Pakistan become conduit through which money weapons ideas flowed Afghanistan campaign defeat Soviet Army there The Central Intelligence Agency worked closely Saudi Intelligence funds Afghan mujahideen warriors Madrassas Islamic seminaries built thousands preach importance jihad The version Islam taught these madrassas militant intolerant toward foreign infidels Soviet troops Afghanistan toward domestic infidels according Saudi train Islam known better known Wahhabism Shiites After campaign succeeded wearing Soviet eventually leading Soviet Union these jihadis returned brimming hatred The effect jihad Pakistani society profound It environment Pakistan awash foreign funds Sipah Sahaba founded QARI SHAFIQUR REHMAN small madrassa tucked dusty Karachi He unabashed member Sipah Sahaba Although party officially doesn exist recent gathering Islamabad under Millat Islami Pakistan everyone still knows refers Sipah Sahaba I recently accompanied local journalist named Rafi Rafi early He frequents Press Club mansion downtown Karachi surrounded overgrown populated eclectic combination drunks journalists charla Rafi small daughter business cards It would impossible Qari Shafiqur Rehm madrassa without escort There landmarks guide through nondescript streets leading madrassa sandy roads chalked walls piles garbage For reason Rehman meeting front parts store Dalmia Colony neighborhood Karachi airport clock sharp From there follow place Twenty minutes before appointment Rehman calls confirm coming This second confirmation morning I Rafi joking tempting Why after anxious about arrival Shouldn little jumpy We nonetheless schedule At minutes before twelve Rafi pulls front stores He leans forward steering wheel scans cluster people motorbikes A minute later start narrow That meeting Rafi twitch Up there motorcycle After following Rehman about minutes during which pleasant thoughts cross where leading brick residence Rehman I husky white shalwar kameez crocheted prayer He smiles points sliver shade where should I Rafi I should I Canadian something It doesn matter replies To these infidels And interesting American I supposed At least I chuckle watching Rafi shuffle through business cards search escaped daughter artistic rampage Although Qari Sha fiqur Rehman affiliation Sipah Sahaba could seems little Rehman nonchalant attitude regarding membership party coupled other proscribed jihadi parties continued publishing magazines newspapers since being banned leaves wondering serious government about curtailing activities these groups He welcomes small madrassa promptly sends someone bring samosas UP He slight cagey about either connections loyalty banned militant organization Shortly after delights showing pictures himself INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Sipah Sahaba luminaries One first things I notice birthmark Rehman forehead beside looks bruise praying A smudgy bruise forehead commonly feature Shiites When typically press their foreheads small stone Karbala modern Iraq where Prophet Muhammad grandson killed AD In South Asia Shiites stone making smudge bruise visible I consider asking Rehman avowed Shia hater decide might conversation starter quiver Rehman calls talib student We sitting floor The color freshly stained equally emotionless Rafi tilting Urdu feels presence foreigner I answers because God Rehman watches behind zipper smile I caught slightly guard answer How someone visibly tached could answer baffles But presence American I His answer starts remarking I guest deserve treatment other guest would receive But I strong feelings against Americans I become mujahid warrior Rehman glows proud father Then continues Now I young recruited definitely person inshallah comes I jihad I Rehman teaches jihad school With question lighthearted expression transforms makes wonder whether I asked wrong question wrong Tact these fellows I I qualifies What wrong jihad Rehman throw hands I immediately start pedal articulate I West confused complexity jihad Maybe I think I circle around discussion No We teach jihad teachings Holy Koran voice least twice Jihad bring peace world If anybody usurps rights threatens faith there jihad What about Shiites I Are threat faith The Shia Muslims Rehman answers without second thought WHILE LISTENING Qari Shafiqur Rehman adolescent share their views thoughts drift Altaf Bhojani slain brothers On morning I Altaf apartment after wicker couches through pictures Hameed Ali Bhojani various points including where covered blood lying ground blasted Mehfil Mur scene crime February At entrance imambargah I platoon worth private security guards Along there watchtowers manned marksmen balancing chine parapets Back there security You could right Altaf All these sectarian killings Inside imambargah Altaf describes events February morning While talks I around slowly trying envision tragedy morning Do think Murtaza killings targeted brother Hameed I Hameed after presiding local community Shiites death Altaf pauses because indecision I thinks about plenty Targeted attacks against success Shia businessmen doctors frequent Altaf thriving travel agency In after Hameed murder confiscated Sipah Sahaba Karachi His Number Two And though spent weeks London right after younger brother smurder neverconsidered moving I think Sipah Sahaba inside Altaf Bhojani finally answers They Shia SINCE THE EARLY 1980s sectarian landscape Pakistan manipulated governments charities Shia Iran other Sunni Persian Gulf states During In Karachi Rent A Guard business booming The problem seems doing These guards former Special Forces Navy SEALS hired working alongside U S military Iraq Afghanistan Mostly unemployed older chaiwallah At hotel where I staying Karachi scrawny teenager peach mustache yellow letters GHAZI warrior totes shotgun around lobby He looks older perhaps product close familial intermarriage It I doubt ability spray buckshot intruder security guard there little about presence secure I would there Not Armed Guard phenomenon anyone secure actually contributes pervading sense insecurity throughout Karachi NES office former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif traveled United Arab Emirates UAE insist Sheik Zayed deceased former president UAE country support Sunni sectarian groups Pakistan And September report Herald monthly Pakistani magazine reported Sipah Sahaba receiving least month through single between Saudi Arabia thousands dollars through various contacts Muslim Muslim countries around world including United States Financial moral support critical organi zation Sipah Sahaba carry terrorist attacks At point during conversation Qari Shafiqur Rehman after finished telling students I funds madrassa activities We small answers afford Are there donors burdens He smiles I presume because knows where question leading We mention names donors But nevertheless weeks reporting numerous visits madrassas around country sectarian story today complicated simply about wealthy overseas donors wiring money terrorist groups Pakistan While Pakistan sectarian originally cooked outside actors situation today Militant groups either sufficiently entrenched business killing another encouragement Iran Saudi Arabia The dynamic perpetuat perhaps reversible Consider Ali Gardezi Gardezi Paki stani businessman living Dubai He Karachi couple nights friend arranges Gardezi chain smokes Durham cigarettes clear plastic nasal voice He introduces himself saying I Shia Muslim If tells otherwise telling This sounds normal coming someone Qari Shafiqur Rehman calls Shiites kafirs their polytheistic worship Imams But I never heard things coming Shia Gardezi beard plenty friends knack business He things about Iranians about Saudis prototype sectar There nothing similar about Sunnis Shia Our concept God different concept Koran different concept Imam different prayer different zakat different The thing believe together Allah Mohammad Prophet I agree Shiites minorities around world heightened sense community identity But aspects Gardezi history questionable He senses skepticism These ideas responds These books Clearly Derridean Ali Gardezi suggests drive across INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS where Shiites gather Wednesday nights matam flagellation Halfway there Gardezi phone rings Instead jingle I preacher fuming about something I Gardezi saying He cursing first three caliphs Abu Bakr Omar Othman answers Such would living Atlanta having Ku Klux Klan speech programmed ringtone Later talking about Ashura processionals Sipah Sahaba Ashura Muharram Islamic endar It holiest Shia Islam followers mourn death Prophet Mohammad grandson Imam Husayn Sipah Sahaba activists known follow behind Shia processions chanting nasty things about Husayn trying tantalize Shiites fistfight People Ali Gardezi commonly swear against first three caliphs wives Prophet Mohammad A FEW DAYS AFTER I Qari Shafiqur Rehman I Karachi largest Shia ghetto invitation Allama Abbas Kumaili Kumaili Pakistan renowned Shia orators He He bulbous large voice The majles gregation addressing I predominantly Shia neighborhood flutters sound ubiquitous black flags mourning death Imam Husayn years When I arrive Kumaili approaches camcorder He I I stare quizzically Kumaili pokes around behind I hosts event Canadian journalist filming documentary But I The Canadian journalist identity Kumaili tries intentioned In Jafar Tayyar neighbor where going Western journalists beaten But Canadian cinematographer Regardless camcorder debacle before someone I surmise Kumaili brother We armed escort Kumai Jafar Tayyar As through traffic guards waving close Kumaili tells about assassination attempts ducked I still lists Of three caravan everyone except Kumaili Camcorder toting brother I packing Jafar Tayyar outside center Karachi Amid upsurge sectarian violence 1990s Shia families moved mixed neigh borhoods closer security comfort Jafar Tayyar I there flags roofs banners across street black I really there I adorned posters Ayatollah Khomeini Ayatollah Khamenei selling religious literature videocassettes Ashura processions There small roundabout center Jafar Tayyar flying black three stories Kumaili I ushered black curtains where drink sheltered Three rations painting Imam Husayn replete flowing locks stenciled makeup around another painting Husayn white horse covered lance wounds standing precipice looking sunset color blood oranges photograph latticed Imam Reza After minutes I excuse myself aroun before Kumaili begins speech There middle street under which people listening singer stage hundred yards The probably On inside walls there another different poster Ayatollah Khomeini Ayatollah Khamenei Their faces floating shape dying woman craggy finger lighting shoots cloud American I realize I forgot camera phone I pathetic excuse Canadian cinematographer These posters I later learn Imamia Students Organization ISO The ISO started early 1970s early swore allegiance Ayatollah Khomeini Today ISO follows Iran current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei We attached system velayat faqih ISO leader named Naser tells According Naser after Islamic Revolution delegati ISO Iran Khomeini Khomeini replied telling delegation wanted We This relationship always worrying Sunni groups Some Sipah Sahaba whole reason being challenge Iran influence alleged proxies ISO Pakistan This doesn bother Naser The ISO always active Shia forces Pakistan We might front sectarianism admits second The ISO Iran relationship creates dilemma moderate Shia leaders Allama Abbas Kumaili Kumaili explains Iranian Revolution Pakistani Shias Sipah Sahaba existence before revolution Ever since Shiites killed When I directly about ISO answers confidently I soothed ISO But I Jafar Tayyar posters Iranian leaders I question soothed ISO really ON THE OTHER SIDE Ayatollahs posters hanging small crowded sidewalk I glass chilled rosewater young standing mouthed Other children gather watch drink They strips white splattered paint blood around their heads Another group practices flagella tions At moves through crowd spraying rosewater using extermi nator Seventy coffins symbolize those alongside Imam Husayn AD covered paint Women weeping loudly smells sticky sweet The majles finally starts about after For Allama Abbas Kumaili speaks without notes crowd exceeding people Toward Kumaili recites events occurred fields Karbala AD This brings grown tears There several thousand grown weeping The people crying young blood splattered headbands Perhaps NES enough really When majles crowd gathers around flagpole center round about matam It Karachi thickens night breeze miles beach blows across Some singing cappella about tragedy Karbala Others shirtless standing circle beating their breasts closed fists It sounds stomping elephants Everyone sweating Some blood their chests which bruising quickly One ringleaders calls chants function marching orders matam becomes faster harder Under these punish giant mural American Israeli painted eading DOWN WITH THE USA It looks billboard might Tehran Then I notice backs flagellators The tissue puffy grossly whipping themselves chains Ashura At moment teenage elbow wants I doing there I I friend Allama Ab Kumaili Do Shia THERE IS A VERY slippery slope Islam doctrine intolerance sectarianism You Ali Gardezi voice course When I bring question Naser ISO shrugs shoulders unapologetically What We better And obvious Qari Shafiqur Rehman denies Shiites Muslims slope altogether But these people first second sectarian indicative state sectarianism Pakistan today It dozens politically active Pakistanis during course reporting readily offer opinions statements truly light situation It worry ingly these people heart deeply suspect derisive other sects And these people around after foreign accounts closed INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Current Fellows their Activities Richard D Connerney January INDIA A lecturer Philosophy Asian Religions Philosophy Rutgers Iona College University Hawaii Manoa Rick Connerney spending years Phillips Talbot Fellow studying writing about intertwining religion culture politics India described former U S Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith functioning anarchy Rick B A M A religion Wheaton College University Hawaii respectively Kay Dilday October FRANCE MOROCCO An editor New York Times Op Ed years Kay holds M A Comparative International Politics Theory Graduate Center City University New York Bachelor degree English Literature Tufts University graduate Universiteit Amsterdam Netherlands Cours Civilisation Sorbonne She traveled written Haiti began jouralistic council reporter Somerville This Week Somerville MA Cristina Merrill June ROMANIA Born Bucharest Cristina moved Romania United States mother father Learning English retaining Romanian majored American History Harvard College there became captain women tennis She received Master degree Journalism New York University worked several U S publications Adweek New York Times years Romania watching emerge darkness Ceauscescu regime presumed light membership European Union NATO Nicholas Schmidle October PAKISTAN Nicholas freelance writer interested intersection culture religion politics Asia He spending years Pakistan writing issues ethnic sectarian national identity Previously reported Central Asia Iran published Washington Post Weekly Standard Foreign Policy Christian Science Monitor others Nick received M A International Affairs Regional Studies American University December He lives Rikki Andrew J Tabler February SYRIA LEBANON Andrew lived studied worked Middle East since Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellowship enabled begin Arabic language studies toward Master degree American University Cairo Following Master editorships Middle East Times Cairo Times before moving Turkey Lebanon Syria working Senior Editor Oxford Business Group correspondent Economist Intelligence Unit His ICWA fellowship bases Beirut Damascus where report Lebanese affairs Syrian reform Jill Winder July GERMANY With B A politics Whitman College Walla Walla WA Master degree Art Curating Bard College Annandale Hudson NY Jill ICWA Donors Fellow looking Germany through ideas viewpoints contemporary artists Before months intensive study German language Berlin Thomas J Watson Fellow looking communist practice cultural politics transition former Soviet Czech Republic Slovakia Poland Croatia Hungary Latvia Romania Slovenia Ukraine Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiencesfrom field month They write subject formally informally asthey The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment interna tional events issues Author Schmidle NicholasTitle ICWA Letters South Asia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NHMaterial Type Serial Language EnglishFrequency MonthlyOther Regions East Asia The Americas Mideast North Africa Sub Saharan Africa Europe Russia ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail valley Web address Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Administrative Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current WorldAffairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The Information contained publication reprinted republished without express consent Institute Current World Affairs