Religions in Iraq
Current Sunni/Shiite Conflict
This rivalry between the two groups still has effects today as a suicide bomb killed at least 50 Shia pilgrims and wounded almost 100 in the southeastern city of Basra, according to Iraqi police and security officials. This conflict also makes its way into the politics of Iraq, as President Nouri al-Maliki (a Shiite) called for the arrest of a top Sunni lawmaker, Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi, on charges of terrorism. This proved that Maliki was not prepared to honor any of the promises to reconcile the nation and uphold the U.S. agreement. Another contributing factor to the unrest is the lack of U.S. troops. In 2010, the USA supported the devout Shiite Malaki for prime minister of Iraq, even though his opponent, a secular Shiite supported by Sunni's called Allawi had more votes. The Shiites are now moving to keep the two sects separate and unequal. Sunnis still experience inequality in the work place and during daily life.