Aryan or Arab?
Well, in fact, although Persians have their historic and proud place in the history of the Middle East, they do not represent the majority of its residents, who are Arab. But they are Muslim, so that eases the way for the acceptance of their presence. Unlike Jews who are obviously not Muslim, but whose religion paved the way for Islam, inspiring the Prophet Mohammad to produce his very own version of monotheism, meant specifically for nomadic, Bedouin tribes.Another complication; in a geography where Sunni Islam forms the majority, Iran worships Shia Islam, and the two are famously incompatible, so much so that mass killing between each have gone far to prove how profoundly peace-loving and accepting Arab Muslims are in general. Still, Muslims, whether Shia or Sunni recognize a common enemy in their midst; the State of Israel which, despite its equally-long history in the region, is given no credit for legitimacy.
But the story here and now is the famed solidarity of Muslim society, wherever it exists in the Middle East. Solidarity and brotherhood is difficult to attain to with both Saudi Arabia and Iran currently in the run-offs for recognition of state-leader of the Muslim Arab world and by extension the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia has the upper hand in that Sunni Muslims are the majority overall.
And by the fact that it is the custodian of the most holy sites in Islam; Mecca and Medina. Wahhabist Islam also is as fundamental and sternly autocratic as Iranian-style Shi'ism. But there exists a will to display a common front before the world, in Islamic solidarity. And thus came into being the Islamic Solidarity Games; nothing like a good round of competitive sport to get people involved.
But what? It would appear that the world's second Islamic Solidarity Games has been called off. Not for lack of interest, but for lack of integrity. Iran isn't pulling together when it consistently claims ownership of the Persian Gulf, while the greater Arab community in the geography prefers the nomenclature of Arab Gulf. Moreover, Iran, where the games were to have been held, of its own accord designed logos reflecting the Persian, not Arab persona.
Therefore, the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation took its own hissy fit, representative of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic conference based in Saudi Arabia (aha!). Scrapping the plans for the games to take place in April, in Iran. A wounded Iran, unwilling to accept the waterway as anything but Persian, has encouraged the federation to reconsider its decision.
Saudi Arabia may have Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen behind it, but behold, Iran has its own allies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories. Classic standoff.
Labels: Middle East, Traditions
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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