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Shiite
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. The division between Shiite and Sunni Islam derives from centuries-long theological disagreements concerning the succession to the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Although the majority of the population in Iraq is Shiite, the Baath Party was primarily Sunni. The exclusion of Shiites from Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi government contributed to Shiite discontent and to the emergence of sectarian conflict in the country.
Sunni Quotes in Frankenstein in Baghdad
The Frankenstein in Baghdad quotes below are all either spoken by Sunni or refer to Sunni. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 6 Quotes
But there were two fronts now, Mahmoud said to himself— the Americans and the government on one side, the terrorists and the various antigovernment militias on the other. In fact “terrorist” was the term used for everyone who was against the government and the Americans.
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After meeting Brigadier Majid in his office with Saidi, Mahmoud realizes that both men are more interested in serving the Americans than in defending stable ideological convictions. Indeed, despite presenting themselves as true patriots—and, therefore, opposed to the U.S. occupation—both Brigadier Majid and Saidi work with the Americans in order to protect their own professional interests. Mahmoud thus concludes that the U.S. invasion has caused people to be divide into two groups: those allied with the Americans, and those against them. The Whatsitsname later mentions that three groups are fighting for power in Iraq: the Iraqi government (allied with the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam co
Chapter 10 Quotes
The young madman thinks I’m the model citizen that the Iraqi State has failed to produce, at least since the days of King Faisal I.
Because I’m made up of body parts of people from diverse backgrounds—ethnicities, tribes, races, and social classes—I represent the impossible mix that never was achieved in the past. I’m the first true Iraqi citizen, he thinks.
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The Whatsitsname notes that his followers are divided into three groups, each following a different “madman” with a particular interpretation of the Whatsitsname’s role on earth. While two of the madmen believe in the Whatsitsname as a religious prophet, the young madman believes that this creature has a political role: it symbolizes the underlying unity of the Iraqi nation. The young madman mentions King Faisal I, a King of Iraq in the first half of the 20th century who sought to unite Sunni and Shiite Muslims, divided by centuries-long conflicts. The young madman’s description implies that the Whatsitsname, too, could Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Qui
Chapter 11 Quotes
Yes, for a year or more he’s been carrying out the policy of the American ambassador to create an equilibrium of violence on the streets between the Sunni and Shiite militias, so there’ll be a balance later at the negotiating table to make new political arrangements in Iraq. The American army is unable or unwilling to stop the violence, so at least a balance or an equivalence of violence has to be created. Without it, there won’t be a successful political process.
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When discussing Brigadier Majid’s position in Iraqi politics, Saidi argues that the Brigadier takes part in an assassination squad that the Americans organized. Saidi argues that the goal of the American army is not to put an end to sectarian violence in the city but, rather, to emerge as the most powerful group in this conflict—even if this involves fostering war among lower groups. Saidi’s comments suggest that no political group is truly interested in promoting peace and justice; rather, all they seek is territorial control and political domination. This cynical view of conflict in Iraq deprives the war of Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt
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Sunni Term Timeline in Frankenstein in Baghdad
The timeline below shows where the term Sunni appears in Frankenstein in Baghdad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 10: The Whatsitsname
...groups were fighting each other: the Iraqi National Guard, allied with the American military, against Sunni and Shiite militias. The Whatsitsname used holes in the houses to walk around the city...
(full context)
Chapter 11: The Investigation
...Saidi, is to follow the Americans’ strategy of creating an “equilibrium of violence” between the Sunni and Shiite factions. Violent tensions in the streets help Americans maintain enough military and political...
(full context)
