Terrorists’ war on religious sanctities

TEHRAN,May 7(MNA)--The recent desecration of the graves of two prominent Shia figures in Syria and Jordan by Salafists and Wahhabis created a huge wave of animosity and condemnation across the world. The desperate terrorists in Syria and their supporters in other countries, such as Jordan, showed that they are even ready to commit the most savage and cruel acts to achieve their objectives. The desecrations of the Shia holy sites in Syria and Jordan were the latest episodes of hatemongering in Islamic countries by Wahhabis and Salafists. The scenario is not limited to Syria but has been devised to have an impact on the entire Muslim world. Over the past few months, there have been signs that such plots are being implemented by extremists in various countries in the region. The intensification of sectarian disputes in Iraq, the relentless attacks on Shias in Pakistan, the rise of political disputes in Lebanon, and the extensive propaganda against Hezbollah are all part of a larger plot to foment sectarian strife in the region. The chaotic situation in countries like Syria and Iraq is exactly what the United States has been seeking over the past few years. According to the United States’ policy, which is based on the order out of chaos theory, creating sectarian strife in Muslim societies will gradually exhaust their logistical, financial, and human resources and prepare the ground for more U.S. intervention in Islamic countries. U.S. officials know that the Wahabbis and Salafists are the best tools for implementing such a scenario. Since the situation has become so volatile in Iraq and Syria, the U.S. will continue to provoke similar acts in these countries in the future. However, any emotional or uncalculated reactions to the recent incidents will only make the situation worse. In other words, an all-out sectarian war in the Middle East is what the hawks in Washington are eagerly awaiting. And thus, the Shias are expected to exercise restraint more than ever before. Hassan Hanizadeh is a political analyst and an expert on Middle Eastern issues based in Tehran. (By Hassan Hanizadeh)