Saudi Grand Mufti Warns Against Sectarian Strife

SF Gate - Saudi Arabia's grand mufti warned against sectarian strife in the Middle East and called for "peace and stability" among Muslims, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

"All must pay attention to the schemes planned for our region with the aim of stirring sectarian differences," Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh was cited as saying by the Riyadh-based news service. These "exhaust the capabilities of countries and their resources for the benefit of the enemy," it reported him as saying.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world's biggest economy, sent troops in March across a causeway connecting it with Bahrain to help crush mainly Shiite protests for democracy and civil rights. The Gulf Cooperation Council on May 10 expressed "deep concern over Iran's continuous interference in the internal affairs" of GCC countries.

Clashes between Christians and Muslims in the Egyptian capital of Cairo left 12 people dead and another 232 injured this month, Justice Minister Mohamed El-Gendy told reporters in Cairo on May 8. Christians make up an estimated 10 percent of Egypt's population.

"We are keen that Muslims unite and share the same voice," al-Sheikh was cited as saying by the news service.

GCC, Iran

Tensions between the GCC and Iran have escalated since protests started in Bahrain in February. Members of Bahrain's ruling Al Khalifa family have accused some Shiite activists of having links with Iran. Bahrain, like Iran, has a Shiite majority population while its rulers are Sunni.

Saudi religious leaders have in the past accused Iran of encouraging violence by Shiite minority groups in the region. In November 2009, the Grand Mufti said the Iranians were "cooperating in sin and aggression" by backing Shiite insurgents in Yemen in a conflict that drew in the Saudi army.

Saudi Arabia's royal family maintains a strict version of Sunni Islam. It prohibits the public observance of other religions and limits the practice of other branches of Islam. Saudi Arabia vies for influence in the region with Shiite-led Iran.

Shiite Muslims in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, have held demonstrations this year calling for the release of prisoners. Most Shiites in Saudi Arabia are in the Eastern Province, where state-owned Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco is based.