Iraqi Sheikh Faces Divisions Within Sunni Community
Sheikh Abdul-Malik al-Saadi seeks to balance support for protests with opposition to a Sunni federal region in Iraq.
It is difficult to talk about establishing a religious authority for Iraq’s Sunnis, despite the numerous attempts made in this regard since 2003. The most recent attempt came following the outbreak of protests in major Sunni cities at the end of last year, where Sheikh Abdul Malik al-Saadi emerged as an authority for the Sunni protesters.
Yet, months later, some of these protesters refused to obey him given that he is opposed to the establishment of a Sunni federal region in Iraq.
