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In other words, there is an establishment Wahhabi state religion in Saudi Arabia, and a radical Wahhabi movement outside Saudi Arabia with many exiles who seek to overthrow the House of Saudi and re-establish the [[Caliphate]] over Mecca. Disputes over Islamic leadership are as old as Islam itself, as represented by the Shia-Sunni split.
In other words, there is an establishment Wahhabi state religion in Saudi Arabia, and a radical Wahhabi movement outside Saudi Arabia with many exiles who seek to overthrow the House of Saudi and re-establish the [[Caliphate]] over Mecca. Disputes over Islamic leadership are as old as Islam itself, as represented by the Shia-Sunni split.
==Regional demographics==
Shia Muslims form a significant demographic in the [[Persian Gulf]] region, with [[Iraq]] and [[Iran]] being majority-Shia states, while [[Bahrain]] and parts of [[Saudi Arabia]]'s Eastern Province also have large concentrations. In contrast, [[Kuwait]], [[Qatar]], [[Oman]], and the [[UAE]] host smaller but notable Shia minorities.
Iran (89%) and Iraq (50+%) dominate Shia [[demographic]]s in the region. Shias in Iran are concentrated in the southern half of the country which borders Kuwait (25%), Iran and Gulf. Bahrain, at present, has almost equal Shia and [[Sunni]] population. Yemen has near parity between Sunni and Shia, often leading to [[political]] tensions. Saudi Arabia's Shia are concentrated in [[oil]]-rich Eastern Province on the western bank of Persian Gulf making their presence [[strategic]]ally significant. Oman, Qatar, and the UAE host smaller Shia populations, often integrated but politically sensitive. Bahrain was a Shia majority nation ruled by Sunni King. Bahrain’s Shia majority is often seen through the lens of Iranian influence, though local Shia identity is distinct and rooted in Bahraini history.
The [[geopolitical]] implication of a [[weapon]]ized Shia population in the Gulf region could be extremely destabilizing in favor of Iran who leverages Shia populations across the Gulf to project influence. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia face periodic unrest linked to Shia grievances over political representation. Case in point is the [[Houthi]] Shia of [[Yemen]] who have reshaped the regional power balance and have emerged as a major [[military]] power dominating [[Red Sea]] and [[Horn of Africa]].
The Sunni population in Bahrain (historically Shia majority) increased primarily through deliberate state-led policies of political naturalization and selective [[citizen]]ship grants to Sunni [[migrant]]s, alongside demographic engineering efforts by the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty.
The increase in the Sunni population in Bahrain was achieved through citizenship grants to Sunni migrants, recruitment into security forces, and manipulation of [[census]] data. This demographic engineering is central to Bahrain’s sectarian politics and its reliance on [[Saudi]]/[[GCC]] support.
==See also==
==See also==