Religious and Political Identity and Activity of the “Shirazist” Movement

Abstract

With the increasing politicization of the Middle East in general and shiites in particular, it is very relevant to study the religious and political features of one of the most influential movements in Shiite Islam — the movement of “Shirazists”. Unfortunately, little attention is paid to this transnational movement in comparison with other Shiite Islamist organizations and movements. This paper examines the origins of this transnational movement, its evolution and features. Special attention is paid to the evolution of the ideology of the “Shirazists” movement. The religious and political identity of this movement was the result of factional conflicts within Shiism, in particular the long-standing rivalry between the religious schools of Najaf and Karbala. The specifics of this movement are determined, as well as its differences and similarities with another transnational Shiite organization — Daava. The article also analyzes the activities of the movement in the Persian Gulf countries and the problems of the relationships between “Shirazists” and official authorities of Iran.