Prompt Cast
The Impact of 1979 on the Middle East: Rise of Political Islam and Sectarian Violence
TLDR The year 1979 marked a turning point in the Middle East, with events such as the Iranian Revolution and the siege of the Holy Mosque in Mecca leading to the rise of political Islam, increased religiosity, and the spread of extremism. This resulted in social, cultural, and religious transformations that continue to shape the region today, including the export of radical ideas, sectarian violence, and the clash between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Kim Gattas, author of "Black Wave, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the rivalry that unraveled the Middle East," discusses her experiences growing up in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War and how it influenced her decision to become a journalist.
04:43
The year 1979 was a pivotal year in the Middle East, marked by events such as the Iranian Revolution, the Siege of the Holy Mosque of Mecca, the rise of Ziyal Haqq in Pakistan, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which all had a significant impact on the region's geopolitics and culture.
09:35
The year 1979 marked a significant turning point in the Middle East, with the rise of political Islam, increased religiosity, and the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia leading to a wave of social, cultural, and religious transformations, as well as the spread of extremism, that continue to shape the region today.
15:01
The hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Iran in 1979 marked the beginning of a confrontational relationship between the US and Iran, with Khomeini using the crisis to establish himself as the leader of the Islamic revival and making anti-Americanism Iran's policy for the next 40 years, while in Saudi Arabia, the siege of the Holy Mosque also contributed to the clash between the two sides.
20:01
The siege of the Holy Mosque in Mecca in November 1979 was a crucial moment when radicals seized control of the mosque, leading to a battle with the attackers and humiliation for the Saudi oil family who were seen to have lost control.
25:05
The Saudi government made a deal with the clerical establishment after the siege of the Holy Mosque in Mecca, allowing them to impose conservative values in exchange for protecting the Saudi rule, leading to the export of Saudi radicals to other countries like Pakistan and the unfolding of a silent cultural revolution within Saudi Arabia.
29:52
The Saudis initially welcomed Ayatollah Khomeini and praised the Iranian revolution, but they failed to understand Khomeini's hatred for the Saudis and the Wahhabis, leading to a rivalry between the two countries and the export of revolutionary ideas to places like Pakistan.
34:28
The implementation of Zakat and other Islamic laws by Zia ul-Haq in Pakistan, with support from Saudi Arabia, leads to a backlash from the Shia population and creates a divide between Sunnis and Shias, resulting in violence against Shias in the following decades.
39:22
The Saudis send young zealots to fight in Afghanistan against the Soviets, with the Americans funding the Mujahideen, but the real mistake was not having a strategy for dealing with the aftermath of the war, while the Saudis finance the construction of Wahhabi madrasas in Pakistan, leading to the rise of radicalism and the spread of extremist ideologies.
44:18
The rise of radicalism and the changing nature of Islam in Pakistan, fueled by Saudi influence and the rise of Madrasas, leads to sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shias.
Categories:
History
