The Story Behind the Shia-Sunni Split

Marcie Sillman
10/19/2009 at 9:00 a.m.

You've likely heard of the Shia–Sunni split in the Middle East but what caused the split? British journalist Lesley Hazleton explores the stories behind the schism; from assassinations, to a favored wife, to bloody battlefields. Join us as we explore the roots of a centuries–old divide.

Guest(s)

Lesley Hazleton is a British journalist who has covered the Middle East for the New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Nation and Time magazine. She has written three books on the Middle East: "Israeli Women," "Where Mountains Roar," and "Jerusalem, Jerusalem," as well as biographies on the religious figures of Mary and Jezebel. Her latest book is called After the Prophet. She currently lives in Seattle.