Word: sunni
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...dissimulate in the face of persecution. That means that he can renounce his faith in an emergency, and then renounce his renunciation later, with no permanent ill effects on his piety. This doctrine was developed out of historical necessity--the Shi'ites have often been a minority in Sunni states, and have met repeated persecutions over the centuries...
...rarely experienced that phenomenon before he came to power 13 years ago. His durability is especially noteworthy considering that Assad belongs to the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam that accounts for only 13% of his country's 9.6 million people (most of the rest are Sunni Muslims). Assad's long tenure has, however, been purchased at great cost. The regime cruelly silences opponents both at home and abroad, maintains a standing army of 275,000, and has five intelligence agencies to keep watch on the citizenry...
...proposals: a parliament with upper and lower houses would replace the single-chamber legislature and be equally divided between Muslims and Christians, instead of the current ratio in favor of the Christians. The posts of President and Prime Minister would continue to go to a Maronite Christian and a Sunni Muslim, respectively, but a vice presidency would be created and be reserved for a Muslim. Although heartened by the results, committee members stressed that these were suggestions that must be approved by Lebanese leaders when they reconvene, probably in early December...
...agenda included two main topics: a revision of the internal Lebanese political order, and the status of the Israeli-Lebanese withdrawal agreement signed last May. On the basis of a 1932 census and an unwritten 1943 agreement, the country traditionally has had a Maronite Christian President, a Sunni Muslim Prime Minister and a Shi'ite Muslim speaker of Parliament. The Maronites, however, are now outnumbered by the Muslims and particularly the Shi'ites. They, and some of the other groups, want a larger share of political power, although most seem prepared to allow the Maronites to retain...
...Christian Lebanese Front; Pierre Gemayel, the President's father and founder of the right-wing Christian Phalange; the leaders of the Syrian-backed National Salvation Front (including Druze Chieftain Walid Jumblatt); Nabih Berri of the Amal Shi'ite militia; and former Prime Minister Saeb Salam, a Sunni Muslim. Both Syria and Saudi Arabia will be allowed to send observers...