Abstract:

The conversion to Shiism has been taking place in Iraq throughout the history of Islam however, this situation had been limited only a small part of the population of Kufa, Baghdad and Sâmerrâ Cities until the middle of the 10th century. Shiites still was not to be able to reach a significant population rate around Mosul and its environment and the Gulf of Basra at the end of the 15th century. Essentially, the demographic structure of Iraq changed in favor of Jaafaris after the mass conversion of Sunni tribes to Shiism towards the end of the 19th century. The rate of the Shiites centered in the provinces of Baghdad and Basra was 50% of the total population at 1890’s.The stability deteriorated in parallel with the spread of Shiism in Iraq. In this process, by distorting the content of apologetic works written by the Sunni ulema and their speeches against Şîa, Jaafari society was provoked against Sunnis in the region. Claims that may have caused dissension between Sunnis and Shiites were researched in details without prejudice, and the necessary precautions were taken by Ottoman administration. However, the desired result could not be obtained in Iraq due to internal and external problems that the stated faced at the end of the 19th century. Provocative activities, which were carried out in Sâmerrâ in this atmosphere by the interpreter of Islamic law, Mojtahed, Mirza Hasan Shirazi with mullahs and akhunds who trained by him caused the tensions between Sunnis and Jaafaris.

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