Sunni+and+Shia+Sects+of+Islam

The differences between the Sunnis and the Shias creates much of the difficulty Ali, Hassan, and Sohrab in their day to day life. The prejudices the Sunni majority have towards the Shias make the friendship between Amir and Hassan socially unacceptable. Additionally, the racism of Assef towards Hassan and Sohrab is the cause of his active role in making their lives miserable.

Understanding the differences between these two sects of Islam is an important aspect of Afghani culture which makes The Kite Runner easier to understand. This [|link] provides the history of the development of these sects.

Map of areas that are Sunnis or Shias
Light green=Sunni Dark green=Shias

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