Sectarian violence

Sectarian violence and/or sectarian strife is a form of communal violence inspired by sectarianism, that is, between different sects of one particular mode of ideology or religion within a nation/community. Religious segregation often plays a role in sectarian violence.

Concept

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute:

Sectarian violence differs from the concept of race riot. It may involve the dynamics of social polarization, the balkanization of a geographic area along the lines of self-identifying groups, and protracted social conflict.

Some of the possible enabling environments for sectarian violence include power struggles, political climate, social climate, cultural climate, and economic landscape.

Sectarian violence in Pakistan (1988)

In 1988 sectarian violence erupted between rival sects in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, over a minor controversy on the sighting of the moon during the holy month of Ramadan. The controversy triggered riots between Shiites and Sunnis, causing casualties on both sides. Due to rumors of a Sunni massacre in Gilgit, the tribal army from other areas of Pakistan attacked Gilgit.

Background

In May 1988, Pakistan's military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq, in an attempted massive sectarian attack, sent a Lashkar (army) of militants, comprising natives of Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to attack the Shias living there. Sunnis, predominantly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal areas, assisted by local Sunnis from Chilas, Darel and Tangir, attacked several Shia villages on the outskirts of Gilgit on May 17, 1988.

Conflict

After reaching the outskirts of Gilgit without intervention from security agencies, Shias from surrounding villages were massacred and those who survived took refuge in Shia-dominated villages. Shiites from villages such as Sai, Bunji (which is also Pakistan Armed Forces Headquarter), Jaglote and Pari Bangla were forcibly expelled.