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Twelver Shiism – a branch of Islam that serves both as a spiritual and political force in Iran and beyond

  • Written by Massumeh H. Toosi, PhD Student in Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University
imageIranian Shiite mourners during Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, on July 6, 2025, in Tehran. Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Twelver Shiism is the largest branch within Shiism – one of the two major sects within Islam. Shiism is the second-largest tradition within Islam overall, following the Sunni tradition.

Iran is the only country to...

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