Teacher Maryam Sepahi (right) on the road to Karbala Photo: Adam Toy

CIA World Factbook: Iran and Iraq
Iran: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.html
Iraq: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/iz.html
The CIA’s public dossiers on Iran and Iran, providing basic information on population, economics, trade, military, political and cultural issues.

Library of Congress Country Studies: Iran and Iraq
Iran: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/irtoc.html
Iraq: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/iqtoc.html
The Library of Congress’s collection of historical materials on Iran, prepared in 1988 by the Library’s Federal Research Division for the U.S. Department of the Army.

The Online Newshour: Iraq in Transition
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/middle_east/iraq/index.html
In-depth Iraq coverage from PBS’s Online Newshour.

National Public Radio: The Origin of the Sunni-Shia Split
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7332087
A five-part audio series from National Public Radio, originally broadcast in February 2007.

Council on Foreign Relations- The Emerging Shia Crescent Symposium: Is Shia Power Cause for Concern?
http://www.cfr.org/publication/10865/emerging_shia_crescent_symposium.html
Transcripts, audio and video from a symposium on the topic of the emerging “Shia Crescent.” From 2006.

The Pew Forum and the Council on Foreign Relations- The Revival of Shia Islam
http://pewforum.org/events/index.php?EventID=R120
Transcript of a speech and question-and-answer session by Vali Nasr on the topic of Shia Islam.

Slate Magazine: The War Within Islam
http://www.slate.com/id/2159936/
Author and journalist Christopher Hitchens on the sectarian struggle within Islam.

BBC Religion & Ethics: Islam
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/
This BBC site offers an introduction to Islam, with a complete discussion of the Shia/Sunni schism.

Understanding Islam
http://www.understanding-islam.com/
A Web site committed to answering questions and criticisms about Islam and the Qur’an.

FRONTLINE: Terror and Tehran
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/
A FRONTLINE examination of U.S.-Iranian diplomatic relations, from 2002.

FRONTLINE: Muslims
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/
FRONTLINE examines Islam’s worldwide resurgence through the stories of diverse Muslims struggling to define the role of Islam in their lives and societies.