Shia Crescent

The Shia Crescent is the notionally crescent-shaped region of the West Asia where the majority population is Shia or where there is a strong Shia minority in the population.

In recent years the term has been used in Western political discourse to identify areas under Iranian influence or control and soft power, as Iran has sought to unite all Shia Muslims under one banner. On the other hand, this concept shows the increasing political weight of Shia in Western Asia.

Areas in the Shia Crescent include Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Pakistan, south Saudi Arabia and western Afghanistan. In addition to the Twelver Shia, the term also included Ismaili, Zaydi, Alawi and Alevi groups in Turkey.

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