{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdsrpodcast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fan-unholy-alliance-a-religious-duty-to-kill-R_4OkKA1","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":" An Unholy Alliance: A Religious Duty to Kill","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/64726f52-b158-4716-a985-8d7f78e01123/3d3b6965-c543-48b8-a00d-28142594323e/img3188.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/0a44973b-663d-485f-be3e-ae3d0677e3e5\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\" An Unholy Alliance: A Religious Duty to Kill\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"\nIn this episode, Dr. Michael Youssef explores the complex beliefs of the Twelver Shia sect, focusing on the significance of the Imams and the awaited return of the Twelfth Imam, or Mahdi. Learn how this belief system has shaped the religious and political landscape of Iran, from the rise of the Safavid dynasty to the 1979 Iranian Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Discover how Khomeini's claim as a descendant of Ali and his establishment of a theocratic government aimed to spread Shia influence beyond Iran, leading to conflicts such as the prolonged war with Iraq. Join us to understand the historical and religious dynamics that continue to influence the region."}