This research is on the developing relationship between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims in Iraq during and after Saddam Hussein’s presidency. In Iraq, Saddam ruled his country "with an iron fist," oppressing many of his people and keeping them in check. The aftermath of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq led to a power vacuum resulting in sectarian violence that caused many to flee the country. The research aims to examine the continuously shifting relationship between religion and politics in Iraq while also bringing into focus the voices of those most affected. Through reading a variety of scholarly research already completed in this field, it is clear that there are multiple shortcomings. There is a lack of perspective from the everyday experiences that Iraqis share and little analysis on the Shi'a communities, let alone research that investigates both sects. This research takes a new approach in introducing the inclusion of a comparative memory of everyday Iraqis in both Sunni and Shia sects. To examine this relationship, methods of ethnographic fieldwork and participant-observation are used along with oral interviews. Interviews have been conducted with Iraqi Muslim individuals, from both the Sunni and Shia sects, who lived through the Hussein era and who are now living in either North Carolina, the UK, or Jordan. Additionally, interviews with 2nd generation Iraqis further aid in understanding how these perspectives change generationally. This research is viewed through sectarianization with attention to the importance of diaspora communities and generational development. This is the growing attachment to one’s sect, especially within a religion, which can be politically or religiously motivated. It is found that sectarian identities are not essential; other identities such as tribe, class, geography, and family remain important. The time of coexistence between the two sects ended after the removal of Saddam Hussein from power when the country dissolved into sectarian conflict. Structural sectarianism continues to exist in diaspora communities through the physical separation of spaces. Nowadays, many Iraqis have since traveled back to their home country and share the easing of the sectarian conflict amongst the majority of the population. Despite this, tensions remain high between sect-backed political parties. The inclusion of these unheard voices allows scholars to get a diverse outlook on the experiences people had living in this time. Furthermore, it contributes to the field of conflict mediation by aiding in a more nuanced understanding of how conflicts present themselves within a country.