The answer to the crossword is SECTS. Sunnites and Shiites are two SECTS of Islam, which are the two major branches of the religion. Sunnites are the largest branch, comprising around 85-90% of the world's Muslim population. Shiites are a smaller branch, comprising around 10-15% of the world's Muslim population. Both SECTS have different interpretations of Islamic law and practice, and have been in conflict with each other for centuries.