query: What is the equivalent of the Red Cross in the Middle East?

title: International Committee of the Red Cross

text: International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland, and a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate. State parties (signatories) to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 (Protocol I, Protocol II) and 2005 have given the ICRC a mandate to protect victims of international and internal armed conflicts. Such victims include war wounded, prisoners, refugees, civilians, and other non-combatants. The ICRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

title: Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

text: Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent The Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is the permanent statutory body of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the highest deliberative body of the Movement between the meetings of the Council of Delegates and the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It was originally set up to coordinate cooperation between the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (previously known as the League of Red Cross Societies). It consists of two

text: War, Charity"). It has preserved this motto while other Red Cross organizations have adopted others. Due to Geneva's location in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, the ICRC is also known under its initial French name "Comité international de la Croix-Rouge" (CICR). However, the ICRC has three official languages (English, French and Spanish). The official symbol of the ICRC is the Red Cross on white background (the inverse of the Swiss flag) with the words "COMITE INTERNATIONAL GENEVE" circling the cross. Under the Geneva Convention, the red cross, red crescent and red crystal emblems provide protection for military medical services and

title: Red Cross Society of the Republic of China

text: Red Cross Society of the Republic of China The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China () is the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China on Taiwan. The society is not recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) because it does not meet all the conditions set out in the Statues of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and it is not a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. From its founding in 1904, to 1949, when the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan, the society shared its history

text: Crescent Prize for Peace and Humanity. It was created in 1987 and is given either to National Societies or to persons in the Movement “who have actively contributed to a more peaceful world through humanitarian action and the dissemination of the ideals of the Movement”. Only three recipients have received it so far, the Lebanese Red Cross in 1989, the Somali Red Crescent in 1993 and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in a ceremony in Sydney on November 12, 2013. Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent The Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is

text: representatives from the ICRC (including its president), two from the IFRC (including its president), and five individuals who are elected by the International Conference. There is also a permanent administrative Secretariat currently located at the ICRC Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. There have been 55 previous elected members of the Standing Commission. The Standing Commission is also responsible for giving out the Henry Dunant Medal (the Movement's highest award) and the Red Cross Red Crescent Prize for Peace and Humanity. The Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is the permanent statutory body of the Red Cross and Red

text: struggles within the movement. The ICRC has come into conflict with the Federation and certain national societies at various times. The American Red Cross threatened to supplant the ICRC with its creation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as "a real international Red Cross" after the First World War. Elements of the Swedish Red Cross desired to supplant the Swiss authority of the ICRC after WWII. Over time the Swedish sentiments subsided, and the IFRC grew to work more harmoniously with the ICRC after years of organizational discord. Currently, the IFRC's Movement Cooperation division organizes

text: months on average. The Standing Commission has nine members, five elected from national societies but serving in a personal capacity; two from the International Committee of the Red Cross (one of whom serves as President); and two from the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). There is also a permanent administrative Secretariat located at the ICRC Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Previous and current elected members of the Standing Commission The Henry Dunant Medal is the highest award of the Red Cross Movement and is presented and awarded by the Standing Commission of the Red

text: Cross and Red Crescent. The Standing Commission makes up to five awards every two years. The medal is awarded in order to “recognise and reward outstanding services and acts of great devotion, mainly of international significance, to the cause of the Red Cross/Red Crescent by any of its members.” Special weight is put on the international significance of a potential recipient's acts or service. The medal was first given in 1969 and 142 individuals have received the award since then. Table of previous Henry Dunant medal winners The Standing Commission is also responsible for awarding the Red Cross and Red

text: Crescent Movement and the highest deliberative body of the Movement between the meetings of the Council of Delegates and the International Conference, as well as the trustee of the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It was created during the 13th Red Cross Conference in the Hague, the Netherlands in 1928, under Article 18, resolution X. It was set up, in part, to be a connecting force between the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League (today the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), as there had been some disputes over how

text: the movement. After recognition by the ICRC, a national society is admitted as a member to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the Federation, or IFRC). The ICRC and the Federation cooperate with the individual national societies in their international missions, especially with human, material, and financial resources and organizing on-site logistics. According to the 1997 Seville Agreement, the ICRC is the lead Red Cross agency in conflicts while other organizations within the movement take the lead in non-war situations. National societies will be given the lead especially when a conflict is happening within their own

title: Emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

text: Emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement The emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, under the Geneva Conventions, are to be placed on humanitarian and medical vehicles and buildings, and to be worn by medical personnel and others carrying out humanitarian work, to protect them from military attack on the battlefield. There are four such emblems, three of which are in use: the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, and the Red Crystal. The Red Lion and Sun is also a recognized emblem, but is no longer in use. There were also prior disputes

title: University of the Middle East Project

text: University of the Middle East Project University of the Middle East Project (UME) is an independent non-governmental organization whose people-to-people exchange programs bring together secondary school educators from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the United States with the aim of enhancing pedagogical skills and encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. In the United States, UME is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, registered as The Center for Higher Education in the Middle East, Inc. The University of the Middle East Project was founded in 1997 by a group of graduate students from the Middle East and North Africa who

title: United States foreign policy in the Middle East

text: an American "security imperative to prevent the (re)emergence of a powerful regional rival". The Red Line Agreement had been "part of a network of agreements made in the 1920s to restrict supply of petroleum and ensure that the major [mostly American] companies … could control oil prices on world markets". The Red Line agreement governed the development of Middle East oil for the next two decades. The Anglo-American Petroleum Agreement of 1944 was based on negotiations between the United States and Britain over the control of Middle Eastern oil. Below is shown what the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt had

title: The East Is Red (song)

text: Red" is still commonly heard in recordings played by electronic cigarette lighters bearing Mao's face that are popular with tourists. The tune of "The East Is Red" remains popular in Chinese popular culture. In 2009 it was voted as the most popular patriotic song in a Chinese government-run internet poll. It has been played from the Drum Tower in Xi'an and hourly at the Beijing Railway Station. Some radio stations in China have used "The East Is Red" as an interval signal, including China Radio International (Indonesian Service) and Xinjiang People's Radio Station. The East Is Red (song) "The East

title: Human rights in the Middle East

text: and works to achieve greater protections for them. SYO exposes and documents grave violations against children, focusing specifically on discrimination issues, sectarian violence and abuse of women and girls. . Several cross-regional programmes and initiatives are supporting Human Rights today, including: See the following for more details on each country: Human rights in the Middle East Human rights in the Middle East have been shaped by the legal and political development of international human rights law after the Second World War, and their application to the Middle East. The 2004 United Nations Arab Human Development Report (AHDR) claims that although

title: Academic freedom in the Middle East

text: Academic freedom in the Middle East Academic freedom in the Middle East is a contested and debated issue, which has caught regional and international attention. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, in general, the authoritarian regimes have all showed a certain degree of opposition to every sort of freedom, academic one not excluded, regardless of the type of regime basis they had. Freedom for academicians to inquiry, research, teach and communicate ideas or report facts without being threatened or persecuted or with the possibility of losing their position, being censored or repressed is threatened. What contributes to

title: Christianity in the Middle East

text: Jerusalem and the Middle East]] is the [[Anglican]] church responsible for the Middle East and North Africa. It is quite small, with only some 35,000 members throughout the area. The Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf looks after 30-40000 Anglicans in the area and ministers to Protestants and others. Notable Christians of Middle Eastern ancestry in Middle East and Diaspora: [[Category:Christianity in the Middle East| ]] Christianity in the Middle East Christianity, which originated in the Middle East in the 1st century AD, is a significant minority religion of the region. Christianity in the Middle East is characterized by the

title: Mental health in the Middle East

text: criteria for both the DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10) indicate that symptoms last for more than one month and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, and/or other important areas of functioning. There is also some evidence that children suffering from PTSD in the Middle East may experience accelerated aging. Depression in the Middle East has been specifically studied at Namazi Hospital Shiraz, in Iran. In a 2006 study of nurses, depressive symptoms were seen in 26.9% of the individuals studied. In this cross-sectional survey, the rate of depression in 130 nurses was investigated using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory. Data collection also

title: Energy in the Middle East

text: is currently far lower than in the United States, but is expected to increase. Energy in the Middle East Energy in the Middle East describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in the Middle East. Energy policy of the Middle East will describe the politics of the Middle East related to energy more in detail. Energy export from the Middle East in 2010 was 12,228 TWh. The major exporters were Saudi Arabia 37.2%, Qatar 14.3% and Iran 12.9%. In 2009 the largest share of oil production was in the Middle East (24 million barrels daily, or 31 per cent

title: The Queen's Book of the Red Cross

text: The Queen's Book of the Red Cross The Queen's Book of the Red Cross was published in November 1939 in a fundraising effort to aid the Red Cross during World War II. The book was sponsored by Queen Elizabeth, and its contents were contributed by fifty British authors and artists. Title: The Queen's book of the Red Cross : with a message from Her Majesty the Queen and contributions by fifty British authors and artists : in aid of the Lord Mayor of London's fund for the Red Cross and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Author: Elizabeth, Queen

title: Bangladeshis in the Middle East

text: their employers. Bangladeshis in the Middle East Although Bangladesh only came into existence in 1971, the land which is today Bangladesh has strong ties to the Middle East. Bangladeshis in the Middle East form the largest part of the worldwide Bangladeshi diaspora. Out of the 3,975,550 Bangladeshis abroad approximately 2,820,000 live within the Middle East, 0.075% of the Middle East population, with half of them in Saudi Arabia, and a quarter of them in the United Arab Emirates. Bangladeshis who come to the Middle East are primarily guest workers or day labourers. Bangladesh is one of the largest labour suppliers

title: Bangladeshis in the Middle East

text: Bangladeshis in the Middle East Although Bangladesh only came into existence in 1971, the land which is today Bangladesh has strong ties to the Middle East. Bangladeshis in the Middle East form the largest part of the worldwide Bangladeshi diaspora. Out of the 3,975,550 Bangladeshis abroad approximately 2,820,000 live within the Middle East, 0.075% of the Middle East population, with half of them in Saudi Arabia, and a quarter of them in the United Arab Emirates. Bangladeshis who come to the Middle East are primarily guest workers or day labourers. Bangladesh is one of the largest labour suppliers to Saudi

title: Order of the Estonian Red Cross

text: of the Order of the Estonian Red Cross is determined according to the international PANTONE colour-table as 297 MC. Order of the Estonian Red Cross The Order of the Estonian Red Cross (; ) was instituted in 1920 by the Estonian Red Cross Society. The Order of the Estonian Red Cross is bestowed in order to give recognition for humanitarian services rendered in the interests of the Estonian people and for the saving of life. The Order of the Estonian Red Cross comprises six classes: The crosses of all basic classes of the Order of the Estonian Red Cross have

title: The Recordings of the Middle East

text: The Recordings of the Middle East The Recordings of the Middle East is the first extended play released by Australian folk band The Middle East on Spunk Records. The band released the EP in Australia on October 27, 2009 and then in the United States on June 8, 2010. The Middle East made the album available to download from their Myspace page on October 27, 2009. Prior to the release of this Extended play and the band's first hiatus they released a longer version of this record with three extra tracks:"Pig Food", "The Fall Of Man" and "Tsietsi" Their songs

title: The Queen's Book of the Red Cross

text: consort of George VI, King of Great Britain; T S Eliot; John Masefield; British Red Cross Society.; Knights of Malta. Publisher: [London] : Hodder and Stoughton, 1939. Description: 255 p., [13] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.), facsims., music ; 26 cm. Reference: The Queen's Book of the Red Cross The Queen's Book of the Red Cross was published in November 1939 in a fundraising effort to aid the Red Cross during World War II. The book was sponsored by Queen Elizabeth, and its contents were contributed by fifty British authors and artists. Title: The Queen's book of the

text: interaction and cooperation with the ICRC. In 1997, the ICRC and the IFRC signed the Seville Agreement which further defined the responsibilities of both organizations within the movement. According to the agreement, the Federation is the lead agency of the movement in any emergency situation which does not take place as part of an armed conflict. From its inception in 1930 until 2006, the Magen David Adom organization, the Israeli equivalent to the Red Cross, was not accepted as part of the Federation, as it used the Star of David, which the ICRC refused to recognize as an acceptable symbol.

title: The East Is Red (song)

text: The East Is Red (song) "The East Is Red" () is a song that was the "de facto" national anthem of the People's Republic of China during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. The lyrics of the song were attributed to Li Youyuan, a farmer from northern Shaanxi, and the melody was derived from a local folk song. He allegedly got his inspiration upon seeing the rising sun in the morning of a sunny day. <score>{ \time 2/4 \key f \major c"4 c"8 ( d" ) | g'2 | f'4 f'8 ( d' ) | g'2 | c"4 c" |

title: Christianity in the Middle East

text: Christianity in the Middle East Christianity, which originated in the Middle East in the 1st century AD, is a significant minority religion of the region. Christianity in the Middle East is characterized by the diversity of its beliefs and traditions, compared to other parts of the Old World. Christians now make up approximately 5% of the Middle Eastern population, down from 20% in the early 20th century. Cyprus is the only Christian Majority country in the Middle East, with the Christian percentage ranging between 76% and 78% of mainly Eastern Orthodox Christianity (i.e. most of the Greek population). Proportionally, Lebanon

title: The East Is Red (song)

text: of the day. In 1969 the tune was used in the "Yellow River Piano Concerto". The "Concerto" was produced by Jiang Qing and adapted from the "Yellow River Cantata" by Xian Xinghai. When she adapted the "Cantata", Jiang added the tune to "The East Is Red" in order to connect the "Concerto" with the themes of the Cultural Revolution. After China launched its first satellite, in 1970, "The East Is Red" was the first signal the craft sent back to Earth. But its place as the unofficial national anthem was finished that same year, for in commemoration of the 21st

title: The East Is Red (song)

text: East Is Red" sung in place of China's national anthem in an unofficial capacity. In 1964 Zhou Enlai used "The East Is Red" as the central chorus for a play he created to promote the personality cult of Mao Zedong, with "March Forward under the Banner of Mao Zedong Thought" as the original title. Zhou also served as co-producer, head writer and director of the play. The central theme of the play was that Mao was the only person capable of leading the Chinese Communist Party to victory. The play was performed by 2,000 artists, and was accompanied by a

title: The East Is Red (song)

text: of bronze bells that had been cast over 2,000 years earlier, during the Warring States period. Radio and television broadcasts nationwide usually began with the song "The East Is Red" in the morning or at early evening, and ended with the song "The Internationale". However, some careful listeners found out that the lyrics of these two songs made a paradox: "The East is Red" praises Mao as a "people's great savior", while "The Internationale" declares that "there are no supreme saviors". Students were obliged to sing the song in unison every morning at the very beginning of the first class

title: Order of the Estonian Red Cross

text: Order of the Estonian Red Cross The Order of the Estonian Red Cross (; ) was instituted in 1920 by the Estonian Red Cross Society. The Order of the Estonian Red Cross is bestowed in order to give recognition for humanitarian services rendered in the interests of the Estonian people and for the saving of life. The Order of the Estonian Red Cross comprises six classes: The crosses of all basic classes of the Order of the Estonian Red Cross have the same design. The blue colour tone of the moiré ribands belonging to the decorations of all the classes

title: Irreligion in the Middle East

text: Irreligion in the Middle East Though atheists in the Middle East are rarely public about their lack of belief, and they are persecuted in many countries, including Saudi Arabia where they are classified as terrorists, there are some atheist organizations in the Middle East and Arab world. Like other non-Muslims, atheists suffer persecution in the Middle East. 64 percent of Muslims in Egypt are reported to approve of the death penalty for those who leave Islam. Though still uncommon, public acknowledgement of atheism is widely considered to be growing in the Middle East. Youth in the Persian Gulf countries have

title: Buddhism in the Middle East

text: Buddhism in the Middle East It is estimated that in the Middle East around 900,000 people, perhaps more, profess Buddhism as their religion. Buddhist adherents make up just over 0.3% of the total population of the Middle East. Many of these Buddhists are workers who have migrated from Asia to the Middle East in the last 20 years, many from countries that have large Buddhist populations, such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. A small number of engineers, company directors, and managers from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea have also moved to the Middle East.

title: Etiquette in the Middle East

text: share the same traditions. Although the Middle East is a large expanse of geography with a variety of customs, noting the following points of etiquette can be useful when dealing with people around the world who have been raised according to the traditions of the Middle East or, in some cases, Muslim societies elsewhere. Etiquette in the Middle East Many matters of etiquette in the Middle East are connected to Islam as it is written in the Qur'an and how it has been traditionally understood and practiced throughout the centuries. Prescribed Islamic etiquette is referred to as Adab, and described

title: Etiquette in the Middle East

text: Etiquette in the Middle East Many matters of etiquette in the Middle East are connected to Islam as it is written in the Qur'an and how it has been traditionally understood and practiced throughout the centuries. Prescribed Islamic etiquette is referred to as Adab, and described as "refinement, good manners, morals, ethics, decorum, decency, humaneness and righteousness". As such, many points discussed in this article are applicable in other regions of the Islamic world. This holds especially true in Muslim majority countries outside Middle East. The Middle East is home to many people who follow faiths besides Islam. Most notable

text: American missionaries had brought modern medicine and set up educational institutions all over the Middle East. Moreover, the United States had provided the Middle East with highly skilled petroleum engineers. Thus, there were some connections made between the United States and the Middle East before the Second World War. Other examples of cooperations between the U.S. and the Middle East are the Red Line Agreement signed in 1928 and the Anglo-American Petroleum Agreement signed in 1944. Both of these agreements were legally binding and reflected an American interest in control of Middle Eastern energy resources, namely oil, and moreover reflected

title: Energy in the Middle East

text: Energy in the Middle East Energy in the Middle East describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in the Middle East. Energy policy of the Middle East will describe the politics of the Middle East related to energy more in detail. Energy export from the Middle East in 2010 was 12,228 TWh. The major exporters were Saudi Arabia 37.2%, Qatar 14.3% and Iran 12.9%. In 2009 the largest share of oil production was in the Middle East (24 million barrels daily, or 31 per cent of global production. According to Transparency International based on BP data regionally the largest

title: Democracy in the Middle East

text: domination of Syria and Israel, respectively. Absolute monarchy is common in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and a few other kingdoms on the Arabian Peninsula are considered absolute monarchies. The endurance of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East is notable in comparison to the rest of the world. While such regimes have fallen throughout sub-Saharan Africa, for example, they have persisted in the Middle East. Yet Middle Eastern history also includes significant episodes of conflict between rulers and proponents of change. Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the guidelines

title: Maingau Clinic of the Red Cross

text: Maingau Clinic of the Red Cross The Maingau Clinic of the Red Cross () is a clinic in Frankfurt, Germany, which is run by the German Red Cross. It is located near the Eschenheimer Anlage park in central Frankfurt, with the address Scheffelstraße 2–14. The clinic traces its history to the 1890 establishment of the Maingau Nursing Society by the Frankfurt branch of the Patriotic Women's Association. Its main goal was the education of nurses, and for this purpose the society bought a building near the Eschenheimer Anlage. In 1897 the society formally became part of the Red Cross movement,

title: Democracy in the Middle East

text: Democracy in the Middle East According to the Democracy Index 2016 study, Israel (#29 worldwide) is the only democracy in the Middle East, while Tunisia (#69 worldwide) is the only democracy in North Africa. The measure of the level of democracy in nations throughout the world published by Freedom House and various other freedom indices, the Middle Eastern and North African countries with the highest scores are Israel, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco, and Kuwait. Countries that are occasionally classified as partly democratic are Egypt and Iraq. The remaining countries of the Middle East are categorized as authoritarian regimes, with the

title: The East Is Red (1965 film)

text: The East Is Red (1965 film) The East Is Red (), is a 1965 Chinese film directed by Wang Ping. It is a "song and dance epic" dramatizing the history of the Chinese Revolution and the Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong, from the beginnings of the May Fourth Movement, to the Civil War against the Nationalist Party, to the victory of the Communists and the founding of the People's Republic. The musical is commercially available today on both CD and video, as well as online with English subtitles. The film is also known as The East Is

title: International Review of the Red Cross

text: de la Croix-Rouge." The English language supplement began in 1948, the English edition in April 1961. Language selections of the journal are published in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish. The current editor-in-chief is Vincent Bernard (International Committee of the Red Cross). International Review of the Red Cross The International Review of the Red Cross is a quarterly peer-reviewed public health journal published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The journal provides a "forum for debate, reflection and critical analysis on international humanitarian law, humanitarian action and policy in times of armed

title: History of the Middle East

text: Middle Eastern state system as seen in Turkey and Saudi Arabia; the emergence of explicitly more nationalist politics, as seen in Turkey and Egypt; and the rapid growth of the Middle Eastern oil industry. When the Ottoman Empire was defeated by an Arab uprising and the British forces after the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in 1918, the Arab population did not get what it wanted. Islamic activists of more recent times have described as an Anglo-French betrayal. British and French governments concluded a secret treaty (the Sykes–Picot Agreement) to partition the Middle East between them. The British in 1917 announced

title: The Recordings of the Middle East

text: "The Darkest Side" and "Blood" came in at number 87 and 64 respectively on the Australian Triple J Hottest 100 in 2009. Their song "Blood" is also featured in the films "Accidents Happen", "It's Kind of a Funny Story" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love", as well as an episode of the Australian television comedy-drama series "Offspring", a TV commercial for the European bank BNP Paribas and in the trailer for the film "Jeff, Who Lives at Home". The Recordings of the Middle East The Recordings of the Middle East is the first extended play released by Australian folk band The Middle

title: Human trafficking in the Middle East

text: somehow socially unacceptable, but there is a big difference between what is Islamically valid and what is socially acceptable.” He is indicating that as long as both parties accept the terms of the marriage contract, they are legally married in the eyes of Allah. Misyar marriages purportedly prevent unmarried youth and widows from fulfilling their sexual desires outside marriage, which would traditionally be considered sinful. Misyar legitimizes these acts that would otherwise be seen as unlawful. The Middle East is well known for its strict observation of moral codes and sensitivity to the taboo subject of sex. In most societies

title: Pornography in the Middle East

text: Pornography in the Middle East Pornography in the Middle East has been somewhat minimally documented and researched by scholars. Though broadcast of and internet access to pornography is restricted or banned in many countries in the region, widespread access to pornography is available via satellite dishes. In Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and almost all other countries in the Middle East, pornography is illegal. However, due to widespread Internet access (in particular, downloading programs) and the existence of a large-scale black market in Western films, pornography is called "super film." In Iran, a law was passed in

title: Religion in the Middle East

text: distinct from European Jewry. Today Judaism in the Middle East is mostly practiced in Israel. Israel’s population is 75.3% Jewish, with the remainder made up of Muslims (20.6%), Christians, Druze, Bahá'í and various other minorities (4.1%). There are few other countries in the Middle East with significant Jewish populations, but the communities are small and scattered. There are between 60,000 and 70,000 Mandaeans worldwide and in the Middle East they are found in Iraq and Iran. They revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enosh and Noah. Mandaeans are an ethnoreligious community, which doesn't allow conversion. Samaritanism is a closely affiliated religion with

title: Buddhism in the Middle East

text: a few thousand Buddhist workers from East Asia, the majority of whom are Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. A number of Tibetan-Nepalese immigrants may also be among the foreign population of Saudi Arabia. Thus approximately 1.5% of Saudi Arabia's population – or around 400,000 people – are Buddhist, likely giving Saudi Arabia the largest Buddhist community in either the Middle East or the Arab World Buddhism in the Middle East It is estimated that in the Middle East around 900,000 people, perhaps more, profess Buddhism as their religion. Buddhist adherents make up just over 0.3% of the total population of the

title: The East Is Red (song)

text: Is Red" was one of his earliest efforts to promote his image as a perfect hero in Chinese popular culture after the Korean War. In 1956, a political commissar suggested to China's defense minister, Peng Dehuai, that the song be taught to Chinese troops, but Peng opposed Mao's propaganda, saying "That is a personality cult! That is idealism!" Peng's opposition to "The East Is Red", and to Mao's incipient personality cult in general, contributed to Mao purging Peng in 1959. After Peng was purged, Mao accelerated his efforts to build his personality cult, and by 1966 succeeded in having "The

title: Human rights in the Middle East

text: they frequently encounter officers who are “reluctant to get involved in what is perceived as a family matter and who encourage reconciliation rather than legal action. In Saudi Arabia in particular, guardianship laws make it very difficult for battered wives to find a safe haven.”. All the states in the Middle East region have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Following the ratification of the CRC, Middle Eastern countries have enacted or proposed to enact laws to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation. A number of countries have put in place comprehensive

title: Religion in the Middle East

text: again, optional or if it should be obligatory and plural. Religion in Yemen is represented by a majority Islam (including Sunni and Shiite), small numbers of Jewish, Baha'i, Christian, and Hindu. Religion in the Middle East Three major religious groups (i.e. the two largest religions in the world: Christianity and Islam, plus Judaism) originated in the Middle East. Smaller minority religions, such as the Bahá'í Faith, Druze, Nusairism, Manichaeism, Sabianism, Bábism, Yazidism, Mandaeism, Gnosticism, Yarsanism, Samaritanism, Shabakism, Ishikism, Ali-Illahism, Alevism, Yazdânism and Zoroastrianism are also present in the Middle East. The smaller, religiously unaffiliated population is forecast to grow 56%,

title: Democracy in the Middle East

text: Islamism being the only viable opposition to regimes in many Middle Eastern countries. As an additional measure of US attitudes towards the issue of Middle Eastern democratization, on 14 December 2006, the US Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice stated that democracy in the Middle East was "non-negotiable." Middle East scholar Louise Fawcett notes how the United Nations Development Programme's "Arab Human Development Report 2002", drafted by Western-educated Arab intellectuals, is modelled "on universal democratic principles." In addition, Fawcett argues that "Constitutional democracy is viewed not only as an intrinsic good by the putative globalisers who drafted this Report; it is

title: Armenians in the Middle East

text: Armenians in the Middle East The Armenians in the Middle East are mostly concentrated in Iran, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine, although well-established communities exist in Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and other countries of the area. The Armenians of the Middle East speak the western dialect of the Armenian language (except those of Iran) and the majority are adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with smaller Catholic and Protestant minorities. There is a sizable Armenian population in the thousands in Palestine and the Palestinian territories, especially the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem with a history that goes back 2,000 years. Armenians

title: Religion in the Middle East

text: Religion in the Middle East Three major religious groups (i.e. the two largest religions in the world: Christianity and Islam, plus Judaism) originated in the Middle East. Smaller minority religions, such as the Bahá'í Faith, Druze, Nusairism, Manichaeism, Sabianism, Bábism, Yazidism, Mandaeism, Gnosticism, Yarsanism, Samaritanism, Shabakism, Ishikism, Ali-Illahism, Alevism, Yazdânism and Zoroastrianism are also present in the Middle East. The smaller, religiously unaffiliated population is forecast to grow 56%, from about 2 million to more than 3 million. Hindus, adherents of folk religions and Buddhists are expected to experience the greatest growth as a percentage of their modest 2010 counts,

title: History of the Middle East

text: Middle East has, in particular, some sizable, ethnically distinct Christian minority groups, as well as Jews, concentrated in Israel, and followers of Iranian religions, such as Yazdânism and Zoroastrianism. Some of the smaller ethnoreligious minorities include the Shabak people, the Mandaeans and the Samaritans. It is somewhat controversial whether the Druze religion is a distinct religion in its own right or merely a part of the Ismailist branch of Shia Islam. The Arabian Tectonic Plate was part of the African Plate during much of the Phanerozoic Eon (Paleozoic–Cenozoic), until the Oligocene Epoch of the Cenozoic Era. Red Sea rifting began

title: The East Is Red (1965 film)

text: Japanese Aggression), the subsequent overthrow of the National Government of the Republic of China on Mainland China by the PLA in the decisive phase of the Chinese Civil War, and the founding of the People's Republic on October 1, 1949. Singers in the film include Wang Kun, Tseten Dolma, Hu Song Hua and Guo Lanying. The East Is Red (1965 film) The East Is Red (), is a 1965 Chinese film directed by Wang Ping. It is a "song and dance epic" dramatizing the history of the Chinese Revolution and the Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong, from

title: Irreligion in the Middle East

text: increasingly been expressing their atheism on the Internet in recent years, despite residing in heavily religious societies. More than 50 atheist Facebook groups and pages, some with more than 130,000 followers, have formed in the last few years especially since the Arab spring. Irreligion in the Middle East Though atheists in the Middle East are rarely public about their lack of belief, and they are persecuted in many countries, including Saudi Arabia where they are classified as terrorists, there are some atheist organizations in the Middle East and Arab world. Like other non-Muslims, atheists suffer persecution in the Middle East.

title: The East Is Red (1993 film)

text: The East Is Red (1993 film) The East Is Red, also known as Swordsman III, is a 1993 Hong Kong wuxia film. The main character in the film is loosely based on Dongfang Bubai, a character in Louis Cha's novel "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer". The film was produced by Tsui Hark, directed by Ching Siu-tung, and starred Brigitte Lin, Joey Wong and Yu Rongguang. The film is regarded as a sequel to "The Swordsman" and "Swordsman II". Following Dongfang Bubai's apparent death in "Swordsman II", the "jianghu" (martial artists' community) disintegrates into chaos as it lacks a dominant figure to

title: The East Is Red (song)

text: Li Youyuan. It is possible there was an earlier version which referred to Liu Zhidan, a local communist hero, who was killed in Shanxi in 1936. Later, Mao's name replaced Liu's in the lyrics. The song was popular in the Communist base-area of Yan'an, but became less popular after the Chinese Communist Party won the Chinese Civil War and established the People's Republic of China in 1949, possibly because some senior Party leaders disagreed with the song's portrayal of Mao Zedong as "China's savior". The lyrics of "The East Is Red" idealize Mao Zedong, and Mao's popularization of "The East

title: Advertising in the Middle East

text: Advertising in the Middle East Advertising in the Middle East are derived from traditional, societal, political, and religious influences. Of Middle Eastern countries, Egypt is more lenient than others on rules and regulations of advertising and media. Freedom of the media is guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution, and for the most part the government is respectful of that, but there are still laws in place to restrict the media. However, in the 2005 presidential election, office director for Information Minister Ahmed Selim declared they were entering an era of "free, transparent and independent Egyptian media." Egypt is traditionally a print

title: Water politics in the Middle East

text: cooperation, which can be used by countries in the Middle East. Water politics in the Middle East Water politics in the Middle East deals with control of the water resources of the Middle East, an arid region where issues of the use, supply, control, and allocation of water are of primary source. Water politics plays a role in various areas of politics in the Middle East, and it is particularly important in one of the defining features of the region's political landscape. Water issues reflect a central aspect of the nature of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; namely, the original influx of

title: Maingau Clinic of the Red Cross

text: 1929. The clinic is located just across the street from the Philanthropin, Frankfurt's most renowned Jewish school. Maingau Clinic of the Red Cross The Maingau Clinic of the Red Cross () is a clinic in Frankfurt, Germany, which is run by the German Red Cross. It is located near the Eschenheimer Anlage park in central Frankfurt, with the address Scheffelstraße 2–14. The clinic traces its history to the 1890 establishment of the Maingau Nursing Society by the Frankfurt branch of the Patriotic Women's Association. Its main goal was the education of nurses, and for this purpose the society bought a

title: The East Is Red (1993 film)

text: destroyed and Dongfang Bubai emerges victorious after defeating and killing Gu Changfeng. However, Xue Qianxun loses her life in the process. Dongfang Bubai realises his mistake and embraces his dead lover as he retires from the "jianghu" again. The film received a positive review from the "Los Angeles Times". The East Is Red (1993 film) The East Is Red, also known as Swordsman III, is a 1993 Hong Kong wuxia film. The main character in the film is loosely based on Dongfang Bubai, a character in Louis Cha's novel "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer". The film was produced by Tsui Hark,

text: the society held talks with its mainland counterpart in Kinmen, resulting in the Kinmen Agreement signed on 12 September. The talks were about issues such as repatriation of criminals, smugglers or fugitives in the spirit of humanity and practicality. Red Cross Society of the Republic of China The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China () is the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China on Taiwan. The society is not recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) because it does not meet all the conditions set out in the Statues of the Red Cross

title: Knights of the Cross with the Red Star

text: Knights of the Cross with the Red Star The Knights of the Cross with the Red Star or Military Order of the Crusaders of the Red Star (; ; ) is a religious Order originating from Bohemia, devoted mainly to offering medical care. Its members use the postnominal initials of O.M.C.R.S. Throughout its history it was accustomed to the use of arms, a custom which was confirmed in 1292 by an ambassador of Pope Nicholas IV. The grand master is still invested with a sword at his induction into office, and the congregation has been recognized as a military order

title: Religion in the Middle East

text: Muslim conquests of the mid-to-late 7th century AD. Christianity in the Middle East is characterized with its diverse beliefs and traditions compared to other parts of the old world. Christians now make up 5% of the population, down from 20% in the early 20th century. The number of Middle Eastern Christians is dropping in some regions in the Middle East due to such factors as forced acceptance of Islam, low birth rates compared with Muslims, extensive emigration (usually to escape religious persecution), and the religious persecution itself. In addition, political turmoil has been and continues to be a major contributor

title: The Middle East Journal

text: The Middle East Journal The Middle East Journal is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Middle East Institute (Washington, D.C.). It was established in 1947 and covers research on the modern Middle East, including political, economic, and social developments and historical events in North Africa, the Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asia. The editor-in-chief is Michael Collins Dunn. The Middle East Institute was founded in 1946 to promote the study of the region in a modern, policy-relevant context. From its outset, one of its priorities was "[t]he editing and publishing of an authoritative journal on Middle Eastern affairs."

title: What Made the Red Man Red?

text: film's developers made a deliberate choice to distance the character of Tiger Lily and her people from Native American heritage and reimagine them as lacking any particular ethnicity, in order to "avoid the racial insensitivities of... Disney's 1953 animated film, which infamously featured the song 'What Made the Red Man Red?'" The song is sampled in the Frank Waln song of the same title, in which he raps about the legacy of genocide and colonialism and criticizes the original song for its racism. What Made the Red Man Red? "What Made the Red Man Red?" is a song from the

title: Political theology in the Middle East

text: Political theology in the Middle East Christian political theology in the Middle East is a religious response by Christian leaders and scholars to political problems. Political theologians try to balance the demands of a tumultuous region with the delicate but long history of Christianity in the Middle East. This has yielded a diversity of political theology disproportionate to the small size of Middle Eastern Christian minorities. The region's importance to Christians worldwide – both for history and doctrinal authority for many denominations – also shapes the political theologies of the Middle East. For many Christian leaders, the dominant approach to

title: Call signs in the Middle East

text: Call signs in the Middle East Call signs in the Middle East are unique identifiers for telecommunications and broadcasting in the Middle East. Call signs are regulated internationally by the International Telegraph Union (ITU) and nationally by local government and international agencies in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, The Palestinian Authority, occupied territories and other nations or DXCC entities. About 9,100 licensed operators in the Middle East have call signs. Since callsign allocation from the ITU is administered by national political authorities and international mandates, it is a story of transition, compromise, and internationally unrecognized operation to follow the history of

title: Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross

text: Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross is a 1915 young adult novel written by L. Frank Baum, famous as the creator of the Land of Oz. It is the tenth and final volume in Baum's "Aunt Jane's Nieces" series of books for adolescent girls — the second greatest success of his publishing career, after the Oz books themselves. As with all the previous books in the series, "Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross" was released under the pen name "Edith Van Dyne," one of Baum's various pseudonyms. The book is noteworthy

title: The Middle East (nightclub)

text: Bosstones' "Live from The Middle East", Dinosaur Jr's "Live at the Middle East" DVD, The Minibosses' "Live at the Middle East", Mr. Lif's "Live at the Middle East", and Harry and the Potters' "Live at the Yule Ball" EP. From 1995 until 2006, The Middle East was host to the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble, a well-publicized "battle of the bands" more than three decades old. The Middle East is also a prominent participant at the Cambridge River Festival, an annual musical and cultural event along the banks of the Charles River between Central and Harvard Square. The Middle East

text: were founded in nearly every country in Europe. The project resonated well with patriotic sentiments that were on the rise in the late-nineteenth-century, and national societies were often encouraged as signifiers of national moral superiority. In 1876, the committee adopted the name "International Committee of the Red Cross" (ICRC), which is still its official designation today. Five years later, the American Red Cross was founded through the efforts of Clara Barton. More and more countries signed the Geneva Convention and began to respect it in practice during armed conflicts. In a rather short period of time, the Red Cross gained

text: from the Palestinian political movement Hamas, which many governments have designated as a terrorist organization, have been living at the International Red Cross office in Jerusalem. Israel believes that these three officials had a role in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and has issued deportation orders for them. Red Cross spokesperson Cecilia Goin, in speaking with CBN News, said that hosting the Hamas officials is in line with the organization's humanitarian mission. Israel arrested two of the Hamas members for conducting "Hamas activities inside Jerusalem," said the police. International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee

title: International Review of the Red Cross

text: International Review of the Red Cross The International Review of the Red Cross is a quarterly peer-reviewed public health journal published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The journal provides a "forum for debate, reflection and critical analysis on international humanitarian law, humanitarian action and policy in times of armed conflict and other situations of violence". It was established in 1869 and has been published by Cambridge University Press since 2006. It was first published as "Bulletin international des Sociétés de secours aux militaires blessés" and later as "Bulletin international des Sociétés

title: Democracy in the Middle East

text: Studies and serving on the Board of Advisors for the Project on Middle East Democracy. When asked about his thoughts regarding the current state of democracy in the region he said: The Middle East Forum, a think tank based in Philadelphia, recently published their table for measurement of democracy within Middle Eastern states. Their contention is that little has changed, post-September 11, 2001, and if anything the "War on Terror" has enabled many regimes to stifle democratic progress. The results showed very little progress from 1999-2005. The report even states that this pattern may be counter-productive to US interests, with

title: Water politics in the Middle East

text: Water politics in the Middle East Water politics in the Middle East deals with control of the water resources of the Middle East, an arid region where issues of the use, supply, control, and allocation of water are of primary source. Water politics plays a role in various areas of politics in the Middle East, and it is particularly important in one of the defining features of the region's political landscape. Water issues reflect a central aspect of the nature of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; namely, the original influx of an additional large population mass to a relatively fragile geographical area

title: Catholic Church in the Middle East

text: unsettling Christians' decades-long peaceful existence. In 2011, it was estimated that at the present rate, the Middle East's 12 million Christians would likely drop to 6 million by the year 2020. Catholic Church in the Middle East The Catholic Church in the Middle East is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Catholic Church is said to have traditionally originated in the Middle East in the 1st century AD, and was one of the major religions of the region from the 4th-century Byzantine reforms until the centuries following the Arab Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD.

title: Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

text: Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is a pan-Canadian grassroots advocacy organization established under a different name in 2002 in order to "empower Canadians of all backgrounds to promote justice, development and peace in the Middle East, and at home in Canada". Specifically, it seeks to achieve these goals through the creation of a Palestinian state, as well as by encouraging Canadian citizens to ensure that their government lives up to what the CJPME see as its legal and moral responsibilities in upholding human rights and humanitarian

title: Armenians in the Middle East

text: attracted by the economic opportunities provided by the UAE, and they came to the UAE for jobs. Although there are no clear statistics and their numbers vary, over time their number has increased to around 3,000. Recently there are also economic migrants coming from the Republic of Armenia and Armenians from Russia. Armenians in the Middle East The Armenians in the Middle East are mostly concentrated in Iran, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine, although well-established communities exist in Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and other countries of the area. The Armenians of the Middle East speak the western dialect of the

title: Economy of the Middle East

text: of three development paths: mild reforms and problematic openness in the Ottoman imperial core, forced development in Egypt and direct colonization in central Asia and Algeria. Following a period of deindustrialization, political movements in the Middle East demanded a political renaissance and leaders saw the need for reindustrialization. Economy of the Middle East The economy of the Middle East is very diverse, with national economies ranging from hydrocarbon-exporting rentiers to centralized socialist economies and free-market economies. The region is best known for oil production and export, which significantly impacts the entire region through the wealth it generates and through labor

title: Wine in religious communities of the Middle East

text: Persian term mobadhcheh (“son of a magus,” where “magus” is a term referring to Zoroastrians) became a well-known device referring to wine stewards in Persian bacchic poetry. Additionally, Persian-produced wine is mentioned frequently in both Arabic and Persian bacchic poetry, implying the presence of wine in those regions. Hafiz refers both to drinking adventures occurring “within the Magian tavern,” and Zoroastrian tavern-wenches serving wine and providing entertainment. Abu Nuwas “refer[s] several times to “superb Persian wine, “wine [selected] for Persian kings,” and “vintage Persian red,” and refers to vintages by their location. Wine in religious communities of the Middle East

title: Religion in the Middle East

text: for all other religions and beliefs in the world. Islam is the most widely followed religion in the Middle East. About 20% of the world's Muslims live in the Middle East. Islam is monotheistic believing in Allah and follows the teaching of the written sacred text, the Qur'an. Islam is believed to be an extension of Judaism and Christianity with the belief that Muhammad is the final prophet of God, in a long chain of prophets, from Adam on down to John the Baptist, Jesus, and finally Muhammad. The majority of the Muslims are Sunni, followed by Shi'a. Smaller sects

title: Religion in the Middle East

text: 0.3% of the total population of the Middle East. Many of these Buddhists are workers who have migrated from other parts of Asia to the Middle East in the last 20 years, many from countries and regions that have large Buddhist populations, such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. A small number of engineers, company directors, and managers from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea have also moved to the Middle East. Sikhism, the fifth-largest organized religion in the world after Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, having over 25 million Sikhs worldwide, has a small

title: Economy of the Middle East

text: Economy of the Middle East The economy of the Middle East is very diverse, with national economies ranging from hydrocarbon-exporting rentiers to centralized socialist economies and free-market economies. The region is best known for oil production and export, which significantly impacts the entire region through the wealth it generates and through labor utilization. In recent years, many of the countries in the region have undertaken efforts to diversify their economies. The economy of the Middle East consists of the economies of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kurdistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

title: History of the Middle East

text: as the Syriacs and the Hebrew continued to exist. Under Byzantine/Greek rule the area of the Levant met an era of stability and prosperity. In the 5th century, the Middle East was separated into small, weak states; the two most prominent were the Sasanian Empire of the Persians in what is now Iran and Iraq, and the Byzantine Empire in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). The Byzantines and Sasanians fought with each other a reflection of the rivalry between the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire seen during the previous five hundred years. The Byzantine-Sasanian rivalry was also seen through their respective

title: Democracy in the Middle East

text: to encourage the evolution of a functioning civil society. The latter will, after a few years of consolidation and post-conflict stability, produce the first wholly internally crafted government. At that time, external involvement, if still provided at that point, can cede." Schnabel argues that democratization in the Middle East must come from both below and above, given that pressure from below will be pointless if the political leadership is opposed to reform, while top-down reform (which has been the norm in the Middle East) is not a fruitful endeavor if the political culture in society is not developed. Other analysts

text: about the Nazi's annihilation plans for the Jews – and even discussed it with U.S. officials – the group did nothing to inform the public, maintaining silence even in the face of pleas by Jewish groups. Because the Red Cross was based in Geneva and largely funded by the Swiss government, it was very sensitive to Swiss wartime attitudes and policies. On October 1942, the Swiss government and the Red Cross' board of members vetoed a proposal by several Red Cross board members to condemn the persecution of civilians by the Nazis. For the rest of the war, the Red

title: LGBT in the Middle East

text: LGBT in the Middle East Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens generally have limited or highly restrictive rights in most parts of the Middle East, and open to hostility in others. Homosexuality is illegal in 10 of the 18 countries that make up the region; and punishable by death in six of these. The rights and freedoms of LGBT citizens are strongly influenced by the prevailing cultural traditions and religious mores of people living in the region - particularly Islam. All sexual orientations are legal in Bahrain, Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey. Female homosexuality is legal in

title: LGBT in the Middle East

text: some western LGBT activists to unearth and foster ‘gay’ politics in the region is potentially deeply counterproductive. Rather, the mainstreaming was won largely by framing the situations of LGBT (or otherwise-identified) people in terms of the rights violations, and protections, that existing human rights movements understand. (Human Rights Watch 2009, p. 18) LGBT in the Middle East Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens generally have limited or highly restrictive rights in most parts of the Middle East, and open to hostility in others. Homosexuality is illegal in 10 of the 18 countries that make up the region; and punishable by

title: Catholic Church in the Middle East

text: Catholic Church in the Middle East The Catholic Church in the Middle East is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Catholic Church is said to have traditionally originated in the Middle East in the 1st century AD, and was one of the major religions of the region from the 4th-century Byzantine reforms until the centuries following the Arab Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD. Ever since, its proportion has decreased until today's diaspora tendency, mainly due to persecution by Islamic majority societies. In most Islamic countries, the Catholic Church is severely restricted or outlawed. Significant

title: Christianity in the Middle East

text: and 1.2 million before 2003. In 2014, the Assyrian population of the Nineveh Plains In Northern Iraq largely collapsed due to an Invasion by ISIS. But after the fall of ISIS the Assyrian population of the Nineveh Plains is returning home. The next largest Christian group in the Middle East is the once Aramaic speaking but now Arabic-speaking Maronites who are Catholics and number some 1.1–1.2 million across the Middle East, mainly concentrated within Lebanon. In Israel, Israeli Maronites together with smaller Aramaic-speaking Christian populations of Syriac Orthodox and Greek Catholic adherence are legally classified ethnically as either Arameans or

title: Democracy in the Middle East

text: willing and able to crush reform initiatives. Moreover, almost every Arab state has been directly involved in some form of international conflict over the past decades. Research suggests that conflict involvement has a direct influence on the country's prospects for democratization. However, critics of these theories observe that some countries which experience many of these democracy-inhibiting factors are successful in their quest for democratization. Democracy in the Middle East According to the Democracy Index 2016 study, Israel (#29 worldwide) is the only democracy in the Middle East, while Tunisia (#69 worldwide) is the only democracy in North Africa. The measure

title: Cousin marriage in the Middle East

text: result in children with genetic disorders. "Birth defects due to inter-family marriages is not just prevalent in Mian Kalay; this can happen anywhere in the world where there is inbreeding." Cousin marriage in the Middle East Cousin marriage is allowed and often encouraged throughout the Middle East. Anthropologists have debated the significance of the practice; some view it as the defining feature of the Middle Eastern kinship system while others note that overall rates of cousin marriage have varied sharply between different Middle Eastern communities. There is very little numerical evidence of rates of cousin marriage in the past. Prevalence

title: History of the Middle East

text: History of the Middle East Home to the Cradle of Civilization, the Middle East (usually interchangeable with the Near East) has seen many of the world's oldest cultures and civilizations. This history started from the earliest human settlements, continuing through several major pre- and post-Islamic Empires through to the nation-states of the Middle East today. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh. Mesopotamia was home to several powerful empires that came to rule almost the entire Middle East—particularly the Assyrian Empires of 1365–1076 BC and the Neo-Assyrian Empire

title: History of the Middle East

text: Red Sea trade. Territorial wars soon became common, with the Byzantines and Sasanians fighting over upper Mesopotamia and Armenia and key cities that facilitated trade from Arabia, India, and China. Byzantium, as the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire, continued control of the latter's territories in the Middle East. Since 527, this included Anatolia, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt. But in 603 the Sasanians invaded, conquering Damascus and Egypt. It was Emperor Heraclius who was able to repel these invasions, and in 628 he replaced the Sasanian Great King with a more docile one. But the fighting weakened both states,

title: Catholic Church in the Middle East

text: exceptions include Israel and Lebanon. The largest group remaining in the Middle East is the Maronite Church based in Beirut, Lebanon, an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Pope and the rest of the Catholic Church. For specific nations (including Eastern Catholic churches), see: In addition, the Latin Church in the Middle East comprise Latin Catholics subject to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Christianity in the Middle East is characterized by its diverse beliefs and traditions, compared to Christianity in other parts of the Old World. In 2010, Christians were estimated to make up 5% of the total

text: insufficiently distinguishable from the protected Red Cross symbol, the U.S. Department of Transportation developed the Blue Star of Life as a replacement for the safety orange cross. The blue Star of Life has since been adopted throughout much of the world on ambulances and in other related applications. In 2006, the Canadian Red Cross issued a press release asking video game makers to stop using the red cross in their games; it is an especially common sight to see first aid kits and other items which restore the player character's health marked with a red cross. In order to avoid