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By: Ian Macaulay. Countries in the m iddle east. Saudi Arabia. In 1985, Prince Sultan Ibn Salman became the first Arab and first Muslim to travel in space when he flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery .
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By: Ian Macaulay Countries in the middle east
Saudi Arabia • In 1985, Prince Sultan Ibn Salman became the first Arab and first Muslim to travel in space when he flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery. • Saudi women are forbidden to drive cars or ride bicycles. Rules like these are based on Saudi Arabian law and custom. Saudis believe that these rules protect a woman’s modesty and honor
Iran • Iran’s official language is Persian, or Farsi. • Shi‘i Islam has been Iran’s state religion since the 1500s. • More than 10 percent of Iran’s population is nomadic or seminomadic, meaning that they lack permanent homes and move from place to place instead of living in just one location. • Men and women do not display affection in public, even if married.
Israel • It isn’t just the Jews who think that Jerusalem is a holy city. Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad will return on Judgment Day to Jerusalem, and Christians believe that Jerusalem was the place where Christ was crucified and resurrected. • Some Israelis live on a kibbutz, a rural community where people share almost everything, including the money they make.
turkey • Tea is considered the national drink. It is so popular that when there were shortages in the past, it is said that the whole country practically shut down. • A popular sport is camel wrestling. Two camels bump against each other until one is knocked down or runs away. • Turkey had the first motels. Hundreds of years ago, large palace inns provided lodging for people traveling through the region. • The most common folk instrument is the saz, a kind of long-necked, egg-shaped guitar.