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Muslim Countries

Muslim Countries. Ms. Mitchell Cultural Revolutions Andover High School. Table of Contents. Iran Afghanistan Turkey Syria Iraq Saudi Arabia Pakistan. Iran. Geography and People. Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea.

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Muslim Countries

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  1. Muslim Countries Ms. Mitchell Cultural Revolutions Andover High School

  2. Table of Contents • Iran • Afghanistan • Turkey • Syria • Iraq • Saudi Arabia • Pakistan

  3. Iran

  4. Geography and People • Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. • Between Iraq and Pakistan • Slightly smaller than Alaska • Periodic droughts, floods, dust storms, sandstorms, and earthquakes • 98% Muslim (89% Shia and 9% Sunni) • Median age of citizens is 27.4 years old • 77% literate • School life expectancy: 13 years

  5. Government • Islamic Republic/Theocratic Republic • Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (Chief of State) • President HasanFereidunRuhani(Head of Government) • President is elected by popular vote • Eligible for two consecutive four year terms and a non consecutive term • Religious Legal System, Sharia Law • Universal suffrage at 18 years old

  6. Economy • Economy is reliant on oil; provides the majority of revenues • Double-Digit Unemployment and Underemployment • Underemployment of young persons has resulted in a “brain drain” • 15.3% (2011) unemployment

  7. Brief History • Called Persia until 1935 (many American-Iranians, or Iranians living in America, still refer to themselves as Persians) • Iranian Revolution in 1979 • Overthrowing of the Pahlavi dynasty under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi • Replacement with Islamic Republic under AyatollaRuhollah Khomeini (leader of the revolution) • The Pahlavi dynasty was highly westernized and replaced Islamic laws with western ones. The pendulum swung the other way when the Ayatolla Khomeini came to power

  8. IRAN on the spectrum Today? Islamic Revolution Pahlavi Dynasty Westernized Islamic

  9. US Relations • Iran Hostage Crisis • 52 American Diplomats held hostage for 444 days (over a year) • Iranian youths take over American Embassy and take hostages • Do not maintain diplomatic relations but this is slowly changing thanks to the President Ruhani • Mixed reactions from US and Iranian citizens to this change • Issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear program

  10. Women in Iran • 1979-1990 (Since the Revolution…) • Islamic dress codes • Barred from becoming judges • Sex-segregation in sports and at the beach • Marriage age reduced to 9 (later raised to 13) • Married women cannot attend school regularly • “Virginity tests” • Women caught disobeying dress codes subject up to 70 lashes or 60 days imprisonment

  11. Women in Iran • 1990—Present Day • Increase in education and women in the work force • Allowed to participate in sports • Abortions allowed in very select circumstances • “Stop Stoning Forever” campaign • “One Million Signatures” campaign

  12. Censorship The highly religious faction within the government works to censor public statements and images coming into and out of Iran that it deems harmful to the Islamic integrity of the country. For example… FARS News Agency Censorship

  13. Present Problems Facing the Region • Sex Trafficking of men, women, and children • Heroin trade route from Asia to Europe • One of the highest opiate addiction rates in the world • Refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq • Relations with Israel • Nuclear Weapons • 2005 UN Security Council imposed sanctions against Iran • US determined in 2009 that Iran could likely not develop nuclear weapons until 2013

  14. Afghanistan

  15. Geography and People • Landlocked. Slightly smaller than Texas • Major issue facing the country is a lack of fresh, drinkable water, coupled with overgrazing and desertification. The result is little water to drink or farm and an inability to produce enough food. • Kabul = capital • 99% Muslim (80 Sunni/ 19% Shite) • 97.6% of population under age 65 • 28.1% literacy rate and schooling expectancy of 7-11 years (female/male)

  16. Government & Economy • Universal suffrage at age 18 • Mixed legal system of customary, civil, and Islamic law • Democratically elected president for 5 year term, option for a second term • Current president is Hamid Karzai, term is up in 2014 • Pressures on the government: religious groups, tribal leaders, ethnically based groups, and the Taliban • One of the lowest living standards in the world

  17. Brief History • Founded in 1747 • Won independence from Britain in 1919 • Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the Communist regime • Soviet Union withdrew in 1989 after attacks and pressures from anti-Communist mujahedin rebels • US covertly supported the mujahedin (moo-jah-deen) • Fell to the Taliban in 1996

  18. Brief History, cntd. • After 2001 terrorist attacks on America, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban • Adoption of new constitution and National Assembly in 2004. Islamic Republic. • 2005—Hamid Karzai first democratically president of Afghanistan • 2009—Karzai re-elected

  19. US War in Afghanistan • October 2001: Military campaign against targeted terrorist facilities and Taliban military/political assets • Operation Enduring Freedom • November 2001: Kabul fell • Many Taliban leaders fled to Pakistan • December 2001: International Security Assistance Force founded by UN Security Council to secure Kabul and surrounding areas • 2003—present: Taliban insurgents campaign against Islamic Republic and the presence of ISAF troops • May 2012—NATO approves withdrawal plan

  20. US Relations • May 2012: US and Afghanistan sign Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America • 10 year partnership demonstrating US’ commitment to strengthen Afghanistan’s sovereignty, stability and prosperity • Continued cooperation to defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates • Major Non-NATO Ally • Maintaining of embassies

  21. Soviet War • December 1979-1989 • Soviet-led Afghan forces against insurgent groups referred to as the Mujahedeen • Soviet-Communist government influence in Afghanistan vs. Islamic tribes • Mujahedeen received training and support from the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and other countries • Millions of Afghans fled the country. Currently Afghan refugees make up the largest group of refugees in the world. • About 1 million Afghan citizens killed in the war. • Charlie Wilson, TX Congressman was key in persuading the US government to help fund and arm the mujahedeen.

  22. These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world…and then we fucked up the endgame. --Charlie Wilson

  23. The Taliban and al-Qaeda Taliban Al-Qaeda Founded by Osama bin Laden Al-Qaeda means “base” Dominated by Sunni Muslims who practice Wahabism, considered to be the most extreme form of Islam Wants to establish Islamic rule and thinks all governments should be replaced by Islamic leaders No boundaries Terrorist group Members are often from wealthy families and are highly educated Responsible for 9/11 • Formed by Mulla Mohammad Omar • “Talib” is arabic for “student” • Originally composed primarily of very conservative students • Belief in Sharia law • Ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001 and is returning • Regulated to specific areas and territories • Political group • Many members were raised in refugee camps, orphaned by earlier conflicts, or grew up poor • NOT responsible for 9/11

  24. Turkey

  25. Stuck Between East and West

  26. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk First President of the Republic of Turkey

  27. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk • Rose to power after WWI. • Was a military hero at the Battle of Gallipoli—the only Ottoman victory against Allied forces • 1919 National liberation struggle • 1923 Republic of Turkey • First president of the Republic • President for 15 years, until his death in 1938

  28. Religious to Secular • Ottoman Empire was a theocracy, ruled by a sultan since 1571 • Ataturk ordered the National Assembly to turn to a secular state • Moved the capital to Ankara

  29. Ataturk’s Reforms • Outlawed the fez • Banned the veil • Allowed women to vote and hold office • Banned polygamy • Religion of state no longer Islam • Muslim calendar replaced by European • Latin letters replaced Arabic characters • Qur’an translated to Turkish

  30. Dragging Turkey to the Modern World • Replaced Sharia (Islamic) Law with secular civil code • Converted state owned factories into private • Established a rail network • Instituted education reforms. Literacy rates rose from 20% to 90%

  31. “For the people, in spite of the people” Ataturk’s Slogan

  32. Continued Tensions • Kemalists (secularists) fear democracy will allow religion to rule the state again. • Islamists do not want government to overrule Muslim religion. • Turkish people feel they have to choose between their religion and their government.

  33. The Veil Today • Despite the ban, there was a rise of women wearing head scarves in schools in the 1970s and 1980s. • 1984: First widespread application of the ban came into effect. • 1997: Laws interpreted to be applied to all educational institutions—not just state owned. All universities must comply. • 2000: NurayBezirgan, wore a veil during her final exams in university. Sentenced to six months in ail for “obstructing the education of others.” European Court of Human Rights has upheld the ban several times.

  34. Veil, continued • Prime Minister Erdogan won a Parliamentary campaign in 2007 with the promise to end the ban. • Feb. 2008: Turkish Parliament passed an amendment to the constitution allowing women to wear the headscarf in university • June 2008: Turkish Constitutional Court overrules/annuls the amendment citing it as a violation of the founding principles of the constitution. This decision cannot be appealed. • 2010: Headscarves informally permitted. Educational institutions won’t take action against women wearing the veil but still look down upon it.

  35. Turkey and the European Union • Applied for admission • In a long limbo, waiting to find out • Might be up to 10 years before the application is approved (2015) • Many perks for Turkey such as open borders, financial aid, etc. • All EU participants must unanimously vote to admit Turkey • Not looking great as of December 2011 (71% against admission)

  36. Turkey and the EU Pro Cons “Too far” outside Europe Enlargement Issues—if they let Turkey in, who’s next? Austria, Germany, France • Key regional power, large economy, second largest military force of NATO • Key geographic location for access to resources • Sweden, UK

  37. Syria

  38. Geography and People • Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea • Bordered by Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan • Slightly larger than North Dakota • Arabic is the official language • Sunni Muslim is the official religion (74%) and other Muslim sects comprise 16% of the population • 61.6% between the ages of 15-64, median age is 22.3 years • 79.6% of the population is literate • 19.1% unemployment among persons 15-24 years of age

  39. Government • According to the CIA the government is a “republic under an authoritarian regime” • Capital: Damascus • Mixed legal system: civil and Islamic law • Universal suffrage at 18 • Chief of State: President Bashar al-Asad. • Elected in 2000 and then approved for a second 7-year term (no term limits). Was last approved for another term in 2007, with 97.6% of the vote.

  40. Background • Gained independence from France in 1946 • Series of military coups • Joins forces with Egypt in 1958 and briefly the two exist as the United Arab Republic • UAR splits in 1961 and Syria is reestablished • 1970 Hafiz al-Asad takes power in a bloodless coup. • Following his death in 2000, his son, Bashar al-Asad takes over power and is “officially” deemed president by a national referendum

  41. US Relations • Economic sanctions began in late 2011 • No longer maintain an embassy (effective Feb. 2012) • Patriot missiles and US troops in Turkey • Threats re: chemical weapons • Journalists kidnapped

  42. Civil War • Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region (Arab Spring), antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011 • Protesters are calling for: • the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge, • the legalization of political parties, • and the removal of corrupt local officials. • Government repeal of the Emergency Law and approval of new laws permitting new political parties and liberalizing local and national elections - and force.

  43. Civil War continued • Asad will not step down • Increase in violence • In late 2011 the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the United States have expanded economic sanctions against the regime • October 2012: Lakhdar BRAHIMI, current Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis began meeting with regional heads of state to assist in bringing about a cease-fire. • December 2012: fear of sarin gas attacks. • Death toll topped 6,000 in the months of February and March 2013 alone • Sec. of State John Kerry said on Feb. 14th, 2013 he believes the death toll for the conflict as a whole has likely reached 90,000

  44. Iraq

  45. Saudi Arabia

  46. Pakistan

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