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Download People of the Middle East and the Issues they Face
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People of the Middle East and the Issues they Face Ethnic Groups • Ethnic groups are a group of people who share a common religion, language, ancestry, and/ or culture. • A group’s customs and traditions often come from their religion, from where the groups lives, or the demands of daily life. • Examples- Sicilians, Serbians, Turks, Mayans, etc. Jews • Jews are one ethnic group who live in the Middle East. • Most can be found in Israel • They usually speak Hebrew and mostly practice Judaism Orthodox Jews in Israel Arabs • Most Arabs live throughout the Middle East (North Africa and Southwest Asia) • Largest Ethnic group in the middle east • They speak Arabic • Arabs were the original inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula • Most practice Sunni Islam, small groups practice Shi’a or Christianity Persians • Persians mostly live in Iran • Iran used to be called Persia (during the Persian Empire) • Most practice Shia Islam and practice Sharia law • Small groups practice Zoroastrianism and some are Christians • Since 1979 (in Iran) women must wear a chador (a covering that only reveals your face) • They speak Farsi also known as Persian Kurds • The Kurds are a group of people who live in Kurdistan (Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey) • They can also be found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Russia, Georgia, and Lebanon • There are approximately 35 million Kurds in the Middle East • They are the 4th largest Ethnic Group in the ME • They speak the Kurdish language • Most Kurds practice Sunni Islam and a small % practice Shi’a, some are Christian • Kurdish women have more rights than in some other Ethnic Groups (because of less strict religious beliefs) • A lot of Kurds suffered discrimination under the rule of Saddam Hussein in Iraq Religious Groups • Religious groups are people who share the same religious beliefs and practices they do not have to belong to the same ethnic group – Examples- Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Taoists Jews • Judaism is the oldest monotheistic (belief in one god) religion. • It was founded by Abraham in the modern day country of Iraq • It teaches that there is only one God and that the Jews are his chosen people. They also believe that a messiah is yet to come Muslims • Islam is the most commonly practiced religion in the Middle East. • People who practice Islam are called Muslims (one who submits to Allah ). • Founded in 622 A.D. by the prophet Muhammad. • They believe in the 5 Pillars of Islam – – – – Muhammad is his prophet Making the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) Giving alms (helping the poor) Fasting during Ramadan (Islamic holy month) – Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca • In 632 A.D. the prophet Muhammad died • After his death the Muslim community disagreed over who should lead Islam. • Sunnis believed that the leader of the Muslims did not have to be a blood descendent of Muhammad while the Shia branch believed that a relative should. • Today there are more Sunni Muslims in the world • Shi’ites also believe that you should have a religious leader as your political leader.