Cattle breeding and poultry farming are also encouraged by the government, while camels and horses are bred for racing. In 2008, the jobless figure was at 4%,[253] with women over represented at 85% of the total. There is little permanent settlement either in the southern half of Bahrain Island or on the smaller islands. When Bahrain was elected to head the United Nations General Assembly in 2006 it appointed lawyer and women's rights activist Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa President of the United Nations General Assembly, only the third woman in history to head the world body. In 1330, the archipelago became a tributary state of the rulers of Hormuz,[30] though locally the islands were controlled by the Shi'ite Jarwanid dynasty of Qatif. It provides for freedom of conscience, the inviolability of places of worship, and freedom to perform religious rites. Unofficial sources, such as the Library of Congress Country Studies,[6] and The New York Times,[7] estimate sectarian identification to be approximately 45% Sunni and 55% Shia. Asked their views of Iran's regional policies, precisely 2 percent of Bahraini Sunnis voice even a "somewhat positive" attitude. In 2009 and 2013, this investment reportedly amounted to 0.04% of GDP, although the data were incomplete, covering only the higher education sector. Later in the same decade, the Bahrain Maritime Airport was established, for flying boats and seaplanes. Improvements and positive developments in respect for religious freedom, Qubain, Fahim Issa (1955) Social Classes and Tensions in Bahrain. The Middle East Journal 9, no. [166], In 2006, Lateefa Al Gaood became the first female MP after winning by default. [324] Sickle-cell anaemia and thalassaemia are prevalent in the country, with a study concluding that 18% of Bahrainis are carriers of sickle-cell anaemia while 24% are carriers of thalassaemia. [151] The marine biotopes are diverse and include extensive sea grass beds and mudflats, patchy coral reefs as well as offshore islands. ", "Bahrain fully stocked for Eid al-Adha: official", "Bahrain economy slows to 1.3 pct q/q growth in Q4", " , Marc PELLAS (Le Monde diplomatique , 2021 )", "Ecological Footprint Accounting for Countries: Updates and Results of the National Footprint Accounts, 20122018", "Khaleej Times Online 85pc unemployed in Bahrain are females", Minister lashes out at parties opposed to unemployment benefit scheme, "International tourism in ASEAN by number of arrivals, 2000-14", "Underwater theme park opening in Bahrain", "The World's Largest Underwater Theme Park Is Coming to Bahrain", "Bahrain's 'Spring of Culture Festival' opens", "Bahrain airport's new passenger terminal to open January 28", "Saudi and Bahrain planning new road and rail causeway", "Arab Advisors Group reveals Bahrain's communications connectivity leading the region (press release)", "Market Information No. There are no restrictions on the number of citizens permitted to make pilgrimages to Shi'a shrines and holy sites in Iran, Iraq, and Syria. [280], The Bahraini Economic Vision 2030 published in 2008 does not indicate how the stated goal of shifting from an economy built on oil wealth to a productive, globally competitive economy will be attained. [156] The appointed council "exercises a de facto veto" over the elected, because draft acts must be approved so they may pass into law. [298] Shia have often complained of being politically repressed and economically marginalized in Bahrain; as a result, most of the protestors in the Bahraini uprising of 2011 were Shia.[299][300][301]. In addition to offshore banking units, there are local and foreign commercial banks, as well as investment banks. [53][56] The sedentary people of pre-Islamic Bahrain were Aramaic speakers and to some degree Persian speakers, while Syriac functioned as a liturgical language. In December 2006 the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Islamic Affairs merged to form the MOJIA. [213][214] In its latest report the Amnesty International accused both, US and the UK governments, of turning a blind eye to horrific abuses of human rights by the ruling Bahraini regime. Depending on circumstances, for example, the opening of a religious school, a religious group may also need approval from the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Information, and/or the Ministry of Education. [337], In literature, Bahrain was the site of the ancient land of Dilmun mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Compared to many countries in the region, the prevalence of AIDS and HIV is relatively low. [94] At the same time, the pearl diving industry developed at a rapid pace. A small minority of Shia Bahrainis are ethnic Hasawis from Al-Hasa. [41] Herodotus also believed that the homeland of the Phoenicians was Bahrain. [285] The north of the country is so urbanized that it is considered by some to be one large metropolitan area.[289]. This number is disputed, with the Sunni royal family placing it closer to half, [1] some surveys estimating it to be 62%, [2] and most sources placing the estimate somewhere near 70% of the Muslim population. Bahrains economic activity, like that of other Arab states in the Persian Gulf, has largely centred on the production of crude oil and natural gas and on refining petroleum products, making the country sensitive to fluctuations in the world oil market. Instead, under a process encouraged by Sunni rulers over the next four hundred years, Twelver Shia Islam became entrenched. [68] Domestic and foreign relations since independence, 19992010: Reforms of Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah, Which Country Is Larger By Population? Sunnis and Shia in Bahrain: New Survey Shows Both Conflict and [154], In 1973, the country held its first parliamentary elections; however, two years later, the late emir dissolved the parliament and suspended the constitution after parliament rejected the State Security Law. Recently, corporate tax has been proposed to be announced by the Government of Bahrain. According to the Undersecretary of Islamic Affairs, the new curriculum will focus on practices in Islam and jurisprudence and will contain content against radicalism and extremism. In contrast, in the absence of a direct male heir, a Sunni woman inherits only a portion as governed by Shari'a; the balance is divided among brothers, uncles, and male cousins of the deceased. The government has encouraged the growth of banking, insurance, and other financial services, and consequently Bahrain has become an important financial centre, notably of offshore banking. [1] Of these, 45% are Muslim and 55% are non-Muslim,[1] including Christians (primarily: Catholic, Protestant, Syriac Orthodox, and Mar Thoma from South India), Hindus, Bahs, Buddhists, and Sikhs.[7]. It consists of a low desert plain rising gently to a low central escarpment with the highest point the 134m (440ft) Mountain of Smoke (Jabal ad Dukhan). [21], Bahrain developed the first post-oil economy in the Persian Gulf,[22] the result of decades of investing in the banking and tourism sectors;[23] many of the world's largest financial institutions have a presence in the country's capital. The BS is a United States Department of Defense school that provides a K-12 curriculum including International Baccalaureate offerings. [201] However, reports by human rights organisations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued in April 2012 said the same violations were still happening. The sawt style of music, which involves a complex form of urban music, performed by an Oud (plucked lute), a violin and mirwas (a drum), is also popular in Bahrain. [49] At this time, Bahrain was known as Mishmahig (which in Middle-Persian/Pahlavi means "ewe-fish"). [63][64][65], Following their defeat in the year 976 by the Abbasids,[66] the Qarmatians were overthrown by the Arab Uyunid dynasty of al-Hasa, who took over the entire Bahrain region in 1076. [101] In 1948, following rising hostilities and looting,[102] most members of Bahrain's Jewish community abandoned their properties and evacuated to Bombay, later settling in Israel (Pardes Hanna-Karkur) and the United Kingdom. [346], In 2018, Cricket was introduced in Bahrain under the initiative of KHK Sports and Exelon. [146] Environmental issues facing Bahrain include desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, distribution stations, and illegal land reclamation at places such as Tubli Bay. [282], The University of Bahrain had over 20,000 students in 2014, 65% of whom are women, and around 900 faculty members, 40% of whom are women. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. [328][329][330], The modern art movement in the country officially emerged in the 1950s, culminating in the establishment of an art society. The region stretched from Basra in Iraq to the Strait of Hormuz in Oman. [225] Female activist Ghada Jamsheer said "The government used women's rights as a decorative tool on the international level." After the Bani Utbah gained control of Bahrain, the Al Bin Ali had a practically independent status there as a self-governing tribe. [362] The Independent named it "one of the most controversial in the history of the sport". [217] On behalf of the ruling family, Bahraini police have received training on how to deal with public protests from the British government. [3] Legend also states that it was the location of the Garden of Eden. [222] However, no women were elected to office in that year's polls. [215] On 31 January 2018, Amnesty International reported that the Bahraini government expelled four of its citizens after having revoked their nationality in 2012; turning them into stateless people. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. The majority of the population now dwells in towns, but in the north and northwest of the main island, where irrigation has long been carried out using artesian water, there are numerous small villages and isolated dwellings where horticulture is the way of life. [38], Alexander had planned to settle Greek colonists in Bahrain, and although it is not clear that this happened on the scale he envisaged, Bahrain became very much part of the Hellenised world: the language of the upper classes was Greek (although Aramaic was in everyday use). "belonging to the sea") would have been misunderstood and so was unused. [266] The new airport terminal is capable of handling 14 million passengers and is a big boost to the country's aviation sector. Jewish people in Bahrain regularly practice their faith privately without interference from the Government. [182] As of 2012[update], Bahrain maintains a network of 25 embassies, three consulates and four permanent missions to the Arab League, United Nations and European Union respectively. [310] In 1926, the Education Committee opened the second public school for boys in Manama, and in 1928 the first public school for girls was opened in Muharraq. About one-fifth of the population is under the age of 15. [34], From the sixth to third century BC, Bahrain was part of the Achaemenid Empire. The latter was founded in 2009 to undertake research with a focus on strategic security and energy issues to encourage new thinking and influence policy-making. Religious Beliefs In Bahrain - WorldAtlas The 2011 Bahraini uprising, inspired by the Arab Spring, ended in a bloody crackdown against the mainly Shiite demonstrators who had demanded an elected government, threatening the Sunni monarchy's grip on power. Among the Bahraini and non-Bahraini population, many people speak Persian, the official language of Iran, or Urdu, an official language in Pakistan and a regional language in India. Christian congregations that are registered with the Ministry of Social Development operated freely and were allowed to offer their facilities to other Christian congregations that did not have their places of worship. There are also private schools that offer either the IB Diploma Programme or United Kingdom's A-Levels. The island is home to forts including Qalat Al Bahrain which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The aim is to establish a knowledge hub for the six-member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Bahrain was home to Dilmun, an important Bronze Age trade centre linking Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. Parliamentary and municipal elections were held in 2006 and all political societies participated, including the largest Shi'a political society, which had boycotted the last parliamentary elections in 2002. "[37] The Greek historian Theophrastus states that much of Bahrain was covered by these cotton trees and that Bahrain was famous for exporting walking canes engraved with emblems that were customarily carried in Babylon. While the MOJIA views the Bah Faith as an inauthentic offshoot of Islam and blasphemous[citation needed], some other government ministries included Bah as a religion choice in "drop-down" computer menus for citizens applying for certain government documents. Often described as an archipelago of 33 islands,[144] extensive land reclamation projects have changed this; by August 2008 the number of islands and island groups had increased to 84. Prior to Islam, the inhabitants of Qatar and Bahrain practiced Arabian paganism. [273] Private vehicles and taxis are the primary means of transportation in the city. During the reporting period, the Ministry of Defense did not recruit Shi'a for military service. [224] Dr. Nada Haffadh became the country's first female cabinet minister on her appointment as Minister of Health in 2004. The United States designated Bahrain a major non-NATO ally in 2001. [231], Bahraini journalists risk prosecution for offences that include "undermining" the government and religion. A hydrochemical study identified the locations of the sources of aquifer salinisation and delineated their areas of influence. These families included the House of Khalifa, Al-Ma'awdah, Al-Fadhil, Al-Mannai, Al-Noaimi, Al-Sulaiti, Al-Sadah, Al-Thawadi and other families and tribes. Members of other religious groups who practice their faith privately do so without interference from the Government and are permitted to maintain their own places of worship and display the symbols of their religion, such as crosses and statues of deities and saints. [107], Following the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran in 1981, the Bahraini Shia population orchestrated a failed coup attempt under the auspices of a front organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain. [169] The supreme commander of the Bahraini military is King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the deputy supreme commander is the Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. In recent years, the government has undertaken several economic reforms in order to improve its financial dependency and also to boost its image as an island tourist destination that is compact, has short travel times and provides a much more authentic Arab experience than the regional economic and tourism powerhouse of Dubai. Bahrains only oil field, Al-Barayn (also known as Awali), is rapidly depleting. Islamic studies are a part of the curriculum in government schools and mandatory for all public school students. [184] Bahrain plays a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian rights by supporting the two state solution. Bahrain has a universal health care system, dating back to 1960. [185] Bahrain is also one of the founding members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. [29] An alternative theory concerning Bahrain's toponymy is offered by the al-Ahsa region, which suggests that the two seas were the Great Green Ocean (the Persian Gulf) and a peaceful lake on the Arabian mainland. ", "The King of Bahrain Wants the Jews Back", "If you take my advice I'd repress them", "Bahrain Kingdom of Bahrain Country Profile Al Bahrayn Persian Gulf", "Gulf States: Stay Just on the Horizon, Please", "Bahrain remains stable despite arson attacks that took place in the country", "Bahrain's monarch opens parliament after a span of nearly 30 years", "Bahrain: Promising human rights reform must continue", "The Kingdom of Bahrain: The Constitutional Changes", "Ruling Bahrain (Part I): The emir declares himself king", "To Implement the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, and for Other Purposes", "Bahrain declares state of emergency after unrest", "BICI | Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry", "Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry", "Police Brutality Turns Bahrain Into 'Island of Fear, "The Footage That Reveals the Brutal Truth About Bahrain's Crackdown Seven Protest Leaders Arrested as Video Clip Highlights Regime's Ruthless Grip on Power", "Bahrain court delays ruling in activists case", "Bahrain protesters join anti-government march in Manama", "Mass pro-democracy protest rocks Bahrain", "Heavy police presence blocks Bahrain protests", "Bomb blast kills three Bahrain policemen", "Tear Gas or Lethal Gas? [283], Bahrain invests little in research and development. [54], Muhammad's first interaction with the people of Bahrain was the Al Kudr Invasion. The Zagros Mountains across the Persian Gulf in Iran cause low-level winds to be directed toward Bahrain. They constitute the third largest religious group. Legal Framework Government Practices Executive Summary The constitution declares Islam to be the official religion and sharia the principal source for legislation. In the Council of Representatives, 40 members are elected by absolute majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve four-year terms. [363], In 2006, Bahrain also hosted its inaugural Australian V8 Supercar event dubbed the "Desert 400". Bahrain's largest islands are Bahrain Island, the Hawar Islands, Muharraq Island, Umm an Nasan, and Sitra. More than one-third of the population lives in the two principal cities, Manama and Al-Muarraq. The medieval grammarian al-Jawahari commented on this saying that the more formally correct term Bahr (lit. This included both Bahraini and Non-Bahraini workers. Its name is from the Arabic term al-barayn, meaning "two seas." Bahrain's 2010 census indicated that 70.2% of the population is Muslim. Sunni Bahrainis are mainly divided into two main ethnic groups: Arabs (al Arab) and Huwala. [8] The country's only synagogue has not been operational for nearly 60 years. Last week, Jalal al-Qassab, 60, and Redha Rajab, 67, filed their third and final appeals against convictions for "mocking" Islamic beliefs. Holding a religious meeting without a permit is illegal; however, there were no reports of religious groups being denied a permit to gather. In 1927, Rez Shh, then Shah of Iran, demanded sovereignty over Bahrain in a letter to the League of Nations, a move that prompted Belgrave to undertake harsh measures including encouraging conflicts between Shia and Sunni Muslims to bring down the uprisings and limit the Iranian influence. [282], In 2012, the government devoted 2.6% of GDP to education, one of the lowest ratios in the Arab world. [111] The event resulted in approximately forty deaths and ended after Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became the Emir of Bahrain in 1999. These activities have increasingly contributed to the countrys balance of payments. Satellite view of Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia in 2016. Hypocrisy on Parade: Washington Arms Bahrain, Denounces Russia For Arming Syria, "Welcome to Naval Support Activity Bahrain", U.S. Arabic plays an important role in political life, as, according to article 57 (c) of Bahrain's constitution, an MP must be fluent in Arabic to stand for parliament. On 1 September 2006, Bahrain changed its weekend from being Thursdays and Fridays to Fridays and Saturdays, to have a day of the weekend shared with the rest of the world. [74], In 1783, Al-Madhkur lost the islands of Bahrain following his defeat by the Bani Utbah tribe at the 1782 Battle of Zubarah. [18] Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to be influenced by Islam, during the lifetime of Muhammad in 628 AD. A noncitizen woman automatically loses custody of her children if she divorces their citizen father. Manama, with its port of Mn Salmn, is the largest city and contains the main government offices, the business and financial district, many large hotels, Western-style shops, and a traditional Arab souk (market). [327], Rules regarding female attire are generally relaxed compared to regional neighbours; the traditional attire of women usually include the hijab or the abaya. [161] This was especially evident when in 2005 the government called off the Shia branch of the "Family law" after over 100,000 Shia took to the streets. On 19 October 1940, four Italian SM.82s bombers bombed Bahrain alongside Dhahran oilfields in Saudi Arabia,[99] targeting Allied-operated oil refineries. [336] Ali Al Shargawi, a decorated longtime poet, was described in 2011 by Al Shorfa as the literary icon of Bahrain. This page was last edited on 17 April 2023, at 14:12. [67] The Uyunids controlled Bahrain until 1235, when the archipelago was briefly occupied by the Persian ruler of Fars. The investigation indicates that the aquifer water quality is significantly modified as groundwater flows from the northwestern parts of Bahrain, where the aquifer receives its water by lateral underflow from eastern Saudi Arabia, to the southern and southeastern parts. [305] There is also a Hindu community on the island. Jean Francois Salles in Traces of Paradise: The Archaeology of Bahrain, 2500BC-300AD in Michael Rice. In divorce cases, the courts routinely grant Shi'a and Sunni women custody of children until an age at which custody reverts to the father based on Ja'afari and Maliki Islamic law, respectively. Religious tracts of all branches of Islam, cassettes of sermons delivered by Muslim preachers from other countries, and publications of other religions are readily available. [84], In 1820, the Al Khalifa tribe were recognised by the United Kingdom as the rulers ("Al-Hakim" in Arabic) of Bahrain after signing a treaty relationship. Newspapers are widely available in multiple languages such as Arabic, English, Malayalam, etc. This TV film showed all the violations that have been taken against the rights of Bahraini citizens during the uprising. Every religious group must obtain a license from the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs (MOJIA) to operate. According to Shiite leaders interviewed by the reporter, work crews have often arrived "in the dead of night, accompanied by police and military escorts", to demolish the mosques, and in many cases, have hauled away the buildings' rubble before townspeople awake so as to leave no trace. In February 2011, the tensions between the Sunni ruling minority and the Shi'a majority spilled over into street protests which was violently suppressed by police forces, resulting in multiple civilian deaths. [342] Bahrain have recorded an influx in global athletes visiting the nation for Mixed Martial Arts training during 2017. [335], Literature retains a strong tradition in the country; most traditional writers and poets write in the classical Arabic style. Radio, much like the television network, is mostly state-run and usually in Arabic. "[44] The people of Tyre, in particular, have long maintained Persian Gulf origins, and the similarity in the words "Tylos" and "Tyre" has been commented upon. Historically there is evidence of discrimination against Shi'a Muslims in recruitment for the country's military and domestic security services. The non-oil sector includes petrochemicals, ship repair, aluminum refining, and light manufacturing. [76], The Al Bin Ali were the dominant group controlling the town of Zubarah on the Qatar peninsula,[77][78] originally the centre of power of the Bani Utbah. [2] Bahrani Arabic is the most widely spoken dialect of the Arabic language, though it differs widely from standard Arabic, like all Arabic dialects. The Government permits public religious events, most notably the large annual commemorative marches by Shi'a Muslims during the Islamic months of Ramadan and Muharram. Bahrain's entry into the soccer club spurred criticism that the country is trying to whitewash its human rights record and this is another way of buying influence in Europe. [129][130][131][132][133] More than 80 civilians and 13 policemen have been killed as of March2014[update]. [349] The government of Bahrain also sponsors a UCI WorldTeam cycling team, Bahrain Victorius, which participated in the 2017 Tour de France. The project is a partnership between the Supreme Council for Environment, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), and private investors. [307], Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 14. [40], The Greek historian Strabo believed the Phoenicians originated from Bahrain. [320][321], Currently, Bahrain has an obesity epidemic as 28.9% of all males and 38.2% of all females are classified as obese. This tax revenue will definitely help supporting the government to build fresh infrastructure, medical amenities and better lifestyle for the people of Bahrain. Christians constitute about half of the remaining one-fifth of the population, with the rest consisting of Jews, Hindus, and Bahs. More than 15% of the Bahraini population are affected by the disease, and they account for 5% of deaths in the country. In 2005, Qal'at al-Bahrain, a fort and archaeological complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the 20112012 Arab Spring uprising and crackdown against Shia protest in Bahrain, "dozens" of Shia mosques have been leveled by the government according to a report in McClatchy newspapers. The quasi-governmental women's group, the Supreme Council for Women, trained female candidates to take part in the 2006 general election.