The Republic of Yemen ( ), commonly known as Yemen (, ), is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern and southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east.

Yemen has a land area of 555,000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 24 million (2010). Its capital and largest city is Sana'a. Yemen's territory includes over 200 islands, the largest of which is Socotra, about 415 km to the south of mainland Yemen, off the coast of Somalia. It is the only state in the Arabian Peninsula to have a purely republican form of government (though not in practice).

In February and March 2011, the Yemeni Revolution against the government began, and clashes with police and pro-government supporters have steadily intensified. Many protestors demand the immediate resignation of the current leadership, and in particular that of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Etymology

Yemen or Al Yaman means "The South". One etymology derives Yemen from yamin the "right side" as the south is on the right when facing the sunrise; yet this etymology is considered suspect. Another derives Yemen from yumn meaning "felicity" as the region is fertile; indeed the Romans called it "Arabia Felix".

History

Yemen has long existed at the crossroads of cultures; it linked some of the oldest centers of civilization in the Near East by virtue of its location in South Arabia. Between the 12th century BC and the 6th century, it was part of the Minaean, Sabaean, Hadhramaut, Qataban, Ausan, and Himyarite kingdoms, which controlled the lucrative spice trade, and later came under Ethiopian and Persian rule. In the 6th century, the Himyarite king Abu-Karib Assad converted to Judaism. In the 7th century, Islamic caliphs began to exert control over the area. After this caliphate broke up, South Arabia came under the control of many dynasties who ruled part, or often all, of South Arabia. Imams of Persian origin ruled Yemen intermittently for 160 years, establishing a theocratic political structure that survived until modern times.

Egyptian Shia caliphs occupied much of Yemen throughout the 11th century. By the 16th century and again in the 19th century, Yemen was part of the Ottoman Empire, and in some periods Imams exerted control over all Yemen. Yemen's northern border was undefined; the Arabian Desert prevented any human habitation there.

The country can be divided geographically into four main regions: the coastal plains in the west, the western highlands, the eastern highlands, and the Rub al Khali in the east.

The Tihamah ("hot lands" or "hot earth") form a very arid and flat coastal plain along Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline. Despite the aridity, the presence of many lagoons makes this region very marshy and a suitable breeding ground for malaria mosquitoes. There are extensive crescent-shaped sand dunes. The evaporation in the Tihamah is so great that streams from the highlands never reach the sea, but they do contribute to extensive groundwater reserves. Today, these are heavily exploited for agricultural use. Near the village of Madar about north of Sana'a, dinosaur footprints were found, indicating that the area was once a muddy flat.

The Tihamah ends abruptly at the escarpment of the western highlands. This area, now heavily terraced to meet the demand for food, receives the highest rainfall in Arabia, rapidly increasing from per year to about in Ta'izz and over in Ibb. Agriculture here is very diverse, with such crops as sorghum dominating. Cotton and many fruit trees are also grown, with mangoes being the most valuable. Temperatures are hot in the day but fall dramatically at night. There are perennial streams in the highlands but these never reach the sea because of high evaporation in the Tihamah.

The central highlands are an extensive high plateau over in elevation. This area is drier than the western highlands because of rain-shadow influences but still receives sufficient rain in wet years for extensive cropping. Diurnal temperature ranges are among the highest in the world: ranges from in the day to at night are normal. Water storage allows for irrigation and the growing of wheat and barley. Sana'a is located in this region. The highest point in Yemen is Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb, at .

Yemen's portion of the Rub al Khali desert in the east is much lower, generally below , and receives almost no rain. It is populated only by Bedouin herders of camels.

The growing scarcity of water is a source of increasing international concern. See Water supply and sanitation in Yemen.

Economy

Yemen is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the Arab World, with a formal 65% employment rate, dwindling natural resources, a young population and increasing population growth. Yemen's economy is weak compared to most countries in the Middle-East, mainly because Yemen has very small oil reserves. Yemen's economy depends heavily on the oil it produces, and its government receives the vast majority of its revenue from oil taxes. But Yemen's oil reserves are expected to be depleted by 2017, possibly bringing on economic collapse. Yemen does have large proven reserves of natural gas. Yemen's first liquified natural gas (LNG) plant began production in October 2009.

Rampant corruption is a prime obstacle to development in the country, limiting local reinvestments and driving away regional and international capital. Foreign investments remain largely concentrated around the nation's hydrocarbon industry.

Beginning in the mid-1950s, the Soviet Union and China provided large-scale assistance. For example, China is involved with the expansion of the Sana'a International Airport. In the south, pre-independence economic activity was overwhelmingly concentrated in the port city of Aden. The seaborne transit trade, which the port relied upon, collapsed with the closure of the Suez Canal and Britain's withdrawal from Aden in 1967.

Since unification in 1990, the government has worked to integrate two relatively disparate economic systems. However, severe shocks, including the return in 1990 of approximately 850,000 Yemenis from the Persian Gulf states, a subsequent major reduction of aid flows, and internal political disputes culminating in the 1994 civil war hampered economic growth. ’s population grew rapidly, from roughly 55,000 in 1978 to more than 1 million in the early 21st century. Sana'a may be the first capital city in the world to run out of water.]] Since the conclusion of the war, the government made an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to implement a structural adjustment program. Phase one of the program included major financial and monetary reforms, including floating the currency, reducing the budget deficit, and cutting subsidies. Phase two will address structural issues such as civil service reform.

In early 1995, the government of Yemen launched an economic, financial, and administrative reform program (EFARP) with the support of the World Bank and the IMF, as well as international donors. The First Five-Year Plan (FFYP) for the years 1996 to 2000 was introduced in 1996. The World Bank has focused on public sector management, including civil service reform, budget reform, and privatization. Additional priorities for the programs have become attracting diversified private investment, water management, and poverty-oriented social sector improvements. These programs had a positive impact on Yemen’s economy and led to the reduction of the budget deficit to less than 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) during the period 1995-1999 and the correction of macro-financial imbalances.

In 1997, IMF and the Yemeni government began medium-term economic reform programs under the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF). This program aimed to reduce dependence on the oil sector and to establish a market environment for real non-oil GDP growth and investment in the non-oil sector. Increasing the growth rate in the non-oil sector was one of the government's most important objectives. Programs also focused on reducing unemployment, strengthening the social safety net, and increasing financial stability. To achieve these reforms, the government and IMF implemented containment of government wages, improvements in revenue collection with the introduction of reforms in tax administration, and a sharp reduction in subsidies bills through increased prices on subsidized goods. As a result, the fiscal cash deficit was reduced from 16% of GDP in 1994 to 0.9% in 1997. This was supported by aid from oil-exporting countries, despite the wide-ranging fluctuations in world oil prices. The real growth rate in the non-oil sector rose by 5.6% from 1995 to 1997.

Government

Yemen is a presidential republic with a bicameral legislature. Under the constitution, an elected President, an elected 301-seat Assembly of Representatives, and an appointed 111-member Shura Council share power. The President is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government.

The constitution provides that the president be elected by popular vote from at least two candidates endorsed by at least fifteen members of the Parliament. The prime minister, in turn, is appointed by the president and must be approved by two thirds of the Parliament. The presidential term of office is seven years, and the parliamentary term of elected office is six years. Suffrage is universal for people age 18 and older, but only Muslims may hold elected office.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh became the first elected President in reunified Yemen in 1999 (though he had been President of unified Yemen since 1990 and President of North Yemen since 1978). He was re-elected to office in September 2006. Saleh's victory was marked by an election that international observers judged to be "partly free", though the election was accompanied by violence, violations of press freedoms, and allegations of fraud.

Parliamentary elections were held in April 2003, and the General People's Congress (GPC) maintained an absolute majority.

The constitution calls for an independent judiciary. The former northern and southern legal codes have been unified. The legal system includes separate commercial courts and a Supreme Court based in Sana'a. Sharia is the main source of laws, with many court cases being debated according to the religious basis of law and many judges being religious scholars as well as legal authorities.

Beginning in February and March 2011, an uprising against the government occurred, and clashes with police and pro-government supporters have steadily intensified. Many protestors demand the immediate resignation of the current leadership, and in particular that of President Saleh.

Administrative divisions

As of February 2004, Yemen is divided into twenty governorates (muhafazat) and one municipality called "Amanat Al-Asemah" (the latter containing the capital, Sana'a)

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;" |- style="background:#efefef;" ! Division !! Capital City!! Population2004 Census !!Population2006 est.!!Key |- ! 'Aden | Aden || 589,419 ||634,710 || 1 |- ! 'Amran | 'Amran || 877,786 ||909,992|| 2 |- ! Abyan | Zinjibar || 433,819 ||454,535|| 3 |- ! Ad-Dali' | Ad Dali'|| 470,564 ||504,533|| 4 |- ! Al-Bayda' | Al-Bayda || 577,369 ||605,303|| 5 |- ! Al Hudaydah | Al-Hudaydah || 2,157,552 ||2,300,179|| 6 |- ! Al Jawf | Al-Jawf || 443,797 ||465,737|| 7 |- ! Al-Mahrah | Al-Ghaydah || 88,594 ||96,768|| 8 |- ! Al-Mahwit | Al-Mahweet || 494,557 ||523,236|| 9 |- ! Amanat Al-Asemah | Sana'a || 1,747,834 ||1,947,139|| 10 |- ! Dhamar | Dhamar || 1,330,108 ||1,412,142|| 11 |- ! Hadhramaut | Al-Mukalla || 1,028,556 ||1,092,967|| 12 |- ! Hajjah | Hajjah || 1,479,568 ||1,570,872|| 13 |- ! Ibb | Ibb || 2,131,861 ||2,238,537|| 14 |- ! Lahij | Lahij || 722,694 ||761,160|| 15 |- ! Ma'rib | Ma'rib || 238,522 ||251,668|| 16 |- ! Raymah | Kosmah || 394,448 ||418,659|| 17 |- ! Sa'dah | Sa`dah || 695,033 ||746,957|| 18 |- ! Sana'a | Sana'a || 919,215 ||957,798|| 19 |- ! Shabwah | Ataq || 470,440 ||494,638|| 20 |- ! Taiz | Taiz || 1,121,000 ||2,513,003|| 21 |}

The governors are subdivided into 333 districts (muderiah), which are subdivided into 2,210 sub-districts, and then into 38,284 villages (as of 2001).

Foreign relations

in Yemen]] Before British rule, Aden was occupied by the Portuguese between 1513–1538 and 1547–1548. It was ruled by the Ottoman Empire between 1538–1547 and 1548–1645. After Ottoman rule, it was ruled by the Sultanate of Lahej, under suzerainty of the Zaidi Imams of Yemen. In 1838, Sultan Muhsin bin Fadl of the nearby state of Lahej ceded including Aden to the British. On 19 January 1839, the British East India Company landed Royal Marines at Aden to occupy the territory and stop attacks by pirates against British shipping to India.

The geography and ruling Imams of North Yemen kept the country isolated from foreign influence before 1962. The country's relations with Saudi Arabia were defined by the Taif Agreement of 1934, which delineated the northernmost part of the border between the two kingdoms and set the framework for commercial and other intercourse. The Taif Agreement has been renewed periodically in 20-year increments, and its validity was reaffirmed in 1995. Relations with the British colonial authorities in Aden and the south were usually tense.

The Soviet and Chinese Aid Missions established in 1958 and 1959 were the first important non-Muslim presence in North Yemen. Following the September 1962 revolution, the Yemen Arab Republic became closely allied with and heavily dependent upon Egypt. Saudi Arabia aided the royalists in their attempt to defeat the Republicans and did not recognize the Yemen Arab Republic until 1970. At the same time, Saudi Arabia maintained direct contact with Yemeni tribes, which sometimes strained its official relations with the Yemeni Government. Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis found employment in Saudi Arabia during the late 1970s and 1980s.

, Yemen, situated in the crater of an extinct volcano.]]

In February 1989, North Yemen joined Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt in forming the Arab Cooperation Council (ACC), an organization created partly in response to the founding of the Gulf Cooperation Council and intended to foster closer economic cooperation and integration among its members. After unification, the Republic of Yemen was accepted as a member of the ACC in place of its YAR predecessor. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, the ACC has remained inactive. Yemen is not a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

British authorities left southern Yemen in November 1967 in the wake of an intense rebellion. The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, the successor to British rule, had diplomatic relations with many states, but its major links were with the Soviet Union and other communist countries. Relations between it and the conservative Arab states of the Arabian Peninsula were strained. There were military clashes with Saudi Arabia in 1969 and 1973, and the PDRY provided active support for the Dhofar rebellion against the Sultanate of Oman. The PDRY was the only Arab state to vote against admitting new Arab states from the Persian Gulf area to the United Nations and the Arab League. The PDRY provided sanctuary and material support to various insurgent groups around the Middle East.

Yemen is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and also participates in the nonaligned movement. The Republic of Yemen accepted responsibility for all treaties and debts of its predecessors, the YAR and the PDRY. Yemen has acceded to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

The Persian Gulf crisis dramatically affected Yemen's foreign relations. A long-time ally of Saddam Hussein, Yemen's President, Ali Abdullah Saleh was quick to back Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. As a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 1990 and 1991, Yemen continued to abstain on a number of UNSC resolutions concerning Iraq and Kuwait In many instances, the kidnappers attempted to use hostage taking to gain leverage in negotiations with the government. One victim of kidnapping was former German Secretary of State Jürgen Chrobog, a man who himself had conducted negotiations with kidnappers while in office. In June 2009, a group of nine foreign tourists were kidnapped near the city of Saada. Seven were killed and two children survived. which is a fraction of the estimated 700,000-strong Somali nationals already living and working in Yemen. There are also many Somalis who have received Yemeni citizenship due to marriage with Yemenis as well as through service to the nation over the years. In addition, Yemen and Somalia have a long history of trade and inter-action, with many of Somalia's Sultans, such as Yusuf Ali Kenadid and Gerad Ali Dable, often being exiled to and recruiting troops from Yemen's Hadhramaut region. Somalia has also over the centuries seen successive waves of immigration from Yemen, with Hadhrami settlers being instrumental in helping to consolidate the Muslim community in the coastal Benadir region in particular. During the colonial period, disgruntled Yemenis from the Hadhrami wars additionally sought and received asylum in various Somali towns.

Yemen also maintains good relations with Djibouti, its other predominantly Somali neighbor to the west across the Red Sea. With a rapidly expanding economy, a stable government, huge investments from fellow Persian Gulf Arab states, and a strategic maritime location in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti stands as an important ally. While Djibouti is largely inhabited by Somalis, it is separate from the Somali Republic and holds its own seats in the United Nations and the League of Arab States. On February 22, 2008, the BBC reported that a company owned by Tarek bin Laden was planning to build a bridge across the Bab el Mandeb, linking Yemen with Djibouti.

Since 2004, a civil war is being fought in Northern Yemen between Yemeni forces and Shiite Houthi rebels. In 2009, it spilled over into the neighboring border region of Saudi Arabia. This conflict is increasingly becoming a danger to regional stability, according to news reports by CNN and the BBC, as various countries are said to be involved, e.g. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. The United Nations and UNDP Yemen report a growing problem of civilians fleeing from the region. Yemen is said to have more than 60 million guns. The 2009 South Yemen insurgency has further destabilized the country.

Some news reports have suggested that, on orders from President Barack Obama, US warplanes fired cruise missiles at what officials in Washington claimed were Al Qaeda training camps in the provinces of Sana’a and Abyan on December 17, 2009. Other reports suggest that the airstrikes were carried out by Yemeni Mig-29 aircraft, probably helped by US intelligence, or that cruise missiles were launched from warships offshore. Officials in Yemen said that the attacks claimed the lives of more than 60 civilians, 28 of them children. Another airstrike was carried out on December 24. On January 3, 2010, the U.S. and British embassies in Yemen closed for security reasons after the failed plot to bomb a plane in Detroit and after reports of eight individuals planning an attack on the embassy itself. One was arrested with a suicide vest, while three others were killed. Four remained at large as of January 4, 2010.

Despite these tensions between the US and Yemen, as well as increasing worries about terrorism in Yemen, President Obama has stated that he has no plans to introduce US military forces into the country, a sentiment that was echoed by US General David Petraeus. However, the terrorism worries seemed justified as a foiled terrorist plot was apparently conceived in Yemen. Instead of military intervention, the US government intends to increase military aid to $140 million in 2010.

Geopolitical significance of Yemen (primarily its straits and oil fields) keeps this country in the sphere of U.S. strategic interests. Control over the Aden port - the "gate to Asia" - brings huge benefits to the USA and opens infinite possibilities for maneuvering in front of them. However, America is not the only nation to be interested in Yemen. China is struggling to improve its influence in Sri Lanka and Burma to form new transport paths in the Persian Gulf, Africa, and Middle East area as naval paths of the Indian Ocean are believed to be the “aortas of the Chinese economic organism.”

Demographics

, Wadi Hadramawt]]

The population of Yemen was about 24 million according to June 2011 estimates, with 46% of the population being under 15 years old and 2.7% above 65 years. In 1950, it was 4.3 million. By 2050, the population is estimated to increase to about 60 million.

Yemen has one of the world's highest birth rates; the average Yemeni woman bears five children. Although this is similar to the rate in Somalia to the south, it is roughly twice as high as that of Saudi Arabia and nearly three times as high as those in the more modernized Persian Gulf states. Yemen's population is increasing by 700,000 every year.

Yemenis are mainly of Arab origin. Arabic is the official language, although English is increasingly understood by citizens in major cities. In the Mahra area (the extreme east) and the island Soqotra, several ancient south-Arabic Semitic languages are spoken. When the former states of north and south Yemen were established, most resident minority groups departed. Yemen is still a largely tribal society. In the mountains of northern Yemen live some 400 Zaydi tribes. The African-descended group known as Al-Akhdam form a kind of hereditary caste in Yemen. Yemen officially abolished slavery in 1962. Yemenite Jews once formed a sizable Jewish minority in Yemen with a distinct culture. They also occupied key industries including silversmiths, and their influence on Yemeni culture is still discussed within the souks. However, most of them emigrated to Israel in the mid 20th century, following the Jewish exodus from Arab lands and Operation Magic Carpet. In the early 20th century, they had numbered about 50,000; they currently number only a few hundred individuals and reside largely in Sana'a. The original Jewish village, popularly called Bait-baws, has since been left abandoned.

Arab traders have long operated in Southeast Asia, trading in spices, timber, and textiles. Most of the prominent Indonesians, Malaysians, and Singaporeans of Arab descent are Hadhrami people with origins in southern Yemen in the Hadramawt coastal region. As many as 4 million Indonesians are of Hadrami descent. and today there are almost 10,000 Hadramis in Singapore. The Hadramis emigrated not only to Southeast Asia but also to East Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Maqil were a collection of Arab Bedouin tribes of Yemeni origin who migrated westwards via Egypt. Several groups of Yemeni Arabs turned south to Mauritania, and by the end of the 17th century century, they dominated the entire country. They can also be found throughout Morocco and in Algeria as well as in other North African Countries.

According to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Yemen hosted a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 124,600 in 2007. Refugees and asylum seekers living in Yemen were predominantly from Somalia (110,600), Iraq (11,000), and Ethiopia (2,000). United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that in 2008 more than 50,000 Somalis reached Yemen. Yemen's civil war has forced at least 175,000 Yemenis to flee their homes.

The Yemeni diaspora is largely concentrated in the United Kingdom, where between 70,000 and 80,000 Yemenis reside; just over 15,000 to 20,000 Yemenis reside in the United States, and 2,000 live in France. Saudi Arabia expelled 800,000 Yemenis in 1990 and 1991 to punish Yemen for its opposition to the Gulf War against Iraq.

Religion

Religion in Yemen consists primarily of two principal Islamic religious groups; 52% of the Muslim population is Sunni Sunnis are primarily Shafi'i but also include significant groups of Malikis and Hanbalis. Shi'is are primarily Zaidis and also have significant minorities of Twelver Shias and Musta'ali Western Isma'ili Shias (see Shia Population of the Middle East).

The Sunnis are predominantly in the south and southeast. The Zaidis are predominantly in the north and northwest whilst the Jafaris and Ismailis are in the main centers such as Sana'a and Ma'rib. There are mixed communities in the larger cities. Less than 1% of Yemenis are non-Muslim, adhering to Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and atheism.

Health

According to 2009 estimates, life expectancy in Yemen is 63.27 years. According to 2009 estimates, life expectancy in Yemen is 63.27 years.

Human Rights Watch reported on discrimination and violence against women as well as on the abolition of the minimum marriage age of fifteen for women. The onset of puberty (interpreted by some to be as low as the age of nine) was set as a requirement for marriage instead. Publicity about the case of ten-year old Yemeni divorcee Nujood Ali brought the child marriage issue to the fore not only in Yemen but worldwide.

Forms of hostile prejudice directed towards disabled people and religious minorities have also been reported. Censorship is actively practiced, and in 2005 legislation was passed requiring journalists to reveal their sources under certain circumstances. The government has raised the start-up costs for newspapers and websites significantly. In violation of the Yemeni constitution, the security forces often monitor telephone, postal, and Internet communications. Journalists who tend to be critical of the government are often harassed and threatened by the police.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants reported several violations of refugee and asylum seekers' rights in the organization's 2008 World Refugee Survey. Yemeni authorities reportedly deported numerous foreigners without giving them access to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, despite the UN’s repeated requests. Refugees further reported violence directed against them by Yemeni authorities while living in refugee camps. Yemeni officials reportedly raped and beat camp-based refugees with impunity in 2007. This plant is widely cultivated in Yemen and is generally used for chewing. When Khat juice is swallowed it has an amphetamine-like effect. Yemenis wear traditional costumes and chew the khat-plant in the afternoons. Chewing qat is also part of the Yemeni business culture to promote decision-making, but foreigners are not expected to participate.

Cinema

The Yemeni film industry is in its early stages; only two Yemeni films have been released as of 2008. In 2005, A New Day in Old Sana'a deals with a young man struggling between whether to go ahead with a traditional marriage or go with the woman he loves. , northwestern Yemen.]] In August 2008, Yemen’s Interior Minister Mutahar al-Masri supported the launch of a new feature film to educate the public about the consequences of Islamist extremism. The Losing Bet was produced by Fadl al-Olfi. The plot follows two Yemeni jihadis, who return from years living abroad.

Education

In the strategic vision for the next 25 years since 2000, the government has committed to bring significant changes in the education system, thereby reducing illiteracy to less than 10% by 2025. Although Yemen’s government provides for universal, compulsory, free education for children ages six through 15, the U.S. Department of State reports that compulsory attendance is not enforced. The government developed the National Basic Education Development Strategy in 2003 that aimed at providing education to 95% of Yemeni children between the ages of six and 14 years and also at decreasing the gap between males and females in urban and rural areas.

A seven year project to improve gender equity and the quality and efficiency of secondary education, focusing on girls in rural areas, was approved by the World Bank in March 2008. Following this, Yemen has increased its education spending from 4.5 % of GDP in 1995 to 9.6 % in 2005.

Yemen's biggest sports event was hosting the 2010 Gulf Cup of Nations in Aden and Abyan in the south of the country on November 22, 2010. Yemen was thought to be the strongest competitor but was defeated in the first three matches of the tournament.

The Yemeni national team has never won a championship, though it includes many renowned Arab players.

World Heritage sites

, Yemen.]] Among Yemen’s natural and cultural attractions are four World Heritage sites.

The Old Walled City of Shibam in Wadi Hadhramaut, inscribed by UNESCO in 1982, two years after Yemen joined the World Heritage Committee, is nicknamed "Manhattan of the Desert" because of its "skyscrapers." Surrounded by a fortified wall made of mud and straw, the 16th-century city is one of the oldest examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction.

The ancient Old City of Sana’a, at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet, has been inhabited for over two and a half millennia and was inscribed in 1986. Sana’a became a major Islamic centre in the 7th century, and the 103 mosques, 14 hammams (traditional bath houses), and more than 6,000 houses that survive all date from before the 11th century.

Close to the Red Sea Coast, the Historic Town of Zabid, inscribed in 1993, was Yemen’s capital from the 13th to the 15th century, and is an archaeological and historical site. It played an important role for many centuries because of its university, which was a center of learning for the whole Arab and Islamic world. Algebra is said to have been invented there in the early 9th century by the little-known scholar Al-Jaladi.

The latest addition to Yemen’s list of World Heritage Sites is the Socotra Archipelago. Mentioned by Marco Polo in the 13th century, this remote and isolated archipelago consists of four islands and two rocky islets near the Gulf of Aden. The site has a rich biodiversity. Nowhere else in the world do 37% of Socotra’s 825 plants, 90% of its reptiles and 95% of its snails occur. It is home to 192 bird species, 253 species of coral, 730 species of coastal fish, and 300 species of crab and lobster, as well as a range of Aloes and the Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari). The cultural heritage of Socotra includes the unique Soqotri language.

See also

Arab diaspora

Arab Singaporean

Jambiya, the Yemeni dagger

List of newspapers in Yemen

List of Yemen-related topics

Lists of Yemenis

Military of Yemen

Wars involving Yemen

Water crisis

Yemen Observer

Yemen Times

Notes

External links

Yemen Government official portal

Category:Arab republics Category:Member states of the Arab League Category:Arabic-speaking countries and territories Category:Countries of the Indian Ocean Category:Countries bordering the Red Sea Category:Islamic States Category:Least developed countries Category:Middle Eastern countries Category:Member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Category:Western Asian countries Category:States and territories established in 1990 Category:Western Asia Category:Member states of the United Nations

Name	Prophet Saleh
Venerated in	Islam
Caption	An imagining of Saleh inviting his people to see the She-Camel, from an illuminated manuscript version of Stories of the Prophets.
Birth place	Thamud
Titles	Prophet, Seer, Apostle to Thamud
Major shrine	Nabi Salih
Influenced	Many Muslim saints

Saleh or Salih (; meaning Righteous) was a prophet of ancient Arabia mentioned in the Qur'an, who prophesied to the tribe of the Thamud. He is mentioned nine times throughout the Qur'an and his people are frequently referenced as a wicked community who, because of their sins, were ultimately destroyed. Saleh is sometimes equated with the Shelah of the Hebrew Bible, however there is almost nothing in common between the Qur'anic narrative of Saleh and the Biblical narrative of Shelah. The preaching and prophecy of Saleh is linked to the famous Islamic story of the She-Camel, which was the gift given by God to the people of the Thamud when they desired a miracle to confirm the truth of the message Saleh was preaching. Chronologically, scholars believe Saleh's prophesying to have been post-Antediluvian but pre-Abrahamic.

Historical context

The Thamud people are believed to have been the successors to the ancient tribe of 'Ad. Their ancestral descendant may have been Eber, the great-grandson of Noah and their location is likely to have been in the Northwest corner of Arabia, between Madinah and Syria. In later Islamic history, when Muhammad led his expedition to Tabuk against the Romans, on a reported Roman invasion from Syria, the prophet - and his companions - came across the remains of Thamud. With the advance of material civilization, the people of the Thamud became materialistic and arrogant as well as godless. Thus, God sent the prophet and seer Saleh, to warn them about the impending doom they would face if they did not mend their sinful ways.

Thamud cannot be equated with the Edomites at Petra. Salih was born before Abraham and the Edomites were a Semitic race. Historic Petra had several places of worship, and the main mountain at the site - Jebel al-Madhbah - is topped by two stone obelisks, suggesting the worship of deities via stone phallic symbols. The narrow gorge leading to the site - known as the Siq - can sometimes channel the wind to produce a loud trumpet-like sound, and it is known by local Bedouin as the trumpet of God. The Edomite occupants of Petra were, however, not obliterated, but instead just migrated to the Negev; neither were the subsequent Nabataean occupants of Petra destroyed by divine command, but instead were weakened by the Roman Emperor, Trajan, and reduced to mere peasants. The name of Saleh may originate in the name of the city, as it was historically known as Sela, a word deriving from the Hebrew term Se'lah, meaning rock; the Greek name Petra has the same meaning.

The prophet Saleh is not mentioned in any other Abrahamic scripture or contemporary historical text, and his account is only found in the Qur'an. Furthermore, the account of Thamud's destruction in connection with prophet Saleh is also mentioned solely in the Qur'an and there are no other contemporary historical accounts detailing the destruction of Thamud's population and the existence of prophet Saleh. Later Islamic historical texts regarding prophet Saleh and Thamud only refer to the accounts in the Qur'an the reference material, with no other accounts from contemporary Roman, Jewish or Christian sources. Therefore, prophet Saleh has remained as one of the lesser-known prophets and the story about Thamud is not as well-known as the stories about Sodom and Gomorrah and other cities that have faced the wrath of God.

Narrative

Saleh's life in his community had been so righteous that the people of the Thamud virtually relied upon him for support. In fact, he might have been chosen as their leader or king if he had too followed their idolatrous ways. But Saleh was chosen by God as a prophet and he was born for a higher mission - to preach against the selfishness of the wealthy and to condemn the practice of idolatry. Although Saleh preached the message for a sustained period of time, the people for the Thamud refused to hear his warning and instead began to ask Saleh to obtain a miracle for them.

Saleh kept telling his people to look around them and remember the numerous miracles God had bestowed upon them. In monologues of preaching, Saleh reminded his people of the countless castles and palaces they built, and of their technological superiority over neighboring communities. Furthermore, he told them about their ancestors - the 'Ad tribe - and how they too were destroyed for their sins. As usually happened in such events, the poor and needy were the steadfast believers from the community and the suppressive were the rich and arrogant townsfolk. As Saleh took the side of the underprivileged, the chieftains of the tribe reviled the prophet and mocked his words.

Although Saleh had told his people about God's mercy, they argued and demanded that he obtain a miracle. This showed a weakness on the part of the Thamud people, and represents in them a childish reliance on visual miracles rather than spiritual faith. Thus, God gave the Thamud tribe a she-camel, to provide them with sustenance, as both a blessing and a test. Pasture was considered a free gift of God, and this camel would be a trial to see if the arrogant and greedy would let the camel graze peacefully or whether they would slay her. The rich and wealthy, instead of accepting the test of God, hamstrung the innocent she-camel and gruesomely slew her.

The people of the Thamud had three more days for further repentance to God. But in the next three days, the people of Saleh asked for no repentance. Thus, a terrible earthquake came by night on the third day, preceded by a mighty blast in the sky. The explosion stuck their community and, in a matter of minutes, the people were buried in the ruins of their own homes. While the majority of the people perished, Saleh and the believers were saved, being just and righteous people. Saleh left them lamenting over the destruction of his people for their sinning against God.

See also

Thamud

She-Camel of God

References

External links

prophets (a.s.) - when & where : While this page presents some non-accurate information, including the dates and revealed books, the majority of information regarding the prophets is correct.

Category:Prophets of Islam

Name	Ewan McGregor
Caption	McGregor at the Venice Film Festival in 2009
Birth name	Ewan Gordon McGregor
Birth date	March 31, 1971
Birth place	Perth, Scotland, UK
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1993–present
Spouse	Eve Mavrakis (1995–present; 4 children)

Ewan Gordon McGregor (born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as Mark Renton in the 1996 drama Trainspotting, the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and Christian in the 2001 musical film Moulin Rouge!. He has also received critical acclaim for his starring roles in theatre productions of Guys and Dolls and Othello. McGregor was ranked No. 36 on Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

Early life

Born in the Royal Infirmary in Perth, Scotland, McGregor was brought up in the nearby small town of Crieff, where he attended the independent Morrison's Academy. His mother, Carol Diane (née Lawson), is a teacher and school administrator, and his father, James Charles Stuart "Jim" McGregor, is a physical education teacher. He has an older brother, Colin, who is a former Tornado GR4 pilot in the Royal Air Force. He is the nephew of actor Denis Lawson and the late actress Sheila Gish, and the step-cousin of the late actress Lou Gish. McGregor studied drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The following year, McGregor earned critical praise for his performance in the thriller Shallow Grave, for which he won an Empire Award, and which marked his first collaboration with director Danny Boyle. In 2001, he starred in Moulin Rouge! as the young poet Christian, who falls in love with the terminally-ill courtesan Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. McGregor reprised his role of Obi-Wan Kenobi for the subsequent prequel in 2002. In 2003, he starred alongside Renée Zellweger in Down With Love,

In 2005, McGregor appeared for the final time as Obi-Wan Kenobi in . He took very special care—especially in Revenge of the Sith—to ensure that his portrayal of Obi-Wan's mannerisms, speech timings, and accents closely resembled Alec Guinness' version. That same year, McGregor lent his voice to two successful animated features; he played a robot named Rodney Copperbottom in Robots, which also featured the voices of Halle Berry and Robin Williams, and he voiced the lead character in Gary Chapman's Valiant, alongside Jim Broadbent, John Cleese and Ricky Gervais. Also in 2005, McGregor played two roles---one a clone of the other---opposite Scarlett Johansson in Michael Bay's The Island, and he appeared in Marc Forster's Stay, a psychological thriller co-starring Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling.

McGregor was offered the role of James Bond in the 2006 reboot Casino Royale, but he turned it down because he feared becoming typecast. In 2006, he narrated the Fulldome production Astronaut, created for the National Space Centre. That same year, he also narrated the STV show JetSet, a six-part series following the lives of student pilots and navigators at RAF Lossiemouth as they undergo a gruelling six-month course learning to fly the Tornado GR4, the RAF's primary attack aircraft. In 2007, McGregor starred opposite Colin Farrell in the Woody Allen film Cassandra's Dream. In 2009, he co-starred with Jim Carrey in I Love You Phillip Morris and appeared in Amelia alongside Hilary Swank. Also in 2009, he portrayed Camerlengo Patrick McKenna in Angels & Demons, the film adaptation of Dan Brown's novel of the same name. McGregor is scheduled to co-star with Daniel Craig in Dan Harris' upcoming film adaptation of Glen Duncan's novel I, Lucifer.

Theatre

From June 2005 to April 2007, McGregor starred alongside Jane Krakowski, Douglas Hodge, and Jenna Russell in the original Donmar Warehouse production of Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre in London. He played the leading role of Sky Masterson, made famous by Marlon Brando in the film of the same name. McGregor received the LastMinute.com award for Best Actor for his performance in 2005, and he was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2007.

From December 2007 to February 2008, McGregor starred as Iago in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor as Othello and Kelly Reilly as Desdemona. He reprised the role on BBC Radio 3 in May 2008. and an unnamed girl (born January 2011). McGregor has a heart and dagger tattoo of the names of his wife and daughters on his right arm. The family currently resides in Los Angeles, California, after moving from North London.

Long Way motorcycle journeys

A keen motorcyclist since his youth, McGregor undertook a marathon international motorcycle trip with his best friend Charley Boorman and cameraman Claudio von Planta in 2004. From mid-April to the end of July, they travelled from London to New York via central Europe, Ukraine, Russia (including Siberia), Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Canada on BMW R1150GS Adventure motorcycles, for a cumulative distance of 22,345 miles (35,960 km). The trip formed the basis of a television series and a best-selling book, both called Long Way Round. McGregor's brother Colin joined the motorcycle team during the early stages of the Long Way Down journey,

In September 2010, Charley Boorman stated that the third installment of the Long Way series is planned for 2011, riding up through South America.

Charity work

McGregor is involved in charity work, including with UNICEF and GO Campaign. During the Long Way Round journey in 2004, McGregor and his travelling companions took time out to see some of UNICEF's work in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, In 2008, he had a cancerous mole removed from underneath his right eye.

Filmography

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ List of films |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | Being Human | 1994 | Alvarez | |- ! scope="row" | Shallow Grave | 1994 | Alex Law | Empire Award for Best British Actor |- ! scope="row" | Blue Juice | 1995 | Dean Raymond | |- ! scope="row" | Trainspotting | 1996 | Mark Renton | BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleEmpire Award for Best British ActorLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actor of the YearNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance |- ! scope="row" | | 1996 | Jerome | |- ! scope="row" | Emma | 1996 | Frank Churchill | |- ! scope="row" | Brassed Off | 1996 | Andy Barrow | |- ! scope="row" | Nightwatch | 1997 | Martin Bells | |- ! scope="row" | | 1997 | Meneer Chrome | |- ! scope="row" | | 1997 | Robert Lewis | Empire Award for Best British ActorNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Dance Sequence (shared with Cameron Diaz) |- ! scope="row" | Velvet Goldmine | 1998 | Curt Wild | |- ! scope="row" | Little Voice | 1998 | Billy | Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |- ! scope="row" | Desserts | 1999 | Stroller | |- ! scope="row" | | 1999 | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite ActorNominated— Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Action/Science FictionNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (shared with Liam Neeson and Ray Park)Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |- ! scope="row" | Rogue Trader | 1999 | Nick Leeson | |- ! scope="row" | Eye of the Beholder | 1999 | The Eye | |- ! scope="row" | Nora | 2000 | James Joyce | Nominated—Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor |- ! scope="row" | Moulin Rouge! | 2001 | Christian | Empire Award for Best British ActorLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actor of the YearMTV Movie Award for Best Musical Sequence (shared with Nicole Kidman)Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated—Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleNominated—Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated—IF Award for Best ActorNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Nicole Kidman)Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |- ! scope="row" | Black Hawk Down | 2001 | SPC John Grimes | Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast |- ! scope="row" | | 2002 | Obi-Wan Kenobi | |- ! scope="row" | Solid Geometry | 2002 | Phil | |- ! scope="row" | Down with Love | 2003 | Catcher Block | |- ! scope="row" | Young Adam | 2003 | Joe Taylor | BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleNominated—British Independent Film Award for Best ActorNominated—Empire Award for Best British Actor |- ! scope="row" | Faster | 2003 | Narrator | Voice |- ! scope="row" | Big Fish | 2003 | Edward Bloom (young) | |- ! scope="row" | Robots | 2005 | Rodney Copperbottom | Voice |- ! scope="row" | | 2005 | Obi-Wan Kenobi | |- ! scope="row" | Valiant | 2005 | Valiant | Voice |- ! scope="row" | | 2005 | Lincoln Six Echo/Tom Lincoln | |- ! scope="row" | Stay | 2005 | Dr. Sam Foster | |- ! scope="row" | Stormbreaker | 2006 | Ian Rider | |- ! scope="row" | Scenes of a Sexual Nature | 2006 | Billy | |- ! scope="row" | Miss Potter | 2006 | Norman Warne | |- ! scope="row" | Cassandra's Dream | 2007 | Ian Blane | |- ! scope="row" | Incendiary | 2008 | Jasper Black | |- ! scope="row" | Deception | 2008 | Jonathan McQuarry | |- ! scope="row" | I Love You Phillip Morris | 2009 | Phillip Morris | |- ! scope="row" | Angels & Demons | 2009 | Camerlengo Patrick McKenna | |- ! scope="row" | | 2009 | Bob Wilton | |- ! scope="row" | Amelia | 2009 | Gene Vidal | |- ! scope="row" | | 2010 | GhostWriter | European Film Award for Best Actor |- ! scope="row" | Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang | 2010 | Mr. Green | Cameo |- ! scope="row" | Jackboots on Whitehall | 2010 | Chris | Voice |- ! scope="row" | Beginners | 2010 | Oliver | |- ! scope="row" | Perfect Sense | 2011 | Michael | |- ! scope="row" | Haywire | 2011 | | |- ! scope="row" | | 2011 | Henry | Post-production |- ! scope="row" | Salmon Fishing in the Yemen | 2011 | Dr. Alfred Jones | Post-production |- ! scope="row" | Jack the Giant Killer | 2012 | Elmont | In production |}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ List of television appearances |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | Lipstick on Your Collar | 1993 | PVT Mick Hooper | Six episodes |- ! scope="row" | | 1993 | Julien Sorel | Mini-series |- ! scope="row" | Kavanagh QC | 1995 | David Robert Armstrong | Episode: "Nothing But the Truth" |- ! scope="row" | Karaoke | 1996 | Young Man | Episode: "Tuesday" |- ! scope="row" | Tales from the Crypt | 1996 | Ford | Episode: "Cold War" |- ! scope="row" | ER | 1997 | Duncan Stewart | Episode: "The Long Way Around"Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor – Drama Series |- ! scope="row" | | 2002 | Himself | Documentary series |- ! scope="row" | Long Way Round | 2004 | Himself | Documentary series |- ! scope="row" | Long Way Down | 2007 | Himself | Documentary series |- ! scope="row" | | 2010 | Himself | Documentary |}

Discography

"Choose Life" with PF Project, Trainspotting#2: Music from the Motion Picture, Vol. #2, 1997.

"TV Eye" with Wylde Ratttz, Velvet Goldmine: Music from the Original Motion Picture, 1999.

"Come What May" with Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film, 2001.

"Elephant Love Medley" with Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film, 2001.

"Your Song" with Alessandro Safina, Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film, 2001.

"Here's To Love" with Renée Zellweger, Down With Love: Music from and Included in the Motion Picture, 2003.

"The Sweetest Gift", Unexpected Dreams – Songs From the Stars, 2006.

References

Further reading

Adams, Billy. Ewan McGregor: The Unauthorized Biography. Overlooks Press, 1999. ISBN 0879517042

Bassom, David. Ewan McGregor: An Illustrated Story. Hamlyn, 1999. ISBN 0600596532

Jones, Veda Boyd. Ewan McGregor. Facts On File Inc., 1999. ISBN 0791055019

Nickson, Chris. Ewan McGregor: An Unauthorized Biography. Macmillan, 1999. ISBN 0312969104

Pendreigh, Brian. Ewan McGregor. Thunder's Mouth Press, 1999. ISBN 1560252391

Robb, Brian J. Ewan McGregor: From Junkie to Jedi. Plexus, 1999. ISBN 0859652769

External links

Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Category:European Film Awards winners (people) Category:Long distance motorcycle riding Category:People from Crieff Category:People from Perthshire Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics Category:Scottish actors Category:Scottish expatriates in the United States Category:Scottish film actors Category:Scottish male singers Category:Scottish musical theatre actors Category:Scottish stage actors Category:Scottish television actors Category:Scottish voice actors Category:Skin cancer survivors Category:1971 births Category:Living people