Human Rights in the Middle East
Encyclopedia
Human rights in the Middle East are mostly covered in individual articles, listed below.
. However, the state of this subset of human rights
varies from nation to nation. For example, Jordan
and Bahrain
have a good progressive human rights record. Other nations like Syria
and Saudi Arabia
have been known for their very repressive regimes that have no consideration to human rights. There are some issues prevalent in most Middle Eastern countries, often due to their common Islamic background. For example, the following topics are mentioned in the Egypt
, Iran
, Saudi Arabia
and Yemen
articles:
Three of the US State Department's Worst Human Rights Offenders are in the Middle East and North Africa: Iran
, Syria
, and Sudan
.
United States and European points of view on political rights
Political rights in the Middle East are often reported to be a cause of concern among many outsider observers, governmental and non-governmentalNon-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
. However, the state of this subset of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
varies from nation to nation. For example, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
have a good progressive human rights record. Other nations like Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
have been known for their very repressive regimes that have no consideration to human rights. There are some issues prevalent in most Middle Eastern countries, often due to their common Islamic background. For example, the following topics are mentioned in the Egypt
Human rights in Egypt
The state of human rights in Egypt remains poor due to repressive government policies and brutal government crackdowns.-Rights and liberties ratings:...
, Iran
Human rights in Islamic Republic of Iran
The state of human rights in Iran has been criticized both by Iranians and international human right activists, writers, and NGOs. The United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Commission have condemned prior and ongoing abuses in Iran in published critiques and several resolutions.The...
, Saudi Arabia
Human rights in Saudi Arabia
Human rights in Saudi Arabia are intended to be based on Islamic religious laws under rule of the Saudi royal family. The government of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi legal system, has been criticized for its treatment of religious and political minorities, homosexuals, apostates, and women...
and Yemen
Human rights in Yemen
The situation for Human Rights in Yemen is rather poor. The security forces have been responsible for torture, inhumane treatment and even extrajudicial executions. But according to the Embassy of Yemen, in recent years there has been some improvement, with the government signing several...
articles:
- Freedom of speechFreedom of speechFreedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
- Freedom of religionFreedom of religionFreedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
- Status of religious and ethnic minoritiesMinority rightsThe term Minority Rights embodies two separate concepts: first, normal individual rights as applied to members of racial, ethnic, class, religious, linguistic or sexual minorities, and second, collective rights accorded to minority groups...
- Status of womenWomen's rightsWomen's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
- Status of homosexualsLGBT social movementsLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
Three of the US State Department's Worst Human Rights Offenders are in the Middle East and North Africa: Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, and Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
By country
See the following for more details on each country:- AfghanistanHuman rights in AfghanistanThe situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan is a topic of some controversy and conflict. While the Taliban were well known for numerous human rights abuses, several human rights violations continue to take place in the post-Taliban government era....
- BahrainHuman rights in BahrainBahrain's record on human rights has been described by Human Rights Watch as "dismal", and having "deteriorated sharply in the latter half of 2010"....
- CyprusHuman rights in CyprusHuman rights in Cyprus are protected by the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.In 2010, the US Department of State reported that:"Problems were reported in some areas. There were reports of police abuse and degrading treatment of persons in custody and asylum seekers. Violence against women,...
- EgyptHuman rights in EgyptThe state of human rights in Egypt remains poor due to repressive government policies and brutal government crackdowns.-Rights and liberties ratings:...
- Iran
- IraqHuman rights in IraqThe human rights situation in Iraq is addressed in the following articles:*Human rights in pre-Saddam Iraq *Human rights in Saddam Hussein's Iraq *Human rights in post-invasion Iraq , post Saddam Hussein....
- IsraelHuman rights in IsraelHuman rights in Israel have been evaluated by various human rights treaty bodies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals, often in relation to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict which forms part of the wider Arab-Israeli conflict and Israel internal...
- JordanHuman rights in JordanHuman rights in Jordan continues to be a matter of concern for many in and outside of the country, including international human rights groups.-Overview:...
- KuwaitHuman rights in KuwaitHuman rights in Kuwait are mixed. Kuwait uses the death penalty for crimes like murder and drug trafficking.-Treaties:Kuwait is a party to several international human rights treaties, including*International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights...
- LebanonHuman rights in LebanonThe record of Human rights in Lebanon is a matter of concern for many national and international human rights groups. According to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices , Lebanon's overall human rights record is poor. There are reports that security forces abuse detainees and use torture...
- OmanHuman rights in Oman-Democratic Rights:The Omani government is a monarchy. The Sultan, Qaboos bin Said al Said is the self-appointed leader of the country since 1970 and serves as the country's chief of state and head of government. The monarchy is hereditary and the monarch's cabinet is appointed by himself.Citizens...
- PakistanHuman rights in PakistanPakistan’s human rights record has dramatically improved since the reforms that took place after the tenure of President Zia-ul-Haq in 1988. The situation of human rights in Pakistan is a complex one, as a result of the country's diversity, large population, its status as a developing country and a...
- Palestinian Territories
- QatarHuman rights in QatarHuman rights in Qatar are the individual rights of the residents of Qatar.Qatar is a country located on a small peninsula branching off of the Arabian Peninsula, into the Persian Gulf. It was formerly a British protectorate, and formally announced independence on September 3, 1971...
- Saudi ArabiaHuman rights in Saudi ArabiaHuman rights in Saudi Arabia are intended to be based on Islamic religious laws under rule of the Saudi royal family. The government of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi legal system, has been criticized for its treatment of religious and political minorities, homosexuals, apostates, and women...
- SyriaHuman rights in SyriaHuman rights in Syria have been described as "poor". Since 1963, emergency rule has remained in effect which gives security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detention....
- TurkeyHuman rights in TurkeyHuman rights in Turkey are theoretically protected by a variety of international law treaties, which take precedence over domestic legislation, according to Article 90 of the 1982 Constitution....
- United Arab Emirates
- YemenHuman rights in YemenThe situation for Human Rights in Yemen is rather poor. The security forces have been responsible for torture, inhumane treatment and even extrajudicial executions. But according to the Embassy of Yemen, in recent years there has been some improvement, with the government signing several...
See also
- Human rights in AfricaHuman rights in AfricaHuman rights as a legal concept is a relatively recent notion in Africa. The United Nations System, international law and the African Union have certainly all contributed to the establishment of a human rights system in Africa, which has positively and indispensably influenced the advancement of...
- Human rights in East AsiaHuman rights in East AsiaThe situation of human rights in East Asia varies between the region's countries, which differ in history and political orientation, as well as between contexts within each country.See the following for more details on each country:* Brunei* Cambodia...
- Human rights in Central AsiaHuman rights in Central AsiaThe situation of human rights in Central Asia varies little between the region's countries, but are often reported to be a cause of concern among many outsider observers, governmental and non-governmental...
- Human rights in EuropeHuman rights in EuropeThe current human rights situation in Europe on the whole is believed by many to be good. However, there are several human rights alleged problems ranging from the treatment of asylum seekers through police brutality to various infringements of the judicial rights and freedoms of businesspersons...
- Human rights in the United StatesHuman rights in the United StatesHuman rights in the United States are legally protected by the Constitution of the United States and amendments, conferred by treaty, and enacted legislatively through Congress, state legislatures, and plebiscites...