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According to the 2005 ] of the ] required by the ] of 2000, Saudi Arabia is notable among modern nations for continued tolerance of ]. See [[human trafficking According to the 2005 ] of the ] required by the ] of 2000, Saudi Arabia is notable among modern nations for continued tolerance of ]. See [[human trafficking



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== Bibliography == == Bibliography ==

Revision as of 14:12, 13 June 2005

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, with the Persian Gulf to its north-east and the Red Sea to its west.

المملكة العربية السعودية
 Al-Mamlakah al-'Arabiyah as-Sa'udiyah
File:SaudiCoat.PNG
(In Detail) (In Detail)
National motto: None
Official language Arabic
Capital Riyadh
King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz
Area
 - Total
 - % water 		Ranked 14th
1,960,582 km²
Negligible
Population
 - Total (2003)
 - Density 		Ranked 45th
26,417,599 (2005)
12/km²
Unification September 23, 1932
Currency Riyal
Time zone UTC +3
National anthem Aash Al Maleek
Internet TLD .sa
Calling Code 966

History

Main article: History of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi state began in central Arabia in about 1750. A local ruler, Muhammad bin Saud, joined forces with an Islamic reformer, Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. Over the next one hundred and fifty years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell several times as Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula. The modern Saudi state was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud).

In 1902 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud captured Riyadh, the Al-Saud dynasty's ancestral capital, from the rival Al-Rashid family. Continuing his conquests, Abdul Aziz subdued Al-Ahsa, Al-Qatif, the rest of Nejd, and the Hijaz between 1913 and 1926. On January 8, 1926 Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud became the King of Hijaz. On January 29, 1927 he took the title King of Nejd (his previous Nejdi title was Sultan). By the Treaty of Jedda, signed on May 20, 1927, the United Kingdom recognized the independence of Abdul Aziz's realm (then known as the Kingdom of Hijaz and Nejd). In 1932, these regions were unified as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The discovery of oil in March 1938 transformed the country economically, and has given the kingdom great legitimacy over the years. Today Saudi Arabia enjoys a close relationship with the many western nations who purchase Saudi oil.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Saudi Arabia

The central institution of Saudi Arabian Government is the monarchy. The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of King Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, and that the Holy Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a). There are no recognized political parties or national elections. The king's powers are theoretically limited within the bounds of Shari'a and other Saudi traditions. He also must retain a consensus of the Saudi royal family, religious leaders (ulema), and other important elements in Saudi society. The state's ideology is the Wahhabism. This flavour of Islam spreads further by funding construction of mosques and Qur'an schools around the world. The leading members of the royal family choose the king from among themselves with the subsequent approval of the ulema.

Saudi kings gradually have developed a central government. Since 1953, the Council of Ministers, appointed by and responsible to the king, has advised on the formulation of general policy and directed the activities of the growing bureaucracy. This council consists of a prime minister, the first and second deputy prime ministers, 20 ministers (of whom the minister of defense also is the second deputy prime minister), two ministers of state, and a small number of advisers and heads of major autonomous organizations.

Legislation is by resolution of the Council of Ministers, ratified by royal decree, and must be compatible with the Shari'a. Justice is administered according to the Shari'a by a system of religious courts whose judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, composed of 12 senior jurists. The independence of the judiciary is protected by law. The king acts as the highest court of appeal and has the power to pardon. The country is in state of war with Israel since 1948. Access to high officials (usually at a majlis, or public audience) and the right to petition them directly are well-established traditions.

The formation of political parties is forbbiden, and no national elections take place.

Saudi courts continue to impose corporal punishment, including amputations of hands and feet for robbery, and floggings for lesser crimes such as "sexual deviance" and drunkenness. The number of lashes is not clearly prescribed by law and varied according to the discretion of judges, and range from dozens of lashes to several thousand, usually applied over a period of weeks or months.

In 2002, the United Nations Committee against Torture criticised Saudi Arabia over the amputations and floggings it carries out under Sharia Islamic law. The Saudi delegation responded defending "legal traditions" held since the inception of Islam 1400 years ago and rejected interference in its legal system. (Source: BBC, see )

By western standards, Saudi women face severe discrimination in all aspects of their lives, including the family, education, employment, and the justice system. Religious police enforces a modesty code of dress and institutions from schools to ministries are gender-segregated.

Provinces

Main article: Provinces of Saudi Arabia

Provinces of Saudi Arabia
Provinces of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is divided into 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah).

  1. Al Bahah
  2. Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah
  3. Al Jawf
  4. Al Madinah
  5. Al Qasim
  6. Ar Riyad
  7. Eastern Province
  8. 'Asir
  9. Ha'il
  10. Jizan
  11. Makkah
  12. Najran
  13. Tabuk

Geography

Main article: Geography of Saudi Arabia

[[image:Sa-map.png|right|Map of

Economy

Main article: Economy of Saudi Arabia Also: Oil boom (1974-85)

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia is in possession of 260.1 billion barrels as of 2003, 24% of the proven total of the world's petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. Moreover, the proven reserves increase gradually as more oil fields are discovered, unlike most other oil producing countries. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of the GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of the GDP comes from the private sector. Saudi Arabia was a key player in the successful efforts of OPEC and other oil producing countries to raise the price of oil in 1999 to its highest level since the Gulf War by reducing production. Although oil prices remain high, Riyadh has large budget deficits in part because of increased spending for education and other social programs. Saudi Arabia announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies in 1999, which followed the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a significant contraction of oil revenues combined with a high rate of population growth. Per capita income has fallen from $25,000 in 1980 to $8,000 in 2003, up from about $7000 in 1999. The decline in inflation-adjusted per-capita income from 1980 to 1999 set a record, being by far the worst such decline suffered by any nation-state in history.


Culture

Main article: Culture of Saudi Arabia ] 

displaced by food-hall style cafes.

Public theatres and cinemas are prohibited, as the ruling family clan believes those institutions to be incompatible with Islam. However, in private compounds such as Dhahran and Ras Tanura public theaters can be found.

The cultural heritage is celebrated at the annual Jenadriyah Cultural festival.

According to the 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States Department of State required by the Trafficking Victim Protection Act of 2000, Saudi Arabia is notable among modern nations for continued tolerance of trafficking in human beings. See [[human trafficking


Bibliography

  • Baer, Robert, Sleeping With The Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude (Crown, 2003) ISBN 1400050219
  • Mackey, Sandra, The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom (Houghton Mifflin, 1987) ISBN 0395411653
  • Ménoret, Pascal, The Saudi Enigma: A History (Zed Books, 2005) ISBN 1842776053

References

External links

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