Bahrain

Bahrain

is a small island country situated near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago of 33 islands, the largest being Bahrain Island, at 55 km (34 mi) long by 18 km (11 mi) wide. Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway. Iran lies 200 km (120 mi) to the north of Bahrain, SAMSUNG NP-Q320-FS01UK Laptop Keyboard

across the Gulf. The peninsula of Qatar is to the southeast across the Gulf of Bahrain. The planned Qatar Bahrain Causeway will link Bahrain and Qatar and become the world's longest marine causeway.[4] The population in 2010 stood at 1,234,571, including 666,172 non-nationals.[1] Compaq Presario CQ57 Series Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain is believed to be the site of the ancient land of the Dilmun civilisation. Bahrain came under the rule of successive Persian empires, the Parthians and Sassanids empires respectively. Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to convert to Islam in 628 AD. Following a successive period of Arab rule, the country was occupied by thePortuguese in 1521. The Portuguese were later expelled, in 1602, by Shah Abbas I of the Safavid empire. COMPAQ Presario C500 Laptop Keyboard

In 1783, theBani Utbah tribe captured Bahrain from the Persians and was ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family since, with Ahmed al Fateh being the first hakim of Bahrain. In the late 1800s, following successive treaties with the British, HP Pavilion dv4-1220us Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. Following the withdrawal of the British from the region in the late 1960s, Bahrain declared independence in 1971. Formerly a state, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002. Since early 2011, the country has experienced sustained protests and unrest inspired by the regional Arab Spring.[5] TOSHIBA Satellite A300 Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain today has a high Human Development Index (48th highest in the world) and the World Bank identified it as ahigh income economy. Bahrain is a member of the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, the Arab League, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of the Islamic Conference as well as being a founding member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.[6] Bahrain was also designated as a major non-NATO ally by the George W. Bush administration in 2001.[7] FUJITSU Amilo Mini Ui 3520 Laptop Keyboard

Oil was discovered in Bahrain in 1932 (the first in the Arabian side of the Gulf). In recent decades, Bahrain has sought to diversify its economy and be less dependent on oil by investing in the banking sector and tourism.[8] HP pavilion DV7-1000 Laptop Keyboard

The country's capital, Manama, is home to many large financial structures, including the Bahrain World Trade Center and the Bahrain Financial Harbour. The Qal'at al-Bahrain (the harbour and capital of the ancient land of Dilmun) and theBahrain pearling trail were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2005 and 2012, respectively.[9][10] The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit.[11] SONY VAIO VPCF12AFM Laptop Keyboard

In Arabic, Bahrayn is the dual form of bahr ("sea"), so al-Bahrayn means "the Two Seas". However, which two seas were originally intended remains in dispute.[12] The term appears five times in the Qur'an, but does not refer to the modern island—originally known to the Arabs as Awal—but rather to the oases of al-Katif and Hadjar (modern al-Hasa).[12] It is unclear when the term began to refer exclusively to the Awal islands, but it was probably after the 15th century. SAMSUNG Q320 Laptop Keyboard

Today, al-Hasa belongs to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain's "two seas" are instead generally taken to be the bay east and west of the island,[13] the seas north and south of the island,[14] or the salt and fresh water present above and below the ground.[15] In addition to wells, there are places in the sea north of Bahrain where fresh water bubbles up in the middle of the salt water, noted by visitors since antiquity.[16] DELL PVDG3 Laptop Keyboard

An alternate theory offered by al-Ahsa was that the two seas were the Great Green Ocean and a peaceful lake on the Arabian mainland; still another provided by al-Jawahari is that the more formal name Bahri (lit. "belonging to the sea") would have been misunderstood and so was opted against.[15] SONY VAIO VPCF12AFM Laptop Keyboard

Until the late Middle Ages, "Bahrain" referred to the larger historical region of Bahrain that included Al-Ahsa, Al-Qatif (both now within the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia) and the Awal Islands (now the Bahrain Islands). The region stretched from Basra in Iraq to the Strait of Hormuz in Oman. This was Iqlīm al-Bahrayn's "Bahrayn Province". The exact date at which the term "Bahrain" began to refer solely to the Awal archipelago is unknown.[17] HP 636191-001 Laptop Keyboard

Inhabited since ancient times, Bahrain occupies a strategic location in the Persian Gulf. It is the best natural port between the mouth of the Tigris, Euphrates Rivers and Oman, a source of copper in ancient times. Bahrain may have been associated with the Dilmun civilisation, an important Bronze Age trade centre linking Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.[18] It was later ruled by the Assyrians and Babylonians.[19] It came under the control of Persians,[20] and then Arabs, under whom the island first became Nestorian Christian and then Islamic. TOSHIBA Mini NB 505-SP0160 Laptop Keyboard

From the 6th to 3rd century BC, Bahrain was added to the Persian Empire by the Achaemenian dynasty. By about 250 BC, theParthians brought the Persian Gulf under its control and extended its influence as far as Oman. During the classical era, the island's Hellenic name was Tylos, named when Nearchus discovered it while serving under Alexander the Great duringAlexander's Asia campaign.[21] SONY VAIO VGN-FW180FU Laptop Keyboard

In order to control trade routes, the Parthians established garrisons along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf.[22] In the 3rd century AD, Ardashir I, the first ruler of the Sassanid dynasty, marched on Oman and Bahrain, where he defeated Sanatruq the ruler of Bahrain.[23] At this time, Bahrain comprised the southern Sassanid province along with the Persian Gulf's southern shore.[24] DELL Precision M4500 Laptop Keyboard

The Sassanid Empire divided their southern province into the three districts of Haggar (now al-Hafuf province in Saudi Arabia), Batan Ardashir (now al-Qatif province in Saudi Arabia) and Mishmahig (which in Middle-Persian/Pahlavi means "ewe-fish") which is present-day Bahrain.[23] Early Islamic sources describe the country as inhabited by members of the Abdul Qais, Tamim, and Bakr tribes who worshipped the idol Awal,[25] DELL INSPIRON 1464 Laptop Keyboard

from which the Arabs named the island of Bahrain Awalfor many centuries.[25] However, Bahrain was also a center of Nestorian Christianity, including two of its bishoprics.[23]

Traditional Islamic accounts state that Al-ʿAlāʾ Al-Haḍrami was sent as an envoy to the Bahrain region by the prophetMuhammad in 628 AD and that Munzir ibn-Sawa al-Tamimi, the local ruler, responded to his mission and converted the entire area.[26][27] TOSHIBA NB200-10J Laptop Keyboard

In 899 AD, the Qarmatians, a millenarian Ismaili Muslim sect seized Bahrain, seeking to create a utopian society based on reason and redistribution of property among initiates. Thereafter, the Qarmatians demanded tribute from the caliph inBaghdad, and in 930 AD sacked Mecca and Medina, bringing the sacred Black Stone back to their base in Ahsa, in medieval Bahrain, for ransom. According to historian Al-Juwayni, TOSHIBA Satellite L655-S5075 laptop keyboard

the stone was returned 22 years later in 951 under mysterious circumstances. Wrapped in a sack, it was thrown into the Great Mosque of Kufa in Iraq, accompanied by a note saying "By command we took it, and by command we have brought it back." The theft and removal of the Black Stone caused it to break into seven pieces.[23][28][29] HP Pavilion G4-1016TX LQ368PA laptop keyboard

Following a 976 AD defeat by the Abbasids,[30] the Qarmations were overthrown by the Arab Uyunid dynasty of al-Hasa, who took over the entire Bahrain region in 1076.[31] The Uyunids controlled Bahrain until 1235, SONY Vaio VGN-FW390 laptop keyboard

when the archipelago was briefly occupied by the Persian ruler of Fars. In 1253, the Bedouin Usfurids brought down the Uyunid dynasty, thereby gaining control over eastern Arabia, including the islands of Bahrain. In 1330, the archipelago became a tributary state of the rulers of Hormuz,[17] though locally the islands were controlled by the Shi'ite Jarwanid dynasty of Qatif.[32] In the mid-15th century, the archipelago came under the rule of the Jabrids, a Bedouin dynasty also based in Al-Ahsa that ruled most of eastern Arabia. TOSHIBA Satellite L200 laptop keyboard

In 1521, the Portuguese allied with Hormuz and seized Bahrain from the Jabrid ruler Migrin ibn Zamil, who was killed during the takeover. Portuguese rule lasted for around 80 years, during which time they depended mainly on Sunni Persian governors.[17] The Portuguese were expelled from the islands in 1602 by Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty of Persia,[33] which gave impetus to Shia Islam.[34] For the next two centuries, HP Pavilion DV6-6B00 laptop keyboard

Persian rulers retained control of the archipelago, interrupted by the 1717 and 1738 invasions of the Ibadhis of Oman.[35] During most of this period, they resorted to governing Bahrain indirectly, either through the city of Bushehr or through immigrant Sunni Arab clans. The latter were tribes returning to the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf from Persian territories in the north who were known as Huwala (literally: SAMSUNG NP-Q320-AS01UK laptop keyboard

those that have changed or moved).[17][36][37] In 1753, the Huwala clan of Nasr Al-Madhkur invaded Bahrain on behalf of the Iranian Zand leader Karim Khan Zand and restored direct Iranian rule.[37] HP Pavilion dv5-1174ca laptop keyboard

In 1783, Nasr Al-Madhkur, ruler of Bahrain and Bushire, lost the islands of Bahrain following his defeat by the Bani Utbah tribe at the 1782 Battle of Zubarah. Bahrain was not new territory to the Bani Utbah; they had been a presence there since the 17th century.[38] During that time, they started purchasing date palm gardens in Bahrain; a document shows that 81 years before arrival of the Al-Khalifa, one of the shaikhs of the Al Bin Ali tribe (an offshoot of the Bani Utbah) had bought a palm garden in Sitra island.[39] SONY VAIO PCG-FR33/B laptop keyboard

The Al Bin Ali were the dominant group controlling the town of Zubarah on the Qatar peninsula,[40][41] originally the center of power of the Bani Utbah. After the Bani Utbah gained control of Bahrain, the Al Bin Ali had a practically independent status there as a self-governing tribe. They used a flag with four red and three white stripes, DELL Vostro 1014 laptop keyboard

called the Al-Sulami flag[42] in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the Eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Later, different Arab family clans and tribes from Qatar moved to Bahrain to settle after the fall of Nasr Al-Madhkur of Bushehr. These families and tribes included the Al Khalifa, Al-Ma'awdah, Al-Fadhil, Al-Mannai, Al-Noaimi, Al-Sulaiti, Al-Sadah, Al-Thawadi, and other families and tribes.[43] DELL Latitude D620 Laptop Keyboard

The Al Khalifa family moved to Bahrain in 1797. Originally, they lived in Umm Qasr where they preyed on the caravans of Basra and pirated ships in the Shatt al-Arab waterway until Turks expelled them to Kuwait where they remained until 1766.[44] In the early 19th century, Bahrain was invaded by both the Omanis and theAl Sauds. SONY VGN-FE41M Laptop Keyboard

In 1802 it was governed by a twelve-year-old child, when the Omani ruler Sayyid Sultan installed his son, Salim, as Governor in the Arad Fort.[45] In 1820, the Al Khalifa tribe were recognised by Great Britain as the rulers ("Al-Hakim" in Arabic) of Bahrain after signing a treaty relationship.[46] However, ten years later they were forced to pay yearly tributes to Egypt despite seeking Persian and British protection.[47] In 1860, FUJITSU Lifebook P1510 Laptop Keyboard

the Al Khalifas used the same tactic when the British tried to overpower Bahrain. Writing letters to the Persians and Ottomans, Al Khalifas agreed to place Bahrain under the latter's protection in March due to offering better conditions. Eventually the Government of British India overpowered Bahrain when the Persians refused to protect it. Colonel Pelly signed a new treaty with Al Khalifas placing Bahrain under British rule and protection.[47] HP 594706-001 Laptop Keyboard

Following the Qatari–Bahraini War in 1868, British representatives signed another agreement with the Al Khalifas. It specified that the ruler could not dispose of any of his territory except to the United Kingdom and could not enter into relationships with any foreign government without British consent.[48][49] In return the British promised to protect Bahrain from all aggression by sea and to lend support in case of land attack.[49] Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Laptop Keyboard

More importantly the British promised to support the rule of the Al Khalifa in Bahrain, securing its unstable position as rulers of the country. Other agreements in 1880 and 1892 sealed the protectorate status of Bahrain to the British.[49] HP Pavilion dv6-2044ca Laptop Keyboard

Unrest amongst the people of Bahrain began when Britain officially established complete dominance over the territory in 1892. The first revolt and widespread uprising took place in March 1895 against Sheikh Issa bin Ali, then ruler of Bahrain.[50] Sheikh Issa was the first of the Al Khalifa to rule without Persian relations. DELL Inspiron 1750 Laptop Keyboard

 [50] The uprising developed further with some protesters killed by British forces.[50]

Early 20th Century reforms SAMSUNG X20 Laptop Keyboard

In 1911, a group of Bahraini merchants demanded restrictions on the British influence in the country. The group's leaders were subsequently arrested and exiled to India. In 1923, the British replaced Sheikh Issa bin Ali with his son. Some clerical opponents and families such as al Dossari left or were exiled to Saudi Arabia and Iran.[51] SAMSUNG N140 Laptop Keyboard

 Three years later the British placed the country under the de facto rule of Charles Belgrave who operated as an adviser to the ruler until 1957.[52][53] Belgrave brought a number of reforms such as establishment of the country's first modern school in 1919, the Persian Gulf's first girls school in 1928 and the abolition of slavery.[54] At the same time, the pearl diving industry developed at a rapid pace. SONY VAIO VGN-FS920 laptop keyboard

In 1927, Rezā Shāh, then Shah of Iran, demanded the return of 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 in order to bring down the uprisings and limit the Iranian influence.[55] Lenovo 3000 G230 laptop keyboard

Belgrave even went further by suggesting to rename the Persian Gulf to the "Arabian Gulf"; however, the proposal was refused by the British government. Dell Latitude D410 laptop keyboard

Discovery of petroleum and WWII

The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California (Socal),[56] discovered oil in 1931 and production began the following year. This was to bring rapid modernisation to Bahrain. Relations with the United Kingdom became closer, as evidenced by the British Royal Navy moving its entire Middle Eastern command from Bushehr in Iran to Bahrain in 1935.[57][self-published source?] ACER Aspire 1680 laptop keyboard

Bahrain participated in the Second World War on the Allied side, joining on 10 September 1939. On 19 October 1940, four Italian SM.82s bombers bombed Bahrainalongside Dhahran oilfields in Saudi Arabia,[58] targeting Allied-operated oil refineries.[59] Although minimal damage was caused in both locations, the attack forced the Allies to upgrade Bahrain's defences, an action which further stretched Allied military resources.[59] TOSHIBA Tecra A9-S9016X laptop keyboard

After World War II, increasing anti-British sentiment spread throughout the Arab World and led to riots in Bahrain. The riots focused on the Jewish community.[60] In 1948, following rising hostilities and looting,[61] most members of Bahrain's Jewish community abandoned their properties and evacuated toBombay, HP Mini 210-2006sa laptop keyboard

later settling in Israel (Pardes Hanna-Karkur) and the United Kingdom. As of 2008, 37 Jews remained in the country.[61] In 2008, Bahrain's king appealed to former-Bahraini Jews abroad in the US and UK to return to the country and had also offered compensation and citizenship.[60]

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In 1965 a month-long uprising broke out after hundreds of workers at the Bahrain Petroleum Company were laid off.[62]

Drop of Iranian claim HP Mini 110-3110sq laptop keyboard

Iran's parliament passed a bill in November 1957 declaring Bahrain to be the 14th province of Iran,[63] with two empty seats allocated for its representatives. This action caused numerous problems for Iran in its international relations, especially with some United Nations bodies, Britain, Saudi Arabia, and a number of Arab countries.[55] HP G61-408CA laptop keyboard

At this time, Britain set out to change the demographics of Bahrain. The British policy of "Deiranisation" of the country consisted of importing large numbers of different Arabs as well as other ethnic groups from the British colonies to work as labourers.[55] Packard Bell Easynote TK85 laptop keyboard

In 1965, Britain began dialogue with Iran to determine their borders in the Persian Gulf. Before long extensive differences over borders and territory came to light, including the dispute over the dominion of Bahrain. The two were not able to determine the maritime borders between the northern and southern countries of the Persian Gulf.[64] Eventually Iran and Britain agreed to put the matter of Dominion of Bahrain to international judgment and requested the United Nations General Secretary take on this responsibility.[65][66] Compaq Presario CQ71-420ED laptop keyboard

Iran pressed hard for a referendum in Bahrain in the face of strong opposition from both the British and the Bahraini leaders.[55] Their opposition was based on Al Khalifa's view that such a move would negate 150 years of their clan's rule in the country. In the end, as an alternative to the referendum, Iran and Britain agreed to request the United Nations conduct a survey in Bahrain that would determine the political future of the territory. SONY VAIO VGN-CR220E laptop keyboard

Report no. 9772 was submitted to the UN General Secretary and on 11 May 1970, the United Nations Security Council endorsed Winspeare's conclusion that an overwhelming majority of the people wished recognition of Bahrain's identity as a fully independent and sovereign state free to decide its own relations with other states.[67] Both Britain and Iran accepted the report and brought their dispute to a close.[68] HP Pavilion dv6-3045eo laptop keyboard

Independence

On 15 August 1971, Bahrain declared independence and signed a new treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom. Bahrain joined the United Nations and the Arab League later in the year. Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E525 laptop keyboard

The country had already begun diversification of its economy and benefited further from Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s and 1980s, when Bahrain replaced Beirut as the Middle East's financial hub after Lebanon's large banking sector was driven out of the country by the war.[70] Packard Bell Easynote TK85 laptop keyboard

Following the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, in 1981 Bahraini Shī'a fundamentalists orchestrated a failed coup attempt under the auspices of a front organisation, the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain. The coup would have installed a Shī'a cleric exiled in Iran, Hujjatu l-Islām Hādī al-Mudarrisī, as supreme leader heading a theocratic government.[71] In December 1994, a group of youths threw stones at female runners during an international marathon for running bare-legged. The resulting clash with police soon grew into civil unrest.[72][73] HP Mini 210-1110SB laptop keyboard

A popular uprising occurred between 1994 and 2000 in which leftists, liberals and Islamists joined forces.[74] The event resulted in approximately forty deaths and ended after Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa became the Emir of Bahrain in 1999.[75] A referendum on 14–15 February 2001 massively supported the National Action Charter.[76] SAMSUNG NP-Q320-AS01UK laptop keyboard

 He instituted elections for parliament, gave women the right to vote, and released all political prisoners.[77] As part of the adoption of the National Action Charter on 14 February 2002, Bahrain changed its formal name from the State (dawla) of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Bahrain.[78] ACER Aspire 7535 Laptop Keyboard

The country participated in military action against the Taliban in October 2001 by deploying a frigate in the Arabian Sea for rescue and humanitarian operations.[79] As a result, in November of that year, US president George W. Bush's administration designated Bahrain as a "major non-NATO ally".[79] Bahrain opposed the invasion of Iraq and had offered Saddam Hussein asylum in the days prior to the invasion.[79] Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Laptop Keyboard

Relations improved with neighbouring Qatar after the border dispute over the Hawar Islands was resolved by the International Court of Justice in The Hague in 2001. Following the political liberalisation of the country, Bahrain negotiated a free trade agreement with the United States in 2004.[80] DELL Vostro 3550 Laptop Keyboard

Bahraini uprising

Main article: Bahraini uprising (2011–present)

Inspired by the regional Arab Spring, large protests started in Bahrain in early 2011.[81][82]:162–3 The government initially allowed protests following a pre-dawn raid on protesters camped in Pearl Roundabout.[82]:73–4,  Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Laptop Keyboard

88 A month later it requested security assistance from Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries and declared a three-month state of emergency.[82]:132–9 The government then launched a crackdown on opposition that included conducting thousands of arrests.[83][84][85][86][87] Almost daily clashes between protesters and security forces led to dozens of deaths.[88] Protests, sometimes staged by opposition parties, are ongoing.[89][90][91][92][93] Lenovo 45N2106 Laptop Keyboard

rising gently to a low central escarpment with the highest point the 134 m (440 ft)Mountain of Smoke (Jabal ad Dukhan).[94][95] Bahrain had a total area of 665 km2(257 sq mi) but due to land reclamation, the area increased to 767 km2 (296 sq mi), which is slightly larger than the Isle of Man.[95] HP 643263-001 Laptop Keyboard

As an archipelago of thirty-three islands, Bahrain does not share a land boundary with another country but does have a 161 km (100 mi) coastline. The country also claims a further 22 km (12 nmi) of territorial sea and a 44 km (24 nmi) contiguous zone. Bahrain's largest islands are Bahrain Island, Muharraq Island, Umm an Nasan, SONY VAIO VGN-CS170F/R Laptop Keyboard

and Sitrah. Bahrain has mild winters and very hot, humid summers. The country's natural resources include large quantities of oil and natural gas as well as fish in the offshore waters. Arable land constitutes only 2.82%[96] of the total area. ACER TravelMate 4600 Laptop Keyboard

92% of Bahrain is desert with periodic droughts and dust storms the main natural hazards for Bahrainis. 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, APPLE A1181 Laptop Keyboard

and illegal land reclamation at places such as Tubli Bay. The agricultural and domestic sectors' over-utilisation of the Dammam Aquifer, the principal aquifer in Bahrain, has led to its salinisation by adjacent brackish and saline water bodies. A hydrochemical study identified the locations of the sources of aquifer salinisation and delineated their areas of influence. Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Laptop Keyboard

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. Four types of salinisation of the aquifer are identified: GATEWAY V021646BS1 Laptop Keyboard

brackish-water up-flow from the underlying brackish-water zones in north-central, western, and eastern regions; seawater intrusion in the eastern region; intrusion of sabkha water in the southwestern region; and irrigation return flow in a local area in the western region. ASUS A3Ac Laptop Keyboard

Four alternatives for the management of groundwater quality that are available to the water authorities in Bahrain are discussed and their priority areas are proposed, based on the type and extent of each salinisation source, in addition to groundwater use in that area.[97] SONY VAIO VPCF12AFM Laptop Keyboard

Climate

Main article: Climate of Bahrain

The Zagros Mountains across the Persian Gulf in Iraq cause low level winds to be directed toward Bahrain. Dust storms from Iraq and Saudi Arabia transported by northwesterly winds, locally called Shamal wind, cause reduced visibility in the months of June and July.[98]

Due to the Persian Gulf area's low moisture, DELL Inspiron 1750 Laptop Keyboard

summers are very hot and dry. The seas around Bahrain are very shallow, heating up quickly in the summer to produce high humidity, especially at night. Summer temperatures may reach up to 50 °C (122 °F) under the right conditions.[99] Rainfall in Bahrain is minimal and irregular. Rainfalls mostly occur in winter, with a recorded maximum of 71.8 mm (2.83 in).[100] Lenovo Thinkpad T520 Laptop Keyboard

More than 330 species of birds were recorded in the Bahrain archipelago, 26 species of which breed in the country. Millions of migratory birds pass through the Gulf region in the winter and autumn months.[102] One globally endangered species,Chlamydotis undulata, is a regular migrant in the autumn.[102] Compaq Presario CQ56-187SL laptop keyboard

The many islands and shallow seas of Bahrain are globally important for the breeding of the Phalacrocorax nigrogularis specie of bird, up to 100,000 pairs of these birds were recorded over the Hawar islands.[102] Only 18 species of mammals are found in Bahrain, animals such as Gazelles, desert rabbits andhedgehogs are common in the wild but the Arabian Oryx was hunted to extinction on the island.[102] Compaq Presario CQ71-101XX laptop keyboard

25 species of amphibiansand reptiles were recorded as well as 21 species of butterflies and 307 species of flora.[102] The marine biotopes are diverse and include extensive sea grass beds and mudflats, patchy coral reefs as well as offshore islands. Sea grass beds are important foraging grounds for some threatened species such as dugongs and the green turtle.[103] Packard Bell PEW91 laptop keyboard

In 2003, Bahrain banned the capture of sea cows, marine turtles and dolphins within its territorial waters.[102]

The Hawar Islands Protected Area provides valuable feeding and breeding grounds for a variety of migratory seabirds, it is an internationally recognised site for bird migration. The breeding colony of Socotra Cormorant on Hawar Islands is the largest in the world, and the dugongs foraging around the archipelago form the second largest dugong aggregation after Australia.[103] Lenovo 45N2205 laptop keyboard

Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy headed by the King, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He enjoys wide executive authorities which include appointing the Prime Minister and his ministers, commanding the army, chairing the Higher Judicial Council, appointing the parliament's upper half and dissolving its elected lower half.[82](p15) SAMSUNG NP-N150-JP08 laptop keyboard

The head of government is the unelected Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalīfa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the uncle of the current king who has served in this position since 1971, making him the world's longest serving prime minister in the world.[104] In 2010, about half of the governmentwas composed of Al Khalifa family.[105] TOSHIBA Satellite L655-S5153 laptop keyboard

Bahrain has a bicameral National Assembly (al-Jam'iyyah al-Watani) consisting of the Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura) with 40 seats and the Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab) with 40 seats. The 40 members of the Shura are appointed by the king. In the Council of Representatives, 40ACER Aspire 5810TZ-4657 laptop keyboard

members are elected by absolute majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.[106] The appointed council "exercises a de facto veto" over the elected, because draft acts must be approved by it in order they pass into law. After that the king may ratify and issue the act or return it within six months to the National Assembly where it may only pass into law if approved by two thirds of both councils.[82](p15) Packard Bell PEW91 laptop keyboard

In 1973, the country held its first parliamentary elections; however, two years later, the late emir dissolved the parliament and suspended the constitution after it rejected the State Security Law.[62] The period between 2002 and 2010 saw three parliamentary elections. The first, held in 2002 was boycotted by the opposition, SAMSUNG NP-N145-JP02 laptop keyboard

Al Wefaq, which won a majority in thesecond in 2006 and third in 2010.[107] The 2011 by-election was held to replace 18 members of Al Wefaq who resigned in protest against government crackdown.[108][109] ACER Aspire AS5335-2257 laptop keyboard

The opening up of politics saw big gains for both Shīa and Sunnī Islamists in elections, which gave them a parliamentary platform to pursue their policies.[110] It gave a new prominence to clerics within the political system, with the most senior Shia religious leader, Sheikh Isa Qassim, playing a vital role.[111] HP Pavilion DV6-1210ew laptop keyboard

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. Islamists opposed the law because "neither elected MPs nor the government has the authority to change the law because these institutions could misinterpret the word of God". HP HDX18-1100 CTO laptop keyboard

The law was supported by women activists who said they were "suffering in silence". They managed to organise a rally attended by 500 participants.[112][113][114] Ghada Jamsheer, a leading woman activist[115] said the government was using the law as a "bargaining tool with opposition Islamic groups".[116] TOSHIBA Satellite P105-S9337 laptop keyboard

Analysts of democratisation in the Middle East cite the Islamists' references to respect for human rights in their justification for these programmes as evidence that these groups can serve as a progressive force in the region.[117] Some Islamist parties have been particularly critical of the government's readiness to sign international treaties such as the United Nations' International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. HP Pavilion ze4600 laptop keyboard

At a parliamentary session in June 2006 to discuss ratification of the Convention, Sheikh Adel Mouwda, the former leader of salafist party, Asalah, explained the party's objections: "The convention has been tailored by our enemies, God kill them all, to serve their needs and protect their interests rather than ours. This why we have eyes from the American Embassy watching us during our sessions, to ensure things are swinging their way".[118] Packard Bell NEW95 laptop keyboard

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in Bahrain

The period between 1975 and 1999 known as the "State Security Law Era", saw wide range of human rights violations including arbitrary arrests, detention without trial, torture and forced exile.[119][120] After the Emir Hamad Al Khalifa (now king) succeeded his father Isa Al Khalifa in 1999, he introduced wide reforms and human rights improved significantly.[121] HP Pavilion dv6-2162nr laptop keyboard

These moves were described by Amnesty International as representing a "historic period of human rights".[77]

Human rights conditions started to decline by 2007 when torture began to be employed again.[122] In 2011, Human Rights Watch described the country's human rights situation as "dismal".[123] Due to this, Bahrain lost some of the high International rankings it had gained before. SONY VAIO VGN-AW2XRY laptop keyboard

In 2011, Bahrain was criticised for its crackdown on the Arab spring uprising. In September, a government appointed commission confirmed reports of grave human rights violations including systematic torture. The government promised to introduce reforms and avoid repeating the "painful events".[129] However, reports by human rights organisations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued in April 2012 said the same violations were still happening.[130][131] HP 317443-001 Laptop Keyboard

Women's rights

Main article: Women's rights in Bahrain

Women's political rights in Bahrain saw an important step forward when women were granted the right to vote and stand in national elections for the first time in the 2002 election.[132] However, no women were elected to office in that year's polls. Instead, Shī'a and Sunnī Islamists dominated the election, DELL Vostro 3550 Laptop Keyboard

collectively winning a majority of seats.[133] In response to the failure of women candidates, six were appointed to the Shura Council, which also includes representatives of the Kingdom's indigenous Jewish and Christian communities.[134] Dr. Nada Haffadh became the country's first female cabinet minister on her appointment as Minister of Health in 2004. The quasi-governmental women's group, TOSHIBA Satellite P300 Laptop Keyboard

 the Supreme Council for Women, trained female candidates to take part in the 2006 general election. 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, HP Envy 15-1021tx Laptop Keyboard

only the third woman in history to head the world body.[135] Female activist Ghada Jamsheer said "The government used women's rights as a decorative tool on the international level." She referred to the reforms as "artificial and marginal" and accused the government of "hinder[ing] non-governmental women societies".[116] TOSHIBA Satellite P300 Laptop Keyboard

In 2006, Lateefa Al Gaood became the first female MP after winning by default.[136] The number rose to four after the 2011 by-elections.[137] In 2008, Houda Nonoowas appointed ambassador to the United States making her the first Jewish ambassador of any Arab country.[138] In 2011, Alice Samaan, a Christian woman was appointed ambassador to the UK.[139]

Media HP Pavilion dv6-3005tx Laptop Keyboard

Bahraini journalists risk prosecution for offences which include "undermining" the government and religion. Self-censorship is widespread. Journalists were targeted by officials during anti-government protests in 2011. Three editors from opposition daily Al-Wasat (Bahraini newspaper) were sacked and later fined for publishing "false" news. Several foreign correspondents were expelled.[140] ACER Aspire 5742 Laptop Keyboard

Most domestic broadcasters are state-run. An independent commission, set up to look into the unrest, found that state media coverage was at times inflammatory. It said opposition groups suffered from lack of access to mainstream media, and recommended that the government "consider relaxing censorship".SONY VAIO VGN-CR31E Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain will host the Saudi-financed Alarab News Channel, expected to launch in December 2012. It will be based at a planned "Media City". An opposition satellite station, Lualua TV, operates from London but has found its signals blocked.[140] COMPAQ Presario CQ60-104TU Laptop Keyboard

By December 2011, Bahrain had 694,000 internet users.[141] The platform "provides a welcome free space for journalists, although one that is increasingly monitored", according to Reporters Without Borders. Rigorous filtering targets political, human rights, religious material and content deemed obscene. Bloggers and other netizens were among those detained during protests in 2011.[140] HP 383495-001 Laptop Keyboard

The kingdom has a small but well equipped military called the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), numbering around 13,000 personnel.[142] 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.[143][144] SAMSUNG N145 Laptop Keyboard

The BDF is primarily equipped with United States equipment, such as the F16 Fighting Falcon, F5 Freedom Fighter, UH60 Blackhawk,M60A3 tanks, and the ex-USS Jack Williams, an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate renamed the RBNS Sabha.[145][146] The Government of Bahrain has close relations with the United States, ACER Aspire 5742 Laptop Keyboard

having signed a cooperative agreement with the United States Military and has provided the United States a base in Juffair since the early 1990s, although a US naval presence existed since 1948.[147]This is the home of the headquarters for Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) / United States Fifth Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT), and around 6,000 United States military personnel.[148] DELL Vostro 3550 Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain established bilateral relations with 190 countries worldwide.[149] As of 2012, Bahrain maintains a network of 25embassies, 3 consulates and 4 permanent missions to the Arab League, United Nations and European Union respectively.[150]Bahrain also hosts 36 embassies. 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, SONY VAIO VGN-FS485B Laptop Keyboard

it supports the two state solution.[151] Bahrain is also one of the founding members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.[152] Relations with Iran tend to be tense as a result of a failed coup in 1981 which Bahrain blames Iran for and occasional claims of Iranian sovereignty over Bahrain by ultra-conservative elements in the Iranian public.[153][154] SONY VAIO VGN-FS195XP Laptop Keyboard

Governorates

Main article: Governorates of Bahrain

The first municipality in Bahrain was the 8-member Manama municipality which was established in July 1919.[155] Members of the municipality were elected annually; the municipality was said to have been the first municipality to be established in the Arab world.[155] The municipality was in charge of cleaning roads and renting buildings to tenants and shops. HP 317443-001 Laptop Keyboard

By 1929, it undertook road expansions as well as opening markets and slaughterhouses.[155] In 1958, the municipality started water purification projects.[155] In 1960, Bahrain comprised four municipalities including Manama, Hidd, Al Muharraq, and Riffa.[156] Over the next 30 years, the 4 municipalities were divided into 12 municipalities as settlements such as Hamad Town and Isa Town grew.[156] These municipalities were administered from Manama under a central municipal council whose members are appointed by the king.[157] SONY VAIO VGN-FS195XP laptop keyboard

The first municipal elections to be held in Bahrain after independence in 1971, was in 2002.[158] The most recent was in 2010. The municipalities are listed below:

According to a January 2006 report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Bahrain has the fastest growing economy in the Arab world.[160] TOSHIBA Satellite l25-s121 laptop keyboard

Bahrain also has the freest economy in the Middle East and is twelfth freest overall in the world based on the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom published by the Heritage Foundation/Wall Street Journal.[161] SONY VAIO VGN-FS830 laptop keyboard

In 2008, Bahrain was named the world's fastest growing financial center by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index.[160][160] Bahrain's banking and financial services sector, particularly Islamic banking, have benefited from the regional boom driven by demand for oil.[160] SONY VAIO VGN-FS640P laptop keyboard

Petroleum production and processing account is Bahrain's most exported product, accounting for 60% of export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP.[96] Aluminium production is the second most exported product, followed by finance and construction materials.[96] HP pavilion DV7-1000 Laptop Keyboard

Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing price of oil since 1985, for example during and following thePersian Gulf crisis of 1990–91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to a number of multinational firms and construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. ACER Aspire 5742 Laptop Keyboard

A large share of exports consist of petroleum products made from imported crude oil, which accounted for 51% of the country's imports in 2007.[162] Bahrain depends heavily on food imports to feed its growing population; it relies heavily on meat imports from Australia and also imports 75% of its total fruit consumption needs.[163][164] Lenovo 3000 Y500 Laptop Keyboard

Since only 2.9% of the country's land isarable, agriculture contributes to 0.5% of Bahrain's GDP.[164] In 2004, Bahrain signed the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, which will reduce certain trade barriers between the two nations.[165] Due to the combination of the global financial crisis and the recent unrest, the growth rate decreased to 2.2% which is the lowest growth rate since 1994.[166] SONY VAIO VGN-NW240F Laptop Keyboard

Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems. In 2008, the jobless figure was at 4%,[167] with women over represented at 85% of the total.[168] In 2007 Bahrain became the first Arab country to institute unemployment benefits as part of a series of labour reforms instigated under Minister of Labour, Dr. Majeed Al Alawi.[169] HP Mini 210-1155DX Laptop Keyboard

As a tourist destination, Bahrain received over eight million visitors in 2008 though the exact number varies yearly.[170] Most of these are from the surrounding Arab states although an increasing number hail from outside the region due to growing awareness of the kingdom's heritage and its higher profile as a result of the Bahrain International F1 Circuit. GATEWAY V030946DS1 Laptop Keyboard

The kingdom combines modern Arab culture and the archaeological legacy of five thousand years of civilisation. The island is home to forts including Qalat Al Bahrain which has been listed by UNESCO as aWorld Heritage Site. The Bahrain National Museum has artefacts from the country's history dating back to the island's first human inhabitants some 9000 years ago and the Beit Al Quran (Arabic: بيت القرآن, meaning: HP Pavilion dm1-1010st Laptop Keyboard

the House of Qur'an) is a museum that holds Islamic artefacts of the Qur'an. Some of the popular historical tourist attractions in the kingdom are the Al Khamis Mosque, which is the one of the oldest mosques in the region, the Arad fort in Muharraq, Barbar temple, which is an ancient temple from the Dilmunite period of Bahrain, as well as the A'ali Burial Mounds and the Saar temple.[171] The Tree of Life, a 400 year-old tree that grows in the Sakhir desert with no nearby water, is also a popular tourist attraction.[172] DELL XPS 15 L502X Laptop Keyboard

Bird watching (primarily in the Hawar Islands), scuba diving and horse riding are popular tourist activities in Bahrain. Many tourists from nearby Saudi Arabia and across the region visit Manama primarily for the shopping malls in the capital Manama, such as the Bahrain City Centre and Seef Mall in the Seef district of Manama. The Manama Souq and Gold Souq in the old district of Manama are also popular with tourists.[173] HP G42-265LA Laptop Keyboard

Since 2005, Bahrain annually hosts a festival in March, titled Spring of Culture, which features internationally renowned musicians and artists performing in concerts.[174] Manama was named the Arab Capital of Culture for 2012 and Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013 by the Arab League. The 2012 festival featured concerts starring Andrea Bocelli, ACER Aspire One D150-1920 Laptop Keyboard

Julio Iglesias and other musicians.[175]

Bahrain has a well-developed road network, particularly in Manama. The discovery of oil in the early 1930s accelerated the creation of multiple roads and highways in Bahrain, connecting several isolated villages, such as Budaiya, to Manama.[177] DELL PVDG3 Laptop Keyboard

To the east, a bridge connected Manama to Muharraq since 1929, a new causeway was built in 1941 which replaced the old wooden bridge.[177] Currently there are three modern bridges connecting the two locations.[178] Transits between the two islands peaked after the construction of the Bahrain International Airport in 1932.[177] Ring roads and highways were later built to connect Manama to the villages of the Northern Governorate and towards towns in central and southern Bahrain. ASUS X88S Laptop Keyboard

The four main islands and all the towns and villages are linked by well-constructed roads. There were 3,164 km (1,966 mi) of roadways in 2002, of which 2,433 km (1,512 mi) were paved. A causeway stretching over 2.8 km (2 mi), connect Manama withMuharraq Island, and another bridge joins Sitra to the main island. The King Fahd Causeway, ASUS F82Q Laptop Keyboard

measuring 24 km (15 mi), links Bahrain with the Saudi Arabian mainland via the island of Umm an-Nasan. It was completed in December 1986, and financed bySaudi Arabia. In 2008, there were 17,743,495 passengers transiting through the causeway.[179] SONY 148738121 Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain's port of Mina Salman is the main seaport of the country and consists of 15 berths.[8] In 2001, Bahrain had a merchant fleet of eight ships of 1,000 GRTor over, totaling 270,784 GRT.[180] Private vehicles and taxis are the primary means of transportation in the city.[181]

Telecommunication TOSHIBA PK130260100 Laptop Keyboard

Main articles: Telecommunications in Bahrain and Internet in Bahrain

The telecommunications sector in Bahrain officially started in 1981 with the establishment of Bahrain's first telecommunications company, Batelco and until 2004, it monopolised the sector. In 1981, there were more than 45,000 telephones in use in the country. By 1999, Batelco had more than 100,000 mobile contracts.[182] TOSHIBA Satellite M645-S4115 Laptop Keyboard

In 2002, under pressure from international bodies, Bahrain implemented its telecommunications law which included the establishment of an independent Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).[182] In 2004, Zain (a rebranded version of MTC Vodafone) started operations in Bahrain and in 2010VIVA (owned by STC Group) become the third company to provide mobile services.[183] DELL Vostro 1015 Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain has been connected to the internet since 1995 with the country's domain suffix is '.bh'. The country's connectivity score (a statistic which measures both Internet access and fixed and mobile telephone lines) is 210.4 percent per person, while the regional average in the Gulf States is 135.37 percent.[184] Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 Laptop Keyboard

 The number of Bahraini internet users has risen from 40,000 in 2000[185] to 250,000 in 2008,[186] or from 5.95 to 33 percent of the population. As of January 2012, the TRA has licensed 34 Internet Service Providers, the largest of which is Batelco.[187] DELL Latitude D430 laptop keyboard

In 2010, Bahrain's population grew to 1.2 million, of which 568,399 were Bahraini and 666,172 were non-nationals.[1]It had risen from 1.05 million (517,368 non-nationals) in 2007, the year when Bahrain's population crossed the one million mark.[188] Though a majority of the population is ethnically Arab, a sizeable number of people from South Asia live in the country. In 2008, approximately 290,000 Indian nationals lived in Bahrain, making them the single largest expatriate community in the country.[189][190] ACER Aspire One AOA150-1570 laptop keyboard

Bahrain is the fourth most densely populated sovereign state in the world with a population density of 1,646 people per km2 in 2010.[1] The only sovereign states with larger population densities are city states. Much of this population is concentrated in the north of the country with the Southern Governorate being the least densely populated part.[1] The north of the country is so urbanised that it is considered by some to be one large metropolitan area.[191] HP Pavilion dv5-1110el laptop keyboard

The official religion of Bahrain is Islam and 99.8% of Bahraini citizens are Muslim. There are no official figures for the proportion of Shia and Sunni among the Muslims of Bahrain, but approximately 66-70% percent of Bahraini Muslims are Shias.[192][193][194][195] Due to an influx of immigrants and guest workers from non-Muslim countries, such as India, Philippines and Sri Lanka, Packard Bell NEW90 laptop keyboard

the overall percentage of Muslims in the country has declined in recent years.[196] According to the 2001 census, 81.2% of Bahrain's population was Muslim, 9% were Christian, and 9.8% practised Hinduism or other religions.[96] The 2010 census records that the Muslim proportion had fallen to 70.2% (the 2010 census did not differentiate between the non-Muslim religions).[1]

Languages HP Pavilion dv5-1233se laptop keyboard

Arabic is the official language of Bahrain, though English is widely used.[197] Bahrani Arabic is the most widely spoken dialect of the Arabic language, though this differs slightly from standard Arabic. Arabic plays an important role in political life, as, according to article 57 (c) of Bahrain's constitution, SONY VGN-FE48E laptop keyboard

an MP must be fluent in Arabic to stand for parliament. Among the non-Bahraini population, many people speak Persian, the official language of Iran, or Urdu, the official language of Pakistan.[197] Malayalam and Hindi is also widely spoken in the Indian community.[197] Many commercial institutions and road signs arebilingual, HP Pavilion dv6-2044el laptop keyboard

displaying both English and Arabic.[198]

Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 14.[199] Education is free for Bahraini citizens in public schools, with the Bahraini Ministry of Education providing free textbooks. Coeducation is not used in public schools, with boys and girls segregated into separate schools.[200] Packard Bell Easynote TK85 laptop keyboard

At the beginning of the 20th century, Qur'anic schools (Kuttab) were the only form of education in Bahrain.[201] They were traditional schools aimed at teaching children and youth the reading of the Qur'an. After World War I, Bahrain became open to western influences, and a demand for modern educational institutions appeared. HP Pavilion dv6-2044el laptop keyboard

1919 marked the beginning of modern public school system in Bahrain when the Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifia School for boys opened in Muharraq.[201] 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.[201] As of 2011, there are a total of 126,981 students studying in public schools.[202] ASUS A6R laptop keyboard

In 2004, King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa introduced the "King Hamad Schools of Future" project that uses Information Communication Technology to support K–12 education in Bahrain.[203] The project's objective is to connect all schools within the kingdom with the Internet.[204] In addition to British intermediate schools, HP Pavilion dv6-2135ev laptop keyboard

the island is served by the Bahrain School(BS). The BS is a United States Department of Defense school that provides a K-12 curriculum including International Baccalaureate offerings. There are also private schools that offer either the IB Diploma Programme or United Kingdom's A-Levels. HP Pavilion DV6-1334us laptop keyboard

Bahrain also encourages institutions of higher learning, drawing on expatriate talent and the increasing pool of Bahrain nationals returning from abroad with advanced degrees. The University of Bahrain was established for standard undergraduate and graduate study, and the King Abdulaziz University College of Health Sciences, operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health, trains physicians, TOSHIBA Satellite l25-s121 laptop keyboard

nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics. The 2001 National Action Charter paved the way for the formation of private universities such as the Ahlia University in Manama and University College of Bahrain in Saar. The Royal University for Women (RUW), established in 2005, was the first private, purpose-built, TOSHIBA NSK-TBD01 laptop keyboard

international University in Bahrain dedicated solely to educating women. TheUniversity of London External has appointed MCG (Management Consultancy Group) as the regional representative office in Bahrain for distance learning programmes.[205] MCG is one of the oldest private institutes in the country. Compaq Presario CQ42-359TU laptop keyboard

Institutes have also opened which educate South Asian students, such as the Pakistan Urdu School, Bahrain and the Indian School, Bahrain. A few prominent institutions are DePaul University, Bentley University, the Ernst & Young Training Institute, NYIT and the Birla Institute of Technology International Centre In 2004, SONY KFRMBA221A laptop keyboard

the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) setup a constituent medical university in the country. In addition to the Arabian Gulf University, AMA International University and the College of Health Sciences, these are the only medical schools in Bahrain. TOSHIBA NSK-TBD01 laptop keyboard

Health

Bahrain has a universal health care system, dating back to 1960.[206] Government-provided health care is free to Bahraini citizens and heavily subsidised for non-Bahrainis. Healthcare expenditure accounted for 4.5% of Bahrain's GDP, according to the World Health Organisation. Bahraini physicians and nurses form a majority of the country's workforce in the health sector, unlike neighbouring Gulf states.[207] ACER Aspire 5315 Laptop Keyboard

The first hospital in Bahrain was the American Mission Hospital, which opened in 1893 as a dispensary.[208] The first public hospital, and also tertiary hospital, to open in Bahrain was the Salmaniya Medical Complex, in theSalmaniya district of Manama, in 1957.[209] Private hospitals are also present throughout the country, COMPAQ Presario C700 Laptop Keyboard

such as the International Hospital of Bahrain.

The life expectancy in Bahrain is 73 for males and 76 for females. Compared to many countries in the region, the prevalence of AIDS and HIV is relatively low.[210] Malaria and tuberculosis (TB) do not constitute major problems in Bahrain as neither disease is indigenous to the country.  IBM Lenovo ThinkPad R50E Laptop Keyboard

As a result, cases of malaria and TB have declined in recent decades with cases of contractions amongst Bahraini nationals becoming rare.[210] The Ministry of Health sponsors regular vaccination campaigns against TB and other diseases such as hepatitis B.[210][211] HP 605344-001 Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain is currently suffering from an obesity epidemic as 28.9% of all males and 38.2% of all females are classified as obese.[212] Bahrain also has one of the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world (5th place), with more than 15% of the Bahraini population suffering from the disease, and accounting for 5% of deaths in the country.[213] Compaq Presario CQ57 Series Laptop Keyboard

Cardiovascular diseases account for 32% of all deaths in Bahrain, being the number one cause of death in the country (the second being cancer).[214] 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.[215] ACER TravelMate 4230 Series Laptop Keyboard

Bahrain is sometimes described as "Middle East lite"[216] due to its combination of modern infrastructure with a Persian Gulf identity. While Islam is the main religion, Bahrainis are known for their tolerance towards the practice of other faiths.[217] SONY VAIO PCG-FRV25 Laptop Keyboard

Rules regarding female attire are generally relaxed compared to regional neighbours; the traditional attire of women usually include the hijab or the abaya.[95] Although the traditional male attire is the thobe which also includes traditional headdresses such as the Keffiyeh, Ghutra and Agal, western clothing is common in the country.[95] SAMSUNG R522 Laptop Keyboard

In common with the rest of the Muslim world, though Bahrain has taken strong strides for women's rights, it does not recognise lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights.[218]

Another facet of the new openness is Bahrain's status as the most prolific book publisher in the Arab world, with 132 books published in 2005 for a population of 700,000. In comparison, the 2005 average for the entire Arab world was seven books published per one million people, according to the United Nations Development Programme.[219] HP Pavilion G6-1223TX Laptop Keyboard

The modern art movement in the country officially emerged in the 1950s, culminating in the establishment of an art society.Expressionism and surrealism, as well as calligraphic art are the popular forms of art in the country. Abstract expressionismhas gained popularity in recent decades.[220] Pottery-making and textile weaving are also popular products that were widely made in Bahraini villages.[220] DELL Precision M4500 Laptop Keyboard

Arabic calligraphy grew in popularity as the Bahraini government was an active patron in Islamic art, culminating in the establishment of an Islamic museum, Beit Al Quran.[220] The Bahrain national museum houses a permanentcontemporary art exhibition.[221] IBM Lenovo Thinkpad X301 2779 Laptop Keyboard

The architecture of Bahrain is similar to that of its Gulf neighbours. The wind tower, which generates natural ventilation in a house, is a common sight on old buildings, particularly in the old districts of Manama andMuharraq.[222] TOSHIBA 9J.N7482.901 Laptop Keyboard

Literature

Main article: Literature of Bahrain

Literature retains a strong tradition in the country; most traditional writers and poets write in the classical Arabic style. In recent years, the number of younger poets influenced by western literature are rising, most writing in free verse and often including political or personal content.[223] Ali al-Sharqawi, a decorated longtime poet, was described in 2011 by Al Shorfa as the literary icon of Bahrain.[224] ACER Aspire 5745 Series Laptop CPU Cooling Fan

In literature, Bahrain was the site of the ancient land of Dilmun mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Legend also states that it was the location of the Garden of Eden.[225][226]

Association football is the most popular sport in Bahrain.[95] Bahrain's national football team has competed multiple times at the Asian Cup, ACER KB.INT00.058 laptop keyboard

Arab Nations Cupand played in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, though it has never qualified for the World Cup.[228] Bahrain has its own top-tier domestic professional football league, the Bahraini Premier League. Basketball, Rugby and horse riding are also widely popular in the country. IBM Lenovo ThinkPad R51e-1859 laptop keyboard

Bahrain has competed in six Summer Olympics, debuting in the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.[229] Bahrain has only won one Olympic medal in its history, that being a bronze medal won by Maryam Yusuf Jamal in the women's 1500 metres race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[230] Packard Bell PEW91 laptop keyboard

Jamal is the first woman from any Gulf nation to win an Olympic medal.[231] Prior to the 2012 summer Olympics, the closest attempt to Bahrain winning an Olympic medal was via Rashid Ramzi winning themen's 1,500 metres race at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. However, his medal was stripped after he failed a drug test the following year.[232] Bahrain has competed in every Summer Olympic since 1984 but has never competed in the Winter Olympics. ASUS M70V laptop keyboard

Bahrain has a Formula One race-track, which hosted the inaugural Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on 4 April 2004, the first in an Arab country. This was followed by the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2005. Bahrain hosted the opening Grand Prix of the 2006 season on 12 March of that year. Both the above races were won by Fernando Alonso of Renault. Lenovo 3000 G430 4152 laptop keyboard

The race has since been hosted annually, except for 2011 when it was cancelled due to ongoing anti-government protests.[233] The latest edition of the Bahrain Grand Prix was the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix, that occurred despite concerns of the safety of the teams and the ongoing protests in the country.[234] Packard Bell Easynote LM81 laptop keyboard

The decision to hold the race despite ongoing protests and violence[235] has been described as "controversial" by Al Jazeera English,[236] CNN,[237] AFP[238] and Sky News.[239] The Independent named it "one of the most controversial in the history of the sport".[240] SONY VAIO VGN-N130G/B laptop keyboard

In 2006, Bahrain also hosted its inaugural Australian V8 Supercar event dubbed the "Desert 400". The V8s returned every November to the Sakhir circuit until 2010, in which it was the second event of the series. The series has not returned since. The Bahrain International Circuit also features a full-length drag strip where the Bahrain Drag Racing Club has organised invitational events featuring some of Europe's top drag racing teams to try to raise the profile of the sport in the Middle East.[241] ACER TravelMate 4230 Series laptop keyboard

The Bahraini uprising is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain. As part of the revolutionary wave of protests in the Middle East and North Africa following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia, the Bahraini protests were initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and equality for the majority Shia population,[22][23] Lenovo 3000 C200 laptop keyboard

and expanded to a call to end the monarchy of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa[3] following a deadly night raid on 17 February 2011 against protesters at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama,[24][25] known locally as the Bloody Thursday. Lenovo 3000 C200 laptop keyboard

Protesters in Manama camped for days at the Pearl Roundabout, which became the centre of the protests. After a month, the government requested troops and police from the Gulf Cooperation Council, who arrived on 14 March. A day later, the king of Bahrain declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency.[26][27] Packard Bell Easynote TK85 laptop keyboard

Pearl Roundabout was cleared of protesters and the iconic statue at its centre was destroyed. After the state of emergency ended on 1 June, the opposition party, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, organized several weekly protests[28] usually attended by tens of thousands.[29] On 9 March 2012 over 100,000 attended[30] and another on 31 August attracted tens of thousands.[31] Daily smaller-scale protests and clashes continued, mostly outside Manama's business districts.[32][33] By April 2012, more than 80 had died.[34] SONY VAIO VGN-NW15L laptop keyboard

The police response was described as a "brutal" crackdown on peaceful and unarmed protesters, including doctors and bloggers.[35][36][37] The police carried out midnight house raids in Shia neighbourhoods, beatings at checkpoints and denial of medical care in a campaign of intimidation.[38][39][40] More than 2,929 people have been arrested,[20][41] and at least five died due to torture in police custody.[11]:287–8SONY N860-7676-T101 laptop keyboard

In June, King Hamad established the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry composed of international independent figures to assess the incidents.[42] The report was released on 23 November and confirmed the Bahraini government's use of systematic torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse on detainees, HP G62-225DX Laptop Keyboard

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as well as other human rights violations.[11]:298 It also rejected the government's claims that the protests were instigated by Shia Iran.[43] The report was criticised for not disclosing the names of individual abusers and extending accountability only to those who actively carried out human rights violations.[44] DELL Inspiron N5030 Laptop Keyboard

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