Middle East - Oriente Medio

Middle East, although it is geographically part of Asia, is usually considered a separate region at least relative to tourism. A zone in conflict for millennia and that arouses the passions of millions of people.

In this region, human civilization took its first steps through cultures such as those of the ancient Babylon Y Persia. In their lands arose the three main monotheistic religions of the world: the Judaism, the Christianity and the Islam; Most of the world's population follow these religions today and consider these lands as the Holy Land. The Islamic and Ottoman dominions were succeeded by that of European powers at the beginning of the 20th century and which changed the political structure of the region. Ethnic groups were separated by imaginary lines drawn by the colonizers, giving rise to wars that continue to this day.

Understanding the Middle East is key not only to understanding international political reality but also the fusion of diverse cultures dating back millennia. Cities like Jerusalem, Istanbul or Damascus coexist in the region with modern towns that emerged from the oil boom such as Dubai.

Dubai  Petra, Jordan  Jerusalem  Iran

Regions

Holy Land
	Israel Palestine Origin of the three main monotheistic religions of the world, the area between the Mediterranean and the Jordan is considered sacred for more than half of humanity. That explains why, despite its name, it is a place of conflict to this day. The Old City of Jerusalem brings together these three religions meters apart and Belen Every year it receives pilgrims from all over the world to celebrate Christmas. Not everything is religion: enjoy the shores of Haifa, vibrate in the night of Tel Aviv, walk the shopping streets of Ramallah and float in the waters of the Dead Sea.
The uprising
	Iraq Jordan Lebanon Syria The area between the Euphrates and the Tigris gave birth to the first civilizations in history and even the ruins attest to that. The vestiges of the invasions of Alexander the Great and the Romans mixed with Muslim influence. In Baghdad, Damascus or Tripoli You can feel the various stages of history dating back more than 9 millennia. Visit the ruins of Babylon and marvel at the pinkish rock-hewn temples of Petra.
Arabian Peninsula
	Saudi Arabia Bahrain Taste United Arab Emirates Kuwait Oman Yemen An area of ​​contrasts, where the Islamic conservatism that characterizes the region faces day by day with the modernity that oil has brought to the area of ​​the Gulf Coast. You can tour the holiest sites for Islam in Medina Y Mecca and then jump into the lavishness and opulence of the skyscrapers of Dubai. If you are looking for the Arabia of stories and movies, you can still find some of that spirit among the sand dunes of Oman Y Yemen.
Iran
	Ancient Persia found in its territory the ruins of its ancient empires, traditions brought from Central Asia and the influence of Islam from the Arab world. Your capital, Tehran, has beautiful museums and monuments, although it is Isfahan the most attractive city, thanks to its beautiful tiles, parks and mosques. It is also possible to visit places as dissimilar as the ruins of Persepolis, the sacred city of Qom or the resorts of the Kish island.

Countries

• Bahrain: This island state, the smallest of the Gulf Emirates, is known in the region as the playground for visitors from its more conservative neighbors.
• Iran: A country full of historical places, a variety of attractions and ecosystems ranging from deserts in the central and southern parts to beautiful humid forests in the north near the Caspian Sea. Iran is also very ethnically and culturally diverse, and used to be the heart of the Persian Empire.
• Iraq: This cradle of civilization is too dangerous for leisure travel, although the most intrepid travelers may find Iraqi Kurdistan a pleasant place to visit.
• Israel: The birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, with numerous holy sites for Muslims, Druze, and Baha'is, as well as places of prehistoric, historical, and cultural significance. A small land containing a variety of stunning natural sights, including deserts, shores, and snow-covered peaks in winter, along with a vibrant nightlife, liberal attitude, and high human and technological development, Israel is a country that combines ancient and the new .
• Palestine: (Gaza Strip Y West bank)
• Jordan: This country, with its vast deserts, also includes fertile lands along the east bank of the Jordan River and its tributaries, such as Yarmouk, and contains rich archaeological remains, especially at Jerash and Petra, which is one of the New Seven Wonders. of the world; and the extremely salty Dead Sea.
• Kuwait: Probably best known internationally for its brief occupation by Iraq and its role in the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Kuwait is an oil-rich emirate that is a destination for workers and businessmen, generally not tourists.
• Lebanon: This small country is diverse in culture, religion, politics, and terrain. Beirut in particular has been known for the most part as a very liberal city. However, Lebanon's sometimes contentious politics often cause instability in the country.
• Oman: A sultanate that is off the beaten path for most travelers, it is the only country that has a majority of Ibadi Muslims, and it is very rich in beautiful landscapes.
• Qatar: This Arabian peninsula is the richest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita (PPP). It is probably best known for being the world headquarters of the Al Jazeera media corporation, which is owned by its government, and secondly, for the striking modern skyline of its capital, Doha.
• Saudi Arabia: This oil-rich desert kingdom, subject to some of the harshest interpretations of Islamic Law in the world, is home to the holiest cities for Muslims: Mecca and Medina.
• Syria: This historic country was part of the Fertile Crescent in ancient times and shows the imprint of all historical periods since then, but it is in the midst of a bloody civil war that has not only killed large numbers of people and displaced even more. It has also involved the total looting and destruction of archaeological relics by the so-called Islamic State organization, one of several fighting in Syria.
• Turkey: A highly varied country that literally links Europe and Asia, it includes the cosmopolitan metropolis of Istanbul, many historical sites, and beautiful mountains, lakes and coastlines. Until World War I, the Turks had a large empire, called the Ottoman Empire after their ruling dynasty, and they ruled most of the Middle East and much of Europe and North Africa for centuries. Shortly after the collapse of the empire, Turkey began a process of modernization and secularization, and moved closer to the West. As such, it was one of the first and has been one of the few Muslim states to have an official and warm relationship with Israel (which has cooled off a bit), and is a NATO ally and candidate to join the Union. European.
• United Arab Emirates: A major transportation hub for oil and foreign labor that includes the famous skylines of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the quieter and more traditional emirates like Sharjah.
• Yemen: This beautiful country, famous for its traditional adobe skyscrapers, fertile highlands and delicious food, is in the midst of a brutal civil war and a highly destructive international bombing campaign.

Population

The total population of the countries of the Middle East was estimated in 2008 at 411 million inhabitants, resulting in a population density of 31 inhabitants per square kilometer. The projection of the population for 2050 is estimated at about 688.8 million inhabitants, so this is considered a region that will maintain high growth.

The average population growth rate in the period 2005-2010 is calculated at 2.2%. Being the country with the lowest growth Iran with 1.4 and one of the highest Jordan with 3.0%. The birth rate shows a slightly high behavior, which conditions - together with the presence of several oil-producing countries with a strong attraction of immigrants-, an average demographic growth rate of 2.2%, much higher than the world average (which in the 2005 stage at 2010 was 1.2%).

From the point of view of ethnic composition, the Middle Eastern population is characterized by its relative homogeneity, predominantly Arabs. In some countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain or Qatar there are large contingents of foreign immigrants attracted by the oil industry. The most densely populated regions are those located in the so-called Levant, that is, in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

Towards the interior of the deserts of the Arabian peninsula, the settlement is reduced due to the hostile conditions imposed by the environment (Saudi Arabia, for example, has an average density of just 9 inhabitants per km the population in most of these Middle Eastern countries. The East is concentrated in cities, so that the percentage of urban population is 78% .The countries with the highest urban population are Kuwait 98% and Qatar with 96% and the lowest Yemen with 31%.

Tourist attractions

Cities

• Amman - Experience a massive shift from a sleepy, quiet village to a bustling metropolis.
• Beirut : a true cosmopolitan city, the commercial and financial center of Lebanon.
• Baghdad - Once a favorite destination on the "hippie trail" and full of sights, it is now one of the most dangerous cities on Earth.
• Cairo : capital of Egypt and, in a way, of the entire Middle East. For example, its universities and media have influence throughout the region.
• Dubai - The most modern and progressive emirate in the UAE, with many skyscrapers, including theBurj khalifa, The tallest building in the world.
• Istanbul - the only major city spanning two continents and a fascinating melting pot of East and West.
• Jerusalem , which contains the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City, this city is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
• Mecca : No entry for non-Muslims, this is the holiest city of Islam and known for elHayy.

• Tehran A bustling metropolis of 14 million people, it is a cosmopolitan city, with excellent museums, parks, restaurants, and warm, friendly people.

Natural attractions

1. The Al-Hasa Natural Oasis It is the largest in Saudi Arabia and Asia in general. The oasis is located about 60 km from the Gulf of Persia and the coast of the Arabian Gulf. More than 60 natural springs feed Al-Hasa Oasis, which covers nearly 30,000 acres. The oasis is a source of water for the millions of inhabitants who live in the areas near it, as well as an irrigation source for more than 3 million palm trees.
2. The Socotra island it is so isolated and distant from any continent that it seems impossible to find a third of its plant life anywhere in the world. An example is for example a rare species of tree called the bleeding red dragon blood tree or Dracaena Cinnabari. This strange little archipelago of just four islands in the Indian Ocean was previously a commercial base thousands of years ago. Unfortunately, as a result of people now living here, there are many plants and animals that once lived on the islands that have become extinct by human hand.
3. The Mount Damavand It is their popular site thanks to its beautiful landscapes. Mount Damavand is also the highest volcano in Asia, as well as the highest peak in the entire Middle East, which is just over 5,600 meters above sea level. On the flanks of the volcano and at its base are hot mineral springs, which provide therapeutic benefits. There are also public baths nearby where the inhabitants go throughout the year to enjoy them, they are a marvel. Some of the animals found in the bush are brown bears, wild goats, leopards and red sheep. The fumaroles close near the probably active summit crater.
4. The mount ararat it is popular in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is located at more than 5,000 meters above sea level and is currently an inactive volcanic cone. It borders Azerbaijan and Armenia and that is why this mountain can also be seen from both places. According to Armenian mythology, this mountain is where the gods live and it is a symbol of the identity of the nation. Although there are grasslands used by local Kurdish people to feed their sheep, most of the snow-covered areas of Mount Ararat are treeless.
5. The Wadi Rum It is a valley cut into granite rock and sandstones in southern Jordan. The rock formation is dubbed as the 7 Pillars of Wisdom.
6. The Rub ‘al Khali It is located on the Arabian Peninsula, it is the largest sand desert in the world and when you are there you can enjoy a fascinating view. Stretching over 400,000 kilometers, with red-orange sand dunes and with heights that can reach up to 250 meters, only a few wild animals are capable of living in this place. Some rodents and scorpions are the main living animals of this place, there are also insects of many kinds.The size is almost a third of the Arabian Peninsula, which includes parts of Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Oman and most of Saudi Arabia . It is the richest oil site in the world. Rub ‘al Khali is incredibly valuable to the Middle East.
7. The Cappadocia cliffs They are very beautiful undulating sites formed by the rain and the wind on a volcanic rock of the tuff. These cliffs are called fairy chimneys and they are so smooth to the point that it is possible to carve and poke holes in their walls. This made it easier for the Turkish inhabitants who live nearby to turn the same rocks into chapels and houses. Fascinatingly, under these beautiful and large rock formations there is a link of underground cities, which is home to some 10,000 Christians who escaped oppression ... And who continue to live in these places.
8. The white desert It is the most popular desert destination for tourists in Egypt. The amount of beautiful and supernatural rock formations formed by the wind with incredible shapes make it a unique place. It is undoubtedly a most fascinating place.
9. The cedars of Lebanon, located in Lebanon and part of Syria, Algeria, Morocco and Turkey are the most amazing trees in the world. Trees are found in large numbers within Lebanon's conservative parks, some 2,000 years old.
10. They grow to almost 40 meters in height with a trunk diameter of about 25 meters ... Just seeing them is awesome. These trees are very symbolic in the history of Lebanon with references in the Bible that are also present on the Lebanese flag.
11. The Dead Sea It is one of the most popular but hidden natural wonders in the Middle East. It is no longer news that mineral waters have healing powers today. In fact, there are plenty of resorts and spas on its shores for tourists to visit at any time of the year.

Holiday centers

• Çatalhöyük - A Stone Age settlement (7500 BC to 5700 BC) of great importance to archaeologists studying the transition from nomadic tribes to settlement and "civilization".
• Dead Sea - The water is too salty for marine life, hence the name, but even the most skeletal of humans will float easily.
• Empty Quarter : The name Empty Quarter explains very well what it is about: a vast inhospitable and empty desert.
• Madain saleh , a Nabataean city in what is now Saudi Arabia, carved out of the rock in the same style as the famous Petra of Jordan.
• Persepolis : The ceremonial capital of the Persian empire during the Achaemenid dynasty, near modern Shiraz.
• Petra - One of the 'New Seven Wonders', Petra was the impressive capital of the Nabataean kingdom from around the 6th century BC. C.
• Samarra : Shiite archaeological and sacred sites, including the tombs of several Shiite imams in Iraq.
• Sea of ​​galilee - Known for its evangelical associations with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, therefore a pilgrimage destination for Christians.
• Shibam , known as 'Manhattan of the Desert', a unique complex of high-rise apartment buildings built in 16th century mud in Yemen.

Culture

As one of the springs of human civilization in the ancient and medieval worlds, the birthplace of several world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and the Baha'i faith) and an area of ​​great modern economic and political importance, the Middle The East continues to be a popular destination for travelers.

Ethnically, the region is extremely mixed; Arabs, Persians, and Turks are the largest groups, but there are also other ethnic groups, such as Kurds, Armenians, Jews, Azeris, Mandaeans, and others, each with their own languages, customs, and cultures. Today, there are also many economic immigrants from South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa looking for work.

All Middle Eastern countries have a Muslim majority (with the notable exception of Israel, which has a Jewish majority), with Iran, Iraq and Bahrain mainly Shiites, Oman mainly Ibadi, Saudi Arabia dominated by Salafism and other areas mainly Sunni. The legal systems in most of these countries are influenced by sharia (Islamic law), but very few are completely based on it.

There are significant communities of native Christians, particularly in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Israel, and Iraq, and also many Druze in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. Many areas historically have had long-established Jewish communities, but these were largely wiped out amid a wave of rising anti-Semitism following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Today, the only Jewish communities in the region outside of Israel The remaining numbers are those of Iran and Turkey. Other religious groups present in much smaller numbers include the Baha'is, Mandaeans, and Zoroastrians.

Middle Eastern politics are controversial, incredibly complex, often violent, and rapidly changing. In fact, it is rarely advisable for tourists to engage in political debates with strangers. The Middle East is one of the most important geopolitical regions in the world. The world's largest oil reserves, conflicts dating back to the dawn of civilization, and religious tensions can make the Middle East look dangerous. While there are strong warnings against travel to Syria and Yemen that are suffering from civil wars, the news reports do not reflect the everyday reality of people going about their normal lives.

Due to substantial oil wealth, the Gulf states are known to provide their citizens with some of the most comprehensive welfare states in the world despite not levying any income taxes.

Cultural geography

North Africa is similar to the Middle East in many ways: language, religion, culture, and some ethnic groups. Some writers include Egypt, or even Sudan and Libya, in their use of the term "Middle East." The term MENA refers to the Middle East / N Orth A cultural African group, generally extending from Iran or Turkey to as far away as Morocco or Mauritania. It can also include the states of the Red Sea.

On the other hand, Central Asia also has a lot in common with the Middle East. Ethnic groups and languages ​​are different, but religion, much of the food, clothing, and architecture are similar. Iran could be counted as part of any region; At one time, most of Central Asia was part of the Persian Empire.

The border between southeastern Europe and the Middle East is also unclear. Many writers include Turkey in their use of "Middle East" and we include it above, but parts of Turkey are very European. Much of Turkey and all of Lebanon and Israel are also clearly Mediterranean regions. On the other hand, several countries generally considered European (Greece, Cyprus, and to some extent the Balkans) also have aspects of the Middle East in their culture.

Talk

Arabic is the main language of the region, and the main language in all Middle Eastern countries except Iran (where Persian predominates), Turkey (Turkish), and Israel (Hebrew, albeit with a significant Arab-Arab minority). While Standard Arabic is the official language in all Arabic-speaking countries and the medium of instruction in schools, there are also many dialects of Arabic that are the primary language spoken in daily life in their respective regions, some of which they may be mutually unintelligible.

Kurdish, Azeri, Armenian, Yiddish, and various other languages ​​are also spoken in some regions.

English it is moderately common in tourist areas, but understanding varies elsewhere. English is widely understood in Israel, Jordan, and the Gulf States, especially among educated citizens and in large cities. In Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, foreigners outnumber the citizen population and, as a result, English is the lingua franca and it is spoken more widely than Arabic. In Turkey, some German is spoken because many Turks have worked in Germany.

Urdu and Hindi are also widely known in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as large Pakistani and Indian communities work in these countries. Filipino is also known to some extent, particularly in major cities (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, etc.), due to the large influx of Filipino migrant workers throughout the region.

Sport

Today soccer is the predominant sport in the Middle East. But there are others, whose dispute may require elements ranging from olive oil, a goat, a domestic hawk or the most beautiful camel in the entire desert. Indeed, sports such as oil wrestling, Buzkashi, falconry, and camel racing are traditional competitions that preserve revered fragments of the region's history and culture.

Fight in oil This year, Turkey hosted its 658th oil wrestling festival in Edirne province. The sport is so old that it dates back to the Ottoman Empire, founded in 1299. To play, wrestlers cover their bodies in olive oil. The only garment they use is the Kispet pants. For a player to declare himself the winner, he must start his opponent's Kispet or manage to exhaust his challenger until he surrenders. The sport originated in ancient Greece, but today it was adopted by the Turks, who have proudly upheld the tradition since the birth of the modern republic in 1923. According to Islamic studies expert Birgit Krawietz of the Free University of Berlin is called the "sport of the ancestors." Those who participated in the fights years ago, did so most often in the villages, as it was considered the "people's sport". Over time, the fighting moved to the palaces and later integrated into routine military training.

Buzkashi A lesser known sport in Turkey is Kok-Boru, or Buzkashi, as it is called in places like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan, where it is a national sport. The game could be compared to a tougher and earlier version of polo. Men ride horses through a field competing to take possession of the carcass of a headless goat, which is sacrificed before the start of the match. Depending on the country, the game can be played as a team or as an individual sport. It is a very physically demanding game, and with few clear rules. The goat is often roasted in an oven with potatoes as a reward for hungry athletes after the game. Falconry Falconry, also very popular in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf, had its origins in that same region. However, according to experts at Wild Flight, a falconry company in the United Arab Emirates, the sport was born 4,500 years ago in Central Asia and moved to the Middle East only 2,000 years later. Originally, falconers used birds to hunt for food. Today, in Middle Eastern cities like Dubai, hunting is prohibited. Falconry has become a sport, and hawks are now domesticated and purchased from merchants who have government-issued permits. Falconers train their birds to fly from the arm of one team member on one side of a field to the other side, where a second team member is standing with false prey.

The falcons, once released, use their hunting instincts to fly and capture the prize. The hawk that does it in the shortest time takes home the gold. Ruan Botha, CEO of Wild Flight, says that even after 24 years of participating in the sport, he learns something new every day when he works with the falcons, adding that he loves the sport because of the way the players connect. with the birds. "It's something you need to experience," says Botha. “Remember: this is a wild animal that you train and at the end of the day it can fly. But he comes back because of the bond he has with his coach. "

Camel racing: One of the most popular and perhaps most internationally recognized sports hailing from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Jordan is camel racing, which has a long and controversial history. Camels are not often considered fast-moving animals, but they can reach up to 40 mph, compared to horses, for example, which can reach speeds of 55 mph.

Originally, those who participated in the sport used local camels. Today, there is a lot of money in camel farming, with cash prizes worth millions of dollars being offered to owners whose camels reach the finish line faster. In the last decade, camel racing entered the age of technology; now, instead of human riders, the owners ride their animals with small, remote-controlled robots. A whip is attached to the robot to control the camel, and the indications to be exercised on the camel can be generated remotely.

According to James Dorsey, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, which focuses on the Middle East and North Africa, these traditional and lesser-known sports can play an important role in strengthening identity. national. "All of these sports have historical roots, but part of the reason they are emphasized is to promote heritage as part of an effort to create a national identity," says Dorsey.

Travel

To get

By plane

The largest hubs for flights in the region are Dubai Airport, Hamad International Airport (Doha) and Abu Dhabi, with their local airlines, Emirates , Qatar Airways Y Etihad Airways, respectively, serving all inhabited continents, and having the largest and fastest growing medium for long-distance route networks in the world. Istanbul also has good connections from virtually anywhere in the Middle East, with numerous flights from Europe, North America, and East Asia, with Turkish airlinesHaving a slow but steady growing network that is increasingly becoming a viable alternative to the Gulf trio. Ben Gurion Airport is served by flights from most Western countries, although due to the political situation it is not possible to fly from there to anywhere in the Middle East other than Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.

However, there are direct flights from major European hubs to most of the major cities in the region.

Boat

See Ferries in the Mediterranean. Ferries are available between Greece or Cyprus to Israel, Lebanon and Turkey. There are also cruises for longer excursions.

By car or bus

Turkey can be reached by land through Greece or Bulgaria.

There are border crossings between most countries. However, these may be subject to a temporary closure depending on political situations. For example, most crossings into Syria are closed or dangerous. There are no border crossings between Israel and Lebanon or Syria. Driving a car between counties depends on whether cars are allowed in different countries; in some cases a Passages Card is required. This is variable throughout the region.

Travel

Public transportation is poor compared to other regions of the world, including other parts of Asia. Most locals would use plane or car travel to move between countries. Places where Sunni and Shiite areas overlap sometimes lack interconnected transportation.

By plane

Flying is often the best way to get around. The region is home to many major airports with frequent connections to both budget and legacy carriers. On the other hand, traveling by land may not always be safe and even if it is, traveling by land can involve crossing hundreds of miles of hot desert.

By car

Driving in the more developed nations of the Middle East is very similar to driving in any other developed country: the roads are paved and painted, traffic lights and cameras exist and function at intersections, and most drivers have the same goals as usted: llegar desde el Punto A al punto B vivo . Dicho esto, conducir es más imprudente que en otras naciones desarrolladas, especialmente fuera de las ciudades, pero no tanto como en el sudeste asiático o partes de África. Además, en algunos países, los camellos caminarán por las carreteras, por lo que los conductores deben permanecer vigilantes incluso si la carretera parece segura.

Conducir en las naciones menos desarrolladas es más difícil, ya que pocas carreteras están pavimentadas fuera de las principales ciudades, y su calidad podría no ser muy buena.

Para el conductor aventurero, algunos países ofrecen vehículos todoterreno y senderos, como en wadis (lechos de ríos secos). Estos senderos aíslan fácilmente a los conductores, y en caso de emergencia (como una inundación de wadi durante una tormenta) será difícil para las autoridades encontrarlo y ayudarlo. Empaque todo lo que necesite para el viaje y nunca vaya solo.

Los conductores no musulmanes no pueden viajar en autobús o conducir a través de las ciudades de La Meca y Medina en Arabia Saudita. Los viajeros que deseen ir a Jeddah u otra ciudad portuaria desde la parte oriental del país o viceversa deberán encontrar otras rutas.

En cuanto a la conducción de un país a otro, deberá verificar las aperturas de cruce de fronteras de los respectivos países y las normas sobre visas y métodos de llegada.

By train

Los viajes en tren en Medio Oriente son limitados y, aunque la mayoría de los países tienen servicios limitados de pasajeros entre ciudades, hay muy poco entre países. Sin embargo, varios países de la región están expandiendo sus sistemas ferroviarios descuidados durante mucho tiempo con algunos servicios de ferrocarriles de pasajeros por primera vez en décadas o para siempre. Por ejemplo, el servicio ferroviario se ha ampliado en Israel, y un proyecto ferroviario de alta velocidad está en marcha en Arabia Saudita.

Estambul normalmente sería el mejor punto de partida para los viajes en tren a muchas áreas en el Medio Oriente, pero la guerra en Siria e Irak y la reanudación de los combates entre los militares turcos y los terroristas del PKK que luchan por la independencia del Kurdistán turco y se basan en parte en el Kurdistán iraquí. viajes en tren hacia oa través de esos países cuestionables, si no imposibles. Sin embargo, un servicio desde Estambul opera a Teherán que incluye un viaje en ferry de 4 horas a través del lago Van. En general, estos trenes tienden a operar semanalmente o como máximo cada dos semanas, pero verifique las condiciones actuales en el este de Turquía antes de planificar su viaje.

En autobús

Esta es una opción más práctica que los trenes en el Medio Oriente, ya que son menos propensos a retrasos y averías y tienen una cobertura mucho más extensa de la región.

En Arabia Saudita, los viajeros no musulmanes no pueden ingresar a las ciudades de La Meca y Medina, y solo se les permite en la estación de autobuses cambiar de autobús.

Recomendaciones de viaje

Security

Planificar una visita a Oriente Medio puede ser complicado de varias maneras:

• Algunos países y territorios en el área, como Irak, Siria, Yemen y la Franja de Gaza , están en estado de guerra o guerra civil y no deben ser visitados . Vea la seguridad de la zona de guerra si debe ir. También verifique las condiciones actuales en el Sinaí , que ha experimentado mucho terrorismo y luchas entre los insurgentes y el ejército egipcio, incluido un aparente derribo de un avión de pasajeros ruso y el sudeste de Anatolia (Kurdistán turco), donde se han producido combates.
• Algunos países, como Arabia Saudita, no emiten visas de turista, excepto por algunos tours caros.
• Muchos países de la región no reconocen el estado de Israel . Estas naciones pueden rechazar su entrada si tiene una visa israelí o un sello israelí en su pasaporte, o incluso una visa para otro país que se emitió en Israel. Sin embargo, bajo un nuevo sistema, el control de pasaportes les otorga tarjetas de entrada especiales a los visitantes que ingresan a Israel; Consulte los artículos sobre problemas de Israel y Visa para más detalles. Entre los países de la región, solo Turquía , Egipto y Jordania tienen relaciones oficiales con Israel, mientras que Omán ha estado actuando como enlace entre Israel y la Liga Árabe, con un reconocimiento de facto de Israel.
• Los países más conservadores de la región tienen una legislación que conlleva penas severas (incluso hasta la pena de muerte) por homosexualidad , adulterio, fornicación, apostasía, proselitismo y otros actos considerados delitos penales.
• Cuando se trata de delitos menores (conducción imprudente, robo en tiendas, uso de drogas, etc.), las sanciones en los países más conservadores son altas según los estándares internacionales.
• Para la mayor parte del área, se aplican sugerencias en Consejos para viajar en países en desarrollo .
• Algunos países, como Irán, han arrestado a turistas en el pasado por cargos de espionaje y/o sabotaje, así que prepárese para tener su propio plan en caso de que esto suceda, ya que su embajada o consulado en el país puede no ser capaz de ayudarlo. (si es que existe) y otros servicios legales pueden ser escasos o no estar disponibles en absoluto.

Turistas LGBT

La homosexualidad es ilegal en 10 de los 16 países de Medio Oriente y en 6 de esos además es castigada con la muerte (Irán, Arabia Saudita, Qatar, Emiratos, Yemen, territorios palestinos). En Siria, Kuwait, Omán, y Egipto es ilegal pero sin pena capital.

• In Irán, la homosexualidad es castigada con penas que van desde cárcel, torturas físicas como latigazos hasta incluso la muerte. Cientos han sido ejecutados siendo un caso famoso el de los adolescentes Mahmoud Asgari y Ayaz Marhoni, colgados en 2005.
• In Arabia Saudita, no tiene aún el Código Penal y sus leyes se inspiran en el wahabismo y en decretos reales. Hay un Comité para la Promoción de la Virtud y la Prevención del Vicio que se encarga mayormente de perseguir a los gays, a los que toman alcohol y los que practican magia. Los actos de homosexualidad o de cross-dressing son castigados con multas, palizas, cadena perpetua, tortura y/o muerte. En 2010 un joven de 27 años fue sentenciado a prisión y tortura de mil latigazos por postear un video en internet donde coqueteaba con el hombre que lo filmaba.
• En los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, toda actividad sexual fuera de un matrimonio heterosexual es un crimen. El artículo 354 del Código Penal establece que todo aquel que practica la sodomía debe ser castigado con la muerte. El gobierno restringe páginas web y aplicaciones que tengan contenido gay.
• In Qatar la pena de muerte aplica a todos los musulmanes que tengan sexo fuera del matrimonio, sean gays o heterosexuales, y como el matrimonio gay no está permitido, todo acto de sexo gay es factible en la práctica de recibir esta condena.
• In Yemen, el art 264 del Código Penal prohíbe el sexo gay aunque sea consensuado y lo castiga con prisión y latigazos. Estipula además que un hombre casado que tenga sexo homosexual será castigado con la muerte. Además, el 268 condena el lesbianismo hasta con 3 años de cárcel.
• En los territorios palestinos, la homosexualidad es ilegal y penada con muerte en Gaza pero no en el West Bank, aunque los derechos de ese colectivo no son protegidos en ninguno de los dos. En 2016 Hamas ejecutó a Mahmoud Ishtiwi, un miembro del grupo terrorista, por homosexual.
• In Kuwait: la homosexualidad no está ilegalizada pero es perseguida por leyes anti “libertinaje” como los art 193 y 198 del Cod. Penal que prohíben la “inmoralidad” e imitar el aspecto del sexo opuesto con hasta 6 años de prisión.
• In Egipto, la Constitución estipula en su artículo 2 que la ley islámica debe ser la fuente de toda legislación y por ende persigue a los homosexuales por delitos de “libertinaje” y semejantes. La policía utiliza hasta el Grindr para “cazar” gays. En 2017, en un concierto de la banda libanesa Mashrou’ Leila, cuyo cantante es gay, se flamearon banderas del arcoiris y la policía egipcia detuvo a unas 57 personas por ello. Hasta les hizo “chequeos anales” a los detenidos para confirmar si eran gays.
• In Siria, el artículo 520 del Código Penal prohíbe las relaciones carnales que vayan “contra la naturaleza” y prevé penas de hasta 3 años de cárcel por ese delito. Hoy, en las zonas controladas por ISIS, los homosexuales pueden ser castigados con la muerte.
• In Omán, el Código Penal en sus artículos 33 y 223 penaliza la homosexualidad con hasta 3 años de cárcel. El gobierno prohíbe publicaciones que hablen de la comunidad LGBT por “promover” la homosexualidad. Igual se lo considera más tolerante que sus países vecinos.
• Israel, Baréin, Jordania, Líbano, Irak y Turquía, lo que no significa que no haya persecución. In Irak, sobre todo tras la retirada americana, hay persecución y ejecuciones de homosexuales por parte de milicias, en especial en las regiones donde manda ISIS.
• The Líbano tuvo su primera marcha de orgullo en 2017, la primera del mundo árabe, pero los organizadores tuvieron que reducirla a un evento privado tras recibir numerosas amenazas de la policía y grupos islamistas. En dicho año tenía planificados varios días con eventos y actividades en Beirut: empezó el 12 de mayo pero tuvo que cancelarse dos días más tarde porque las fuerzas de seguridad del país arrestaron a uno de los organizadores y la prohibieron por “atentar contra la moralidad”.
• In Turquía, no se reconoce ningún tipo de unión homosexual y la idea del matrimonio gay tiene una bajísima aceptación, pero ciudades como Estambul son un mundo aparte: la marcha del orgullo allí comenzó en 2003 y se hizo todos los años llegando a atraer a 100 mil personas en 2013. Esto continuó hasta que en 2016 el gobierno de Estambul la prohibió por “seguridad” frente a amenazas extremistas. En 2017 se hizo de nuevo y la policía reprimió con balas de goma y gas lacrimógeno a los manifestantes, detuvo a más de 40 personas y canceló el evento.
• In Jordania, no se penaliza la homosexualidad pero el Código Penal le da discreción a la policía para “proteger” el espacio público, por lo que las muestras públicas de afecto y los eventos LGBT no están bien vistos y muchas veces se los reprime por ir “contra la moralidad pública”. En 2015 el Ministerio del Interior jordano emitió un comunicado afirmando que la CN establece al Islam como religión oficial y por tanto un reconocimiento a los derechos LGBT sería ir contra la Sharia. En 2017 también se prohibió un concierto de la banda libanesa Mashrou’ Leila.
• In Baréin, la homosexualidad es legal desde 1976 pero en su Código Penal (art 324 a 355) se prohíben actos “impúdicos” o la portación de objetos o símbolos que violen la “moralidad pública” Esto se ha utilizado para perseguir a los LGBT y detener hombres por vestir ropa femenina.
• In Israel, el matrimonio gay no es legal, pero se reconocen los efectuados fuera del país. Las parejas homosexuales pueden adoptar y tienen el mismo derecho a pensión, herencia y seguro médico que las hetero. La mayoría de los israelíes está a favor de legalizar el matrimonio. Tanto gays como trans pueden servir en el ejército y estos últimos con su género autopercibido. Hay avanzadas leyes anti-discriminación, los homosexuales pueden donar sangre y la marcha del orgullo de Tel Aviv es la más grande de la región y una de las más grandes del mundo.

Los palestinos LGBT buscan con frecuencia refugio en Israel para escapar no sólo de la represión de sus gobiernos sino también de sus propias familias. Según organizaciones LGBT israelíes, más de 2 mil palestinos LGBT viven en Tel Aviv https://www.globalgayz.com/middle-east/palestine/ …

Y ahora, la hipocresía. A pesar de esto activistas LGBT en Occidente están obsesionados con Israel y buscan prohibir banderas gay con la estrella de David en sus marchas, rechazan la presencia de turistas israelíes en sus eventos y denuncian al Estado judío de hacer “pinkwashing”.

Es decir, en otras palabras, afirman que el motivo por el que los derechos civiles de las personas LGBT son respetados en Israel es porque “los sionistas” buscan hacer “propaganda engañosa” para ocultar que, en realidad, son unos malvados, antisemitismo de la más baja estofa.

Nunca los veremos afirmando que la marcha del orgullo en Estambul es “pinkwashing” para tapar la ocupación de Kurdistán o la negativa a reconocer el genocidio armenio o que la del Líbano es para tapar la influencia del Hezbollah en el gobierno. No. Siempre son los sionistas.

Muchos que hablan de deconstrucción deberían empezar por ellos mismos. Los nazis cosían estrellas de David pero también triángulos rosas en las ropas, mataban a unos y a otros por ser lo que eran. Habría que aprender de la historia. Gracias por la atención y Shabbat Shalom!

Sanidad

La atención médica varía ampliamente en toda la región. En general, las grandes ciudades tendrán mejores hospitales y la mayoría de los médicos hablarán inglés. Los hospitales en las zonas más rurales tienen menos probabilidades de ser de buena calidad. Las farmacias son comunes en todas partes, excepto en las zonas de guerra.

El agua potable tiende a ser segura en los países más ricos, pero menos en Yemen u otras áreas más pobres. Siempre verifique antes de beber.

La mayor parte del Medio Oriente es árida y la deshidratación es común, por lo que siempre beba agua más de lo que cree que necesita.

Conducir en Oriente Medio es notablemente más peligroso que en Europa o América del Norte. Las reglas del camino pueden o no ser seguidas. Es aconsejable observar los estándares de manejo antes de lanzarse con un auto de alquiler.

Desastres naturales

La gente de Medio Oriente siempre ha luchado contra la escasez de agua. El Medio Oriente se compone principalmente de desiertos de arena y roca. Los camellos han sido los animales más importantes para los árabes durante mucho tiempo, porque son animales de carga e incluso pueden caminar kilómetros a través del desierto sin agua.

external links

• Wikipedia has an article on Oriente Medio.w:Oriente Medio
• Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Oriente Medio. Commons