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October 18, 2005

Iran- Current Information

The Young Population of Iran or "The Satellite Generation"

-65% of the population is under the age of 25 -no remembrance of 1979 Islamic Revolution or the coup de tat of Shah Reza Pavlavi by the Ayatollah Khomeini -seek change and an end to the isolation and social repression of Iran, yearn for modern day culture -internet savvy, use cell phones, "nourished" by satellite tv -hidden shops offer Victoria's Secret, Coca-cola products, Mcdonalds, Kfc, US-style eateries, American self help books, western culture icons, and Barbies -government policies and confiscation of satellite dishes has relaxed...most people now have satellite tv (70-80% of all Iranians) -satellite tv reaches 300 new homes inside Iran every day -Iranian population now considered preferred customers around the world -more Iranian college students studying abroad than any other country (51,300 in the US alone) -most people now live in cities, population is younger, more literate and more affluent than ever before

-Suicide and severe depression are quite common as a result of Iran's multimillion pool of college applicants

Women in Iran •Women Protest: hide bodies but voices are starting to be heard

•By law must cover themselves in scarves and long coats but many wear latest Western fashions underneath coats

•Women now drive cars, own companies, run newspapers, direct films, teach yoga classes, and compete in sports

•Hope hijab (Koran’s admonition that a Muslim woman should cover everything but her face, hands, and feet/a covering for a Muslim woman’s face and head) will fade with mellowing in regime

•“pink revolution”: a silent fashion statement to express contempt for the government and hijab. Women wear pink clothes and brighter, tighter coats, higher heels, scarves pushed farther back

•women wear sexiest, most fashionable clothes possible while still covering requisite body parts

How men protest •men have clean shaves (Islam encourages beards), publicly shaking hands with unrelated women, jeans, and long hair

Contrasts around country:

In villages, life is centered around farm and mosque, young married by parents, few modern luxuries

In Tehran, center of Iran’s social consciousness, artistic creativity, political and economical power

Government

-The Supreme Leader runs inside laws -The President takes care of everything -The Assembly of Experts elect the Supreme Leader from within their own ranks and periodically reconfirm him -The Parliament consists of 290 members elected to a four year term The members are elected by direct and secret ballot. It drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties and approves the country's budget. -The Council of Guardians have the authority to interpret the constitution and determines if the laws passed by Parliament are in line with Islamic law. the Council can exercise veto power over Parliament. -The expediency council- has authority to mediate disputes between parliament and the Council of Guardians and serves as an advisory body to the Supreme Leader -The Judiciary Public courts deal with civil and criminal cases -Constitution created in 1979 called the Qanun-e Asasi -Iran is a Theocratic Republic (government "ruled by God") meaning that it is not ruled by a monarch but instead the head of the government is elected for a limited period of time. -government's policies are strongly influced by the principles of the majority religion, Islam. -The president of Iran is Mohammad Khatami-ardakani. He won the 1997 Iranian election and was re-elected in 2001 due to ffemale and youth vote, who supported him because he promised to improve the status of women and repond to the young generation's demands. -He is Iran's first reformist president that is focused on democracy -the national pride has increased and the image of iranians more positive because of him -The three main ideas of the Iranian government are 1) to rule by Allah 2) to keep strict observance of the sacred writings of the Koran, and 3) to support the leadership of the Shiite clergy (who is a scholar who knows the Koranic laws and gets more power than government officials)

Economy -consists of labor force of 15.4 million -30% of Iranians are unemployed -the inflation rate of the Toman, their currency, is 23% -Iran produces about $371.2 billion worth of goods and services each year including petroleum, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, iron, and steel. -it imports products such as machinery, military supplies, metal, food and pharmaceuticals -As of today, Iran has an annual budget of $34.9 billion and a debt of $21.9 billion -The economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small scale private trading and service ventures -Iran is attempting to diversify by investing revenues in other areas, including petrochemicals. -Iran is also hoping to attract billions of dollars worth of foreign investment by creating a more favorable investment climate (reduced restrictions and duties on imports, creation of free-trade zones)

Demographics

-The majority of Iran's population speak one of the Iranian languages, though only Persian is an official language. -The major ethnic groups in Iran include the Persians (51%), Azeris (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%), Kurds (7%), Arabs (3%), Baluchi (2%), Lurs (2%), Turkmen people (2%), Qashqai, Armenians, Persian Jews, Assyrians and others. -Most Iranians are Muslims; 89% belong to the Shi'a branch of Islam, the official state religion -About 10% of Iranians belong to the Sunni branch -Non-Muslim religious minorities include the Bahá'í Faith, Zoroastrians, as well as Jews, Christians, and Mandeans.

Climate:

-Iran's varied landscape produces several different climates. On the northern edge of the country (the Caspian coastal plain) the temperatures nearly fall below freezing and remains humid for the rest of the year and summer temperatures rarely exceed 29 degrees Celsius. -At higher elevations to the west experience lower temperatures. These areas have severe winters, with average daily temperatures below freezing and have heavy snowfall. -The eastern and central basins are arid and get less than 200 mm ( 8 in) of rain and have occasional desert. The average summer temperatures exceed above 38 degrees Celsius. -The coastal plains of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in southern Iran have mild winters and very humid and hot summers.

Population Control:

-At one point in the 1980s estimates showed that Iran's population would reach 108 million by the year 2006. But, in fact, through a variety of measures, Iran has managed to check its population growth with the population projected to only be 70 million in 2006. Because… -In 1993, Iran dropped certain maternity benefits for couples who had more than three children. Iran is believed to be the only country in the world where men and women are required to attend classes about contraception before they can obtain a marriage license. -Iran has made both condoms and contraceptive pills widely available

Religion:

-Islam "the submission to God" is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions, the world's second-largest religion, and the fastest growing religion in the world.

-Muslims assert that the main written record of revelation to humankind is the Qur'an, which is flawless, immutable, and the final revelation of God to humanity. Muslims believe that parts of the Gospels, Torah and Jewish prophetic books (though originally divine in their nature) have been forgotten, misinterpreted, or distorted by their followers and thus, their original message has been corrupted over time. With that perspective, Muslims view the Qur'an as a corrective of Jewish and Christian scriptures.

-Six articles of belief There are six basic beliefs shared by all Muslims:

Belief in God, the one and only one worthy of all worship. Belief in all the Prophets (nabi) and Messengers (rusul) (sent by God). Belief in the Books (kutub) sent by God (including the Qur'an) Belief in the Angels (mala'ika). Belief in the Day of Judgment (qiyama) and in the Resurrection (life after death) Belief in Destiny (Fate) (qadar). (Note that this does not mean one is pre-determined to act or live a certain life. God has given the free will to do and make decisions.)

-The Muslim creed in English:

"I believe in God; and in His Angels; and in His Scriptures; and in His Messengers; and in The Final Day; and in Fate, that Good and Evil are from God, and Resurrection after death be Truth. "I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship but God; and I testify that Muhammad is His Messenger."

-There is no official authority who decides whether a person is accepted into, or dismissed from, the community of believers, known as the Ummah ("family" or "nation"). Islam is open to all, regardless of race, age, gender, or previous beliefs. It is enough to believe in the central beliefs of Islam. This is formally done by reciting the shahada, the statement of belief of Islam, without which a person cannot be classed a Muslim. It is enough to believe and say that one is a Muslim, and behave in a manner befitting a Muslim to be accepted into the community of Islam.

Islamic Calendar -It is a lunar calendar, but differs from other such calendars in that it omits intercalary months, being synchronized only with lunations, but not with the solar year, resulting in years of either 354 or 355 days -Holy Days depend on lunar calendar and thus, fall on different days each year

Random Facts: -Green is commonly used when representing Islam. It is much used in decorating mosques, tombs, and various religious objects

-Ramadan (pronounced "rom-a-don") is the holiest period in the Islamic year. It commemorates the month in the year 610 CE when revelations began from God, via the angel Gabriel, to the Prophet Muhammad. These revelations memorized by Muhammad and were later written down as the Qur'an. During this month, almost all Muslims over the age of 12 are expected to "abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures" from the first light of dawn until sunset.

-One of a Muslim's duties, as described in the Five Pillars of Islam, is to go on a Hajj at least once during his or her lifetime. This is a pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia

-Five pillars of Islam (requirements)- a. Testimony of faith (declaration) b. Prayer (five formal prayers each day) c. Fasting (Ramadan) d. almsgiving (2.5 percent of savings to those that need it) e. Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Posted by lcisyeich at October 18, 2005 11:33 PM

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Posted by: John Parker at June 24, 2008 01:25 PM

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