Yemen
From Missiopedia
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Official name: Republic of Yemen |
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
- Yemen, is a Middle Eastern country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. Yemen is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to the south, and Oman to the east. Yemen’s territory includes over 200 islands, the largest of which is Socotra, about 260 miles to the south of Yemen, off the coast of Somalia.
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Peoples
- The Mahra, 88 000, live on either side of the Yemen-Oman border. In Yemen they live in the Al-Mahrah province.
- Tihama Arab, also called Arabized Black, 237,000, live in the coastal area of Yemen along the Red Sea. Stretching from the border with Saudi Arabia in the north to the end of the Red Sea in the south, it is home of a population of over four million people. Their big flat noses, their dark colour, and round straw huts point to past African influence. Other Yemenis look down on people from the Tihama, in the eyes of the tribal mountain people, the Tihami are dirty, backward and not religious. They are the poorest and most illiterate people group in Yemen.
- Hadrami: The hot, dry, desert wind blows just strong enough to create a dirt devil in the distance. It ruffles the clothing of the black, polyester-clad women but does little to ease their intense feelings of thirst and heat. Day after day Hadrami women strike out before dawn bouncing along on wooden carts pulled by small, tired donkeys. They arrive at their destination with hands gloved, faces veiled and tall pointed straw hats perched on their heads. Their day will be spent in the family field cutting millet close to the ground with a scythe. The women pause only long enough to have a swallow of water and to stretch their stiff backs and legs. All the while, two female family members remain at home to complete their daily chores of washing clothes and preparing the early afternoon meal. Life is predictable and water is precious in the ancient Yemeni district of the Hadramaut. While the origin of this region is unknown, Bible dictionaries derive the name from a son of Jokton in Genesis 10:26-28. Hadramis live in dwellings made of mud bricks along the dry river beds, or wadis, in densely built towns. This tribal Yemeni society is said to have descended from Muhammad and remains traditionally educated and strict in Islam. This proud people have almost no access to the gospel. Non-Yemeni believers in this part of the country are few and face difficulties at every turn as they seek to live in areas where few internationals live. Many of the Hadrami women cannot read or write.
[edit] Provinces
- The Provinces of Yemen:
- The Cities of Yemen:
[edit] Life
- Yemen had been deeply impacted by civil wars. The rebels from mountains are fighting the government, much killing. Also they kidnap persons, who are sympathize with the government. Another problem are the blood feuds, people from one clan kill person from another clan because of revenge, there is no end. There are reckoned to be over 50 million firearms in the country.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Government
- Type of Government: Republic
[edit] Religion
- Yemen is overwhelmingly Muslim (99.9%), while Christian comprise only 0.1% of the population. Followers of religious groups other than Islam are free to worship according to their beliefs, but the government prohibits conversion from Islam and the proselytization of Muslims.
[edit] Islam
- Islam is the official religion and the law is based on strict Islamic Shari’a law.
[edit] Buddhism
[edit] Christianity
- Very few Christians (maybe 100 or so Yemenis). It is illegal for Muslims to become Christians, but amazingly Yemenis have given their lives to Jesus and face extreme danger and isolation from their families. May there are opportunities and greater freedom for them to meet together and share their faith with families and friends.
[edit] History
[edit] Churches
[edit] Church and State Relations
- It is illegal for non-Muslims to proselytize and for Muslims to become Christians. Yet through radio broadcasts, tactful faith-sharing and the Lord’s intervention maybe 100 or so Yemenis have trusted in Christ. For Yemenis it is dangerous to openly become a believer in Jesus because of the many social pressures brought to bear on those who do.
[edit] Mission
- Through radio broadcasts, tactful faith-sharing and the Lord’s intervention, Yemenis are trusting in Christ.
- Yemen is one of the least evangelized countries in the world. May the Gospel be spread and be heard by everyone.
[edit] Broadcasting
[edit] Councils and Networks
[edit] Persecution
- The constitution guarantees freedom of religion but also declares that Islam is the state religion and that Shariah law is the source of all legislation. The government allows expatriates some freedom to live out their faith, but Yemeni citizens are not allowed to convert from Islam. Converts from an Islamic background may face the death penalty if they are discovered. 2006 several Christian converts were arrested and physically harmed because of their faith. Pray that pressures may ease to give Yemenis the freedom to come to Christ and to meet for fellowship. Pray for the conversion of their families, for it is from them that the worst persecution comes.
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
