Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations ◆ Sixth Annual Session
Forum: The Advisory Panel on the Question of Sectarian Violence in the Arab World
Issue: Protecting the rights and welfare of religious and ethnic minorities in Middle Eastern
countries experiencing internal unrest
Student Officer: Pan Ling Wan
Position: Deputy President
Introduction
Within the last fifty years, religious and ethnic minorities outside of the mainstream culture in the
Middle East have been oppressed due to a lack of mutual respect. Influence and interference from
foreign countries has left many minority groups separated by national borders. Existing ethnic tensions
have also complicated any previous efforts to provide equal rights for these minority groups.
Definition of Key Terms
Ethnic Group
Refers to a social or group identity based on socially perceived racial, religious, linguistic and
certain other traits.
Race
A group of people of common ancestry, distinguished from others by physical characteristics
such as hair type, color of eyes and skin, stature et cetera.
Language and Religion
Language refers to the various ways of communication including writing or dialects. Religion is
usually considered the belief in something or someone, considered as faith and worship.
Discrimination
Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or
impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
The Middle East
Middle East generally refers to the area within Egypt in the West to Iran’s border in the East, as
well as Turkey in the north and the Arabian Sea in the south.
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Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations ◆ Sixth Annual Session
History
The following list is not exhaustive of all the events influencing the situation in the Middle East. However,
it does provide a brief overview of the history of the issue.
Sikes Picot Agreement
The Sikes Picot was a secret agreement concluded on May 16, 1916 between the governments of the
United Kingdom, France and Russia. It
was one of the post World War I treaties
about dividing up control of the Ottoman
Empire's last Middle Eastern regions
among themselves.
The borders between the French
and British spheres of control later
became the political borders between
Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. Because those
states had largely arbitrary borders that
forced disparate ethnic and religious
groups together. The geopolitical impact
of this agreement was terrible internal conflict. Thus, the Sykes-Picot is often considered as a major
cause of warfare, internal unrest, discrimination, violence and extremism in the Middle East.
Arab Israeli War
The Arab-Israeli War of 1948 was between five Arab nations and Israel. The war was caused by
the announcement of the Israel’s independence, as the Arab nations invaded the newly created Israeli
state. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, the
Partition Resolution divided Great Britain’s former Palestinian mandate into Jewish and Arab states in
May 1948. The area of religious significance surrounding Jerusalem would be administered by the
United Nations. The Palestinian Arabs refused to recognize this arrangement, which they regarded as
favorable to Israel. Israel and the Arab states fought due this issue and did not reach any armistice
agreements until February 1949, agreeing to formal armistice lines.
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis was an invasion of Egypt in late 1956 by Israel, Britain and France. It was to
remove the Egyptian president from power in order to regain western control of the Suez Canal. The
United Nations was involved to diplomatically force the three countries to withdraw.
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Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations ◆ Sixth Annual Session
Six- Day War
The war in June 1967 was against Syria, Jordan and Egypt as Israel believed that the three Arab
states would coordinate a massive attack on Israel. Israel ends the war with expanded borders after
seizing much territory, including the Golan Heights.
Iran Iraq War
The Iran Iraq War, from September 1980 to August 1988, was caused by years of tensions and
border disputes between Iraq and Iran.
9/11
A series of terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 by the Islamic terrorist
group al-Qaeda and the group’s leader Osama bin Laden. Resulted in over 2,000 American deaths. Bin
Laden cited the United States support of Israel and sanctions on Iraq as reasons for the attacks.
Arab Spring
A wave of demonstrations, protests, riots, and civil wars that began on December 18, 2010 in
various Arab countries.
Key Issues
Rights at Stake
The key issue is that international human right laws should protect ethnic and religious minorities.
The rights include the right to be protected from racial discrimination, hatred and violence, equal
protection before the law, opportunity to enjoy their own distinct culture, language or religion, benefits
from steps taken by states to promote harmony, as well as the right to seek asylum. One of the more
disputed rights is the right to remedies, as there is debate whether there should be reparations for
inequality. Some countries insisted on the right to reparations, while others deny they have such an
obligation.
Religions
Islam: Muslims Shia and Sunni
Within the Middle East, a major source of conflict is the divide between the Sunni and
Shia sect of Islam. The split between the two main branches originates in the decision of who
should lead the Muslim community after Prophet Muhammad’s death. Shiites make up about
one-tenth of all Muslims, but are in the majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and perhaps
Yemen. Many tensions within the Middle East originate from conflict between these two different
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sections of Islam. Smaller Muslim sects have also faced discrimination. For example, some claim
that Israel’s Muslim minority has also faced government discrimination in citizenship, property,
education, and other rights.
Judaism and Christianity
A majority of Jews are in Israel, but ancient Jewish communities still exist in most
countries of the Middle East. Both Jews and Christians face discrimination and violence. The
largest Christian group in the Middle East is the Copts, which is mainly practiced in Egypt.
Smaller Religions
There are other smaller religions in the Middle East such as Samartianism, Bahai Faith,
Druze Faith, Yazidi, Mandeanism, Shabakism, and Zoroastrianism. These smaller religions often
face the most lack of equality and respect for their beliefs.
Ethnic Minorities
Most countries in the Middle East have a Arab majority except for the Jewish majority in
Israel and the Persian majority in Iran. Minorities in these countries such as Kurds, Turkmen,
Armenians, and Circassians are targets of violence.
Migrants
Migrants face inequality due to the rules and lack of protection in a foreign country. For
example, sponsorship laws typically tie workers to their employers and restrict their freedom of
movement. This makes migrant workers very vulnerable to workplace abuse and unable to
express their views; especially since they are often a small ethnic minority in the region.
Major Parties Involved and Their Views
For major parties involved, listed below are major countries in the Middle East facing the issue of
inequality for ethnic and religious minorities. Information comes primarily from minorityrights.org. For
more information and details about each country views or other Middle Eastern countries, please visit the
website listed in the bibliography.
Iraq
Main Religions:
• Islam (Twelver (Ithna'ashari) Shi'a and Sunni) - 99%
• Christianity (Chaldean Catholics, Assyrian Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East members, Syriac
Catholics and Orthodox, Armenian Catholics and Orthodox, Protestants, and Evangelicals) Research Report ◆ Page 4 of 9
Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations ◆ Sixth Annual Session
0.8%
• Yazidi faith - <1%
• Sabian faith - <1%
Main minority groups:
• Sunni Arabs ( 32-37%, although estimates vary greatly and are contested)
• Kurds (15-20%)
• Christians (0.8% - 500,000)
• Turkomans (3% - up to 3 million)
• Assyrians (500,000)
• Yazidis (500,000),
• Shabak (250,000)
• Kaka'i (Kurdish sub-group) (200,000)
• Syrian refugees and asylum seekers (220,787)
• Roma (Kawliyah) (50,000-2000,000)
• Sabian Mandaeans (3,500 - 5,000)
• Faili (Shi'a) Kurds
• Palestinian refugees (10,000-15,000)
• Baha'i (less than 1,000)
• Circassian Sunnis (2,000)
• Jews (10-20)
Syria

Main languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish (Kirmanji dialect), Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, Turkish.

Main religions: Sunni Islam (74%), Alawite Islam (11%), other Muslim (including Ismaili and
Ithna'ashari or Twelver Shia) (2%), Christianity (including Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox,
Maronite, Syrian Catholic, Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic) (10%), Druze (3%). Main minority
groups: Alawi Muslims 2.1 million (11%), Christians of various denominations 1.9 million (10%), Iraqi
refugees 1.5 - 2 million (7.8 - 10.4%), Kurds 2 - 2.5 million (10- 15%), Druze 580,000 (3%),
Palestinians 442,000 (2.3%), Isma'ilis and Ithna'ashari or Twelver Shia 386,000 (2%), Armenians
323,000 (1.7%).
Lebanon
There is no single dominant group in Lebanon.

Main languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian.

Main religions: Sunni Islam, (28%), Shia Islam (28%), Maronite Christian (22%), Greek Orthodox
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Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations ◆ Sixth Annual Session
Christian (8%), Druze (6%), Greek Catholic (4%).

Main minority groups: Palestinians 250-300,000 (6.4-7.7%), Druze 234,000 (6%), Armenian
156,000 (4%), Kurds 25,000 (0.6%).
Yemen

Main languages: Arabic and South Arabian (Mehri, Soqotri, Bathari)

Main religions: Shafa’i Sunni (65-70%), Zaydi Shia (30-35%) and Isma’ili Islam (small, unknown)

Main minority groups: Zaydis 6.6-7.7 million (30-35%), Akhdam 440,000-1.1 million (2-5%),
Isma’ilis (a few thousand), Jews 500 (.002%)
Iran

Main Languages: Persian, Persian dialexts, Azeri, Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki, Mazandarani,
Luri, Baluchi, Arabic

Main religions: Islam (98 per cent)- Mainly 89 per cent Shia, and minority Sunni Islam. Other
religious group: Bahal (300-350,000, Zoaroastrians (30-35,000), Jews (25,000-30,000) and
Sabean Mandaens (5,000 - 10,000)

Main Minority Groups: zeris (16%), Kurtds(10%), Lur (6%), Baluchi and Arabs (2% each),
Turkmen/Turkic Tribes (2%), nomadic tribes (1%)
Israel

The main languages are Hebrew and Arabic while other languages that are used include English,
Russian and Yiddish.

Main religions: Judaism (76%), Sunni Islam (16%), Christianity, Druze.

Main minority groups: Palestinians/Israeli Arabs (20%) 1.3 million, Bedouins (a subset of Israeli
Arabs) 130,000 (2%), Druze 102,000 (1.6%), Christians (most of whom are Israeli Arab) 147,000
(2.3%), Circassians 3,000 (.05%).
Timeline of Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events
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Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations ◆ Sixth Annual Session
Date
Resolution, Treaty or Event
1948
Universal Declaration of Human Rights is
first signed
1960
Convention against Discrimination in
Education. Adopted by UNESCO.
1963
United Nations Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination
1965
International Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Monitored by Committee on the Elimination
of Racial Discriminations (CERD) comprised
of 18 experts.
1973
International Convention on the Suppression
and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid
1978
Declaration on Fundamental Principles
concerning the contribution the Mass Media
to Strengthening Peace and International
Understanding, to the Promotion of Human
Rights and to Countering Racialism
Apartheid and Incitement to War
2001
World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination and Intolerance. Held in
South Africa
Evaluation of Previous Attempts to Resolve the Issue
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Over the years, due to human rights treaties and initiatives to provide minority groups with equal
rights, there have been some positive changes in certain countries. There has been progress as more
countries have signed treaties about promoting and protecting human rights, and increased advocacy
and awareness about human rights.
In terms of legislation, there has been progress through amendments in national constitutions
and laws to include provisions prohibiting discrimination. There have also been efforts as in some
countries laws are now supposed to satisfy the requirements of the International Convention on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination. However, changes in legislation in previous years have often not
been properly enforced. It is rather difficult to make discrimination a punishable offense due to the nature
of the problem. Furthermore, these changes in legislation still have not been made in many of the
Middle Eastern countries.
Possible Solutions
Possible solutions to this issue of protecting the rights of religious and ethic minorities first
involving encouraging the implementation of anti-discrimination of minorities in member nations. There
also needs to be more action taken in fields of education and teaching programs from a young age to
promote a better interracial and religious understanding. Creation of new agencies or effective use of
existing organizations to deal with problems of racial discrimination and to protect the interests of
indigenous groups is of critical importance in working towards internal harmony within the Middle East.
Bibliography
"Ethnic and Racial Minorities." Human Rights Education Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 15
Nov. 2014. http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=142
Fisher, Max. "40 Maps That Explain The Middle East." Vox.com. N.p., 5 May 2014. Web. 15
Nov. 2014. http://www.vox.com/a/maps-explain-the-middle-east
Fsaruddin, Asma. "ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY." — Notre Dame OpenCourseWare.
N.p., 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. http://ocw.nd.edu/arabic-and-middle-east-studies/islamic-societies-ofthe-middle-east-and-north-africa-religion-history-and-culture/lectures/lecture-6
"Iran-Iraq War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Middle East." Minority Rights Group International : Homepage : Home Page. Emma
Eastwood, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. www.minorityrights.org
"Middle East and North Africa." - World Directory of Minorities. The Gale Group, n.d. Web. 15
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Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations ◆ Sixth Annual Session
Nov. 2014. http://www.faqs.org/minorities/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/Middle-East-and-NorthAfrica.html
“Prospects for Religious and Ethnic Conflict in the Middle East." - The Washington Institute for
Near East Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policyanalysis/view/prospects-for-religious-and-ethnic-conflict-in-the-middle-east
"Sunnis and Shias: Islam's Ancient Schism." BBC News. BBC, 20 June 2014. Web. 15 Nov.
2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-16047709
Worrall, Simon. "Minority Religions in Middle East Need Protection." National Geographic News.
N.p., 26 Oct. 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141026yazidis-middle-east-iraq-islamic-state-religion-world-ngbooktalk/
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