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Baha'ullah
Founder of Baha'i, and halfbrother of Subh-i Azal, his later competitor for control of the Babi society. His original name was Mirza Husayn Ali Nuri. (1817-1892).
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?baha'ull.htm

Bab
Honorary title used for spiritual leaders in Sufism, for prominent Shaykhs. From word meaning "gate", refers to one who can lead the believers into communication with the other side, the divine spheres.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bab_0.htm

Babism
Religion that began on May 23, 1844 in Shiraz, Persia. Centered around the Bab, who is considered to be the mirror of God. Includes certain elements in Islam and has redefined them, thereby introducing the teaching that the world was created with 7 attributes: predestination, predetermination, will, volition, permission, doom and revelation.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?babism.htm

Baghdad
Capital of Iraq with an estimated 5.6 million inhabitants. Describes its economy, peoples, education, culture, city structure, Old Baghdad and history.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?baghdad.htm

Bourguiba, Habib
Leader of the independence struggle of Tunisia, and the country's first president from 1957 to 1987. Includes brief biography. (1903-2000).
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bourgiba.htm

Brotherhood
Term used for congregations in Islam that are partly set apart from the general community of Islam.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?brotherh.htm

Bukhtaran
City in western Iran with about 690,000 inhabitants. Economical base is production of grain, flour, textiles, oil, sugar, electric equipment, and carpets. Majority of population is Kurdish. Includes brief history.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bukhtar.htm

Bursa
City in Turkey with about 1,050,000 inhabitants, situated a few kilometers inland from the Sea of Marmara. Noted for its green mosque, sulphur springs and baths.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bursa.htm

Baha'i
Religion founded in 19th century, growing out of Babism.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?baha'i.htm

Balfour Declaration
Statement issued by the British government in 1917, initiating the process that led to the establishment of the State of Israel.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?balfour_d.htm

Bahrain
Archipelago of 33 islands in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Includes information about its political situation, economy, health and education, religion and its people, and history.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bahrain.htm

Banna, Sabri l-
Palestinian politician and guerilla leader. Also known as Abu Nidal. Includes biography. (1937-2002).
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?abu_nidal.htm

Banu Hillal
Beduins immigrating to Maghreb, mainly Algeria and Tunisia, in the 11th century, coming from Egypt.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?banuhill.htm

Baraka
In Islam, divine blessing that is normally associated with holy men or women, waliy, either in life or in death.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?baraka.htm

Bat Mitzvah
Ceremony marking the entering of the girl into adult observance of Jewish religious activities.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bar_mitz.htm#bat

Basra
City in southern Iraq with an estimated 1.3 million inhabitants. Economy is focused on refining and exporting of oil and chemicals, and agricultural production of wool, grain and dates.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?basra.htm

Bedouins
Arabs, recognized by their nomadic lifestyles, specific dialects, social structures and culture.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bedouins.htm

Begin, Menachim
Israeli prime minister 1977-1983, leader of the country's struggle for the peace treaty with Egypt which was signed in 1979, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. Includes biography. (1913-1992).
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?begin_m.htm

Beirut
Capital of Lebanon with an estimated 1.5 million inhabitants. Divided into three regions: east for the Christians, west for Sunnis and south for Shi'is and Palestinians.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?beirut.htm

Ben Ali, Zine el Abidine
President of Tunisia since 1987. Includes biography and photo.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?ben_ali.htm

Ben Bella, Ahmed
First president of Algeria (1963-65) and a soldier in the French army during World War II, where he was decorated for bravery. One of the nine legendary members of the revolutionary committee that developed into FLN (Front de Libération Nationale).
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?benbella.htm

Benghazi
Second largest city in northeastern Libya with an estimated 950,000 inhabitants. Industries include salt processing, oil refining, food processing, cement manufacturing, tanning, brewing, sponge and tuna fishing. Includes brief history.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?benghazi.htm

Berber
Group of languages, from Morocco to Egypt, featuring about 300 local dialects.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?berber.htm

Berbers
People living in North Africa, from Morocco's west coast to the oasis Siwa in Egypt, from Tunisia's north tip to the oases in mid-Sahara.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?berbers.htm

Bible
Collection of religious texts central to Christianity and Judaism. The origin of the word comes from the Greek, "biblia", meaning "books" and refers to the Phoenician city of Byblos, which in the 1st millennium BCE was the main trading port for papyrus. Includes list of books in both Christian and Hebrew Bibles.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bible.htm

Bilharziasis
Disease caused by larva of a flatworm that lives inside a freshwater snail, leaves its host and penetrates human skin. Causes severe inflammatory reaction in the walls of the bladder, hemorrhages and often death. Also known as Schistosomiasis.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bilharzi.htm

Bismillah
Opening phrase of all suras in the Koran, meaning "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate".
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bismilla.htm

Bizerte
City in Tunisia with an estimated 100,000 inhabitants, situated north of Tunis. Economy of the area is focused on fishing, fish products, olives, and the production of flour and olive oil.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?bizerte.htm

Blida
City in Algeria with 180,000 inhabitants, located at the base of the Atlas Mountains. Includes brief history.
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?blida.htm

Boumedienne, Houari
Former President of Algeria, and Chief of the State in the National Liberation Army in 1960. Includes photo and brief biographical sketch. (1932-1978).
http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct.pl?boumedie.htm



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