Middle East

Dubai: Labor Strike and Dubai Air Show

Date: November 9th, 2007 |

Some 40,000 Asian construction workers striking over low pay, high living costs and poor working conditions have created a labor crisis in this construction-mad city-state that has fueled its boom as a business and luxury tourism center through low-paid imported workers. The strikers have refused to work at a hotel site that is part of [read more]

Jordan: Taxi Assault in Amman

Date: September 26th, 2007 |

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The crime rate in Amman is low and violent crimes against Americans are rare, but occasionally things do happen. Recently an American woman caught a cab in a commercial district of west Amman in the middle of the day, but the driver drove her to an isolated area and assaulted her. The U.S. Embassy in [read more]

Dubai: Zero Tolerance on Drug Possession

Date: August 2nd, 2007 |

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Possession of tiny amounts of illegal drugs means a jail sentence in the zero-tolerance United Arab Emirates, as evidenced by two Britons sentenced to four-year jail terms in Dubai in June. One was carrying 0.11 grams (0.004 ounces) of hashish, while the other, arrested two weeks later, had 1.18 grams (0.04 ounces). The law here [read more]

Syria: Sexual Harassment of Foreign Women

Date: June 13th, 2007 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Damascus reported recent incidents of sexual harassment against foreign women in the Syrian capital. In the first week of June, two incidents occurred when women walking alone were groped in the early morning or early evening. Several months ago, two women walking together in a tunnel underneath the Autostrad near Damascus [read more]

Turkey: Bombing in Ankara

Date: May 23rd, 2007 |

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A powerful bomb exploded outside a crowded shopping mall in the capital city of Ankara May 22, killing six and injuring scores. No one immediately claimed responsibility, but PKK Kurdish rebels were suspected. The group ended a unilateral cease-fire May 18 and officials were wary of an attack. The bombing may be the worst incident [read more]

Turkey: Detention and Fines for Playing Bingo!

Date: October 3rd, 2007 |

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Seven British tourists hoping to win a free drink playing bingo in a bar in Altinkum were arrested, detained for four hours and fined the equivalent of $97. Armed police swept in, insisted the tourists fill out forms identifying themselves, confiscated the bingo ball and then hustled them off by van to the police station. [read more]

Israel: Jewish, Muslim Holidays Coincide

Date: September 12th, 2007 |

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The Jewish high holidays and Ramadan coincide this year: Rosh Hashanah occurred Sept. 12-13 and Ramadan began Sept. 13 and runs until Oct. 12. Yom Kippur occurs Sept. 21-22 and Sukkot runs Sept. 27-Oct. 5. Many holiday activities take place in Jerusalem and security will be tight. Large crowds will gather at the Wailing Wall [read more]

Yemen: Attack on Tourist Site

Date: July 4th, 2007 |

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Authorities have tightened security around government buildings and foreign facilities in response to the suicide car bombing of a group of Spanish tourists at an archaeological site in the troubled eastern province of Marib. Seven Spanish citizens and two Yemenis were killed in the bombing, which was blamed on al-Qaeda. The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a [read more]

Turkey: Bombing in Istanbul, PKK Cease-Fire

Date: June 13th, 2007 |

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A small bomb outside a clothing shop near the airport in the Istanbul district of Bakirkoy injured 14 people June 10. Officials blamed Kurdish militants for the attack. The device had been placed under a bench and shattered windows of nearby businesses, with injuries caused by flying glass. The incident occurred just two days before [read more]

Iran: Female Tourists Must Comply with Iran’s Islamic Dress Code

Date: May 2nd, 2007 |

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Tourists and other foreigners are required to follow Iran’s Islamic dress code, meaning that women in public must cover their heads and conceal their figures or face criminal detention. Authorities handed out some 10,000 warnings in the last ten days of April in an annual pre-summer crackdown that Tehran’s deputy chief of police said would [read more]