Mango, thanks for the heads up! boy was i way off on pakistan and bangaladesh. LOL! i looked into it. and the figures (2003) are like: Indonesia 220million (4th most populous country) Pakistan 149million (6th most populous) Bangaladesh 147million (7th) Nigeria 134million (9th) if we considered the muslim population of india separately they'd be the 5th or 6th most populous nation in the world. and you're also right on africa. there shouldn't be much more than 250 million muslims in africa. nigeria is only half muslim. and the rest of the muslim states there mostly range between 10-25 million each. i should also significantly raise the figure for muslims in other parts of the world. for example there are apparently over 5 million muslims in france alone. by the way, do you consider most africans north of the sahara to be arab? i didn't, but i think you're probably right on this too.
Well, I am not sure that the people in North Africa are truly Arab on an ethnic basis. On a historical basis, they have been linked to the Arab world of the Middle East more than to South Africa. The Sahara Desert is <i>huge</i> and has impact on the movement of peope and their interactions with other areas of the world. <hr color=green> Speaking of France and Muslims......... What do you think of the new law about clothing that could be construed as having religious implications?
Add Qatar, Bahrain, Libya and Jordan. Most every reference I've seen puts the percentage at 15%. North Africans (the Maghreb countries: Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco) are most surely ethnic Arabs.
you're right. historically they are definitely linked. was just wondering whether it is possible to be black and arab at the same time. the popular image of arabs are fair-skinned or slightly darker... i know both black- and fair-skinned folks live in north africa, hence the question. but then again, i knew an arab from qatar who was as black as they come... so... hope i'm not offending anyone with this display of utter ignorance... as for the french head dress thing. gosh i think it is just some of the french being total a$$holes. kind of like if a professor bans his students from wearing t-shirt with Marilyn Manson or "Jesus Loves You" on it... the legislation is still being debated both in the govt. and in the French press though, i believe. i mean, i understand banning stuff that might be offensive. (not really agree with it, but i understand). but banning clothing something just because it is religious? next thing you know, they'll ban shirts with political parties' symbols, slogans, etc. on them. cuz aren't public institution supposed to maintain administrative neutrality? and of course, that means no more Republicans and Democrats clubs on campus (or whatever the hell are the political parties in that country)... but i digress.
just wanted to add that i think stuff like wearing headscarves, skullcaps, crosses, buddha symbols, etc. etc. mean nothing. and most religions that impose these practices on their members are merely corrupting their spiritual messages with meaningless, often anachronistic rituals and institutions... but that being said, heck, just let the kids wear whatever the hell they want! everybody's got a brain and ought to be permitted to think for themselves!
Well, I am very much against this. If it gains momentum, I will eventually have to change my wardrobe, as all my duds make the ladies' thoughts... turn to sin.
I could have sworn I saw statistics somewhere that listed there are about 1 billion Muslims in the world, yet about 1.9 billion Christians. I know "Christian" can be broken up to many different denominations and followings, but so can Islam. I, however, do not have a source for this as it was months ago that I read this, so I could be wrong.
Well, I started keeping it sheathed at the end of the "free love" era. And you'd be surprised how many women dig a procket protector of Spanish leather.
