Boys' Youth Group Uniforms: Middle-East and North Africa

Figure 1.--

We have relatively limited information on youth groups in the Middle East and North Africa. For much of the 20th century the principal group was Scouting. And the Scouting groups were largely middle-class organizations and commited to a program generally in keeping with the princles of Baden-Powell's Scouting movement which included both avoiding political commitments and a world wide international fellowship. Provisions of the Holy Koran incouraging Muslims to associate primarily with other Muslims were generally ignored. Since World War II and the independence of the Arab countries, this has begun to change. Some countries have prohibited Scouting, viewing it with suspision as too Western. Other countries have founded national youth groups aimed at supporting the regime in power. And political movements within countries have founded their own youth groups, sometimes using the term Scouting. The groups tend to have highly political agendas including training children for terrorist activitive and even suicide bombing.

Algeria

Egypt

The Egyptian Scouting movement was founded about 1912.

Iraq

Iraq had a Boy Scout movement. There were also nationalist groups. Saddam Hussein's Bath Pary had a youth group called the Asfald Saddam (Sadam's Lion Cubs).

Israel

Describing the Israeli youth movement is somewhat complicated. This would include not only the modern Isreli organizations, but organizations formed before Israel became independent in 1948. In this regard, these organizations are often associated with the British protectorate of Palestine. The British gained control over Palestine from the Ottoman Turks during World War I (1917-18) and governed under a Laegue of Nations trusteeship. This can thus be confused to the modern usage of Palestine which is associated with Arabs. We also will list here the international Zionist youth movements which developed in Europe during the 20th century.

Lebanon

Lebanon has an active Scouting movement. Scouts have a positive image both because of the activities it offers boys and girls, but also because of the important relief work it has carried out duting emergencies like the Cicil War. As a result, Hezbollah puts a Scouting facade on its youth movement, the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts.

Morocco

Palestine

We do not yet have much information on youth movements in Palestine. We have some limited information about Palestinian Scouts.

United Arab Emirates

We do not yet have much information on youth movements in Palestine. We have some limited information about UAE Scouts.