Druze

The Druze (Arabic: duruzī درزي, pl. durūz دروز, Hebrew: druzim ??????) are a small and distinct religious community residing mainly in Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Turkey and Jordan (small communities of expatriates also live in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Australia, and Europe). They use the Arabic language and follow a social pattern very similar to the Arabs of the region. They are not considered Muslim by most Muslims in the region, although most Druze say that their religion is Islamic. Most Druze consider themselves to be Arabs http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-2-2004_pg3_5, although some Israeli Druze do not. There are about 1 million Druze worldwide, the vast majority in the Middle East http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3612002.stm.

External links

• American Druze Society - National
• American Druze Society - Michigan
• Institute of Druze Studies
• Druze Online Network in Hebrew
• European Druze Society
• Druzenet: English Publications
• Canadian Druze Society
• www.mmouka.com
• Articles about Druze
• 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article
• Rise and fall of the Syrian Druze