POMED Update: The Campaign Against NGOs in Egypt
In response to the ongoing crisis in Egypt concerning the raid of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the ensuing trial involving NGO workers, POMED has released an updated backgrounder on the issue. On February 10, 2012, POMED released an initial backgrounder covering the issue. Since that time, the travel ban on foreign employees has been lifted and most have returned to their respective homes. However, the crisis remains far from resolved. ...
March 16, 2012
1 comments
Category: Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Government, Judiciary, Military, NGOs, Publications
Egypt’s Judiciary Blamed for Release of NGO Workers
Sources within Egypt’s judiciary claimed that Judge Abdel Moez Ibrahim, head of the Cairo Court of Appeals, was behind the decision to lift the travel ban on employees of foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations operating in Egypt. Justice Minister Adel ...
March 7, 2012
3 comments
Category: Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Featured, Judiciary, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs
Tensions High in Cairo After Travel Bans Lifted
Egyptian MP Saad al-Katatni denounced the decision to lift the travel ban on foreign non governmental organization (NGO) workers, saying there was "flagrant interference" behind the decision. He vowed that all those involved in the decision would be held accountable, ...
March 3, 2012
Category: Civil Society, Egypt, Featured, Government, Judiciary, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs, US foreign policy
Egypt to Hold Presidential Elections Beginning May 23
At a press conference Wednesday, Farouk Sultan, head of the Presidential Elections Commission, stated that Egypt's presidential election would be held on May 23 and 24, 2012. He also stated that run-off voting would take place on June ...
Egypt: Clinton Hopeful for Resolution; Judges Step Down
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains hopeful for a resolution to the threatened prosecution of American non governmental organization (NGO) workers, who continue to be prevented from leaving the country. “We’re hoping to resolve this very soon,” Clinton said, "“But I don’t want ...
February 29, 2012
Category: Diplomacy, Egypt, Featured, Judiciary, NGOs, Rule of Law, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: Arab Spring Developments in the Arab World and Jordan
On Tuesday, the Jordanian National Movement and the Jordan National Council hosted a press conference outlining the most recent issues and concerns regarding the “Arab Spring” developments in the Arab world and Jordan. The press conference dealt with King Abdullah II regime’s corruption, human rights records, and the systematic harassment of opposition leaders, journalist and activist in Jordan. The panel featured Stephen McInerney, executive director of Project on Middle East Democracy, ...
February 23, 2012
Category: Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Jordan, Journalism, Judiciary, Military, Monarchy
Judge to Issue Mubarak Verdict on June 2
Earlier today, the Judge presiding over the trial of former President Hosni Mubarak and his associates said that he would hand down his final verdict on Saturday, June 2. Judge Ahmed Refaat, who has overseen the trial since late ...
February 22, 2012
Category: Diplomacy, Egypt, Featured, Foreign Aid, Judiciary, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs, Rule of Law, US foreign policy
Libya’s NTC Struggles to Gain Control Over Militia
Head of the National Transitional Council (NTC) Mustafa Abdul-Jalil "acknowledged that his transitional government is powerless to control militias that are refusing to lay down their arms after ousting Moammar Gadhafi." Abdul-Jalil admitted that the NTC has made its own ...
Egypt Sets NGO Trial Date
Egyptian authorities announced that " 43 civil society workers, including at least 16 Americans, will face trial on Feb. 26 over illegal foreign funding for nongovernmental organizations." There are still Americans taking refuge at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, ...
POMED Notes: Protection in Practice: Intervention, Accountability, and the Role of the International Community in Domestic Conflicts
On Tuesday, The American University International Law Review hosted a symposium discussing “The Impact of the Arab Spring throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa: Building the Rule of Law and the Role of the International Community in Domestic Conflicts.” The fourth of a series of five consecutive panels addressed legal reforms and democratization in the wake of the Arab Spring. The panel featured Simon Adams, executive director of the ...
February 17, 2012
Category: Bahrain, Countries, DC Event Notes, Event Notes, ICC, International Law, Judiciary, Justice, Libya, Palestine, POMED, Rule of Law, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen
Egypt Repeals Death Sentences After Human Rights Probe
Egypt's interim government announced yesterday the repeal of the death sentences against three men for their alleged roles in the October 2004 bombings in the Sinai Peninsula tourist resorts of Taba and Nuweiba and the 2005 bombings at ...
December 7, 2011
Category: Egypt, Elections, Featured, Government, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Judiciary, Justice, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties, Political transition, Reform, Rule of Law
POMED Notes: “From Arab Spring to Coptic Winter: Sectarian Violence and the Struggle for Democratic Transition in Egypt”
On Tuesday, November 15th, the Helsinki Commission held a hearing entitled “From Arab Spring to Coptic Winter: Sectarian Violence and the Struggle for Democratic Transition in Egypt.” Testimonies were provided by Michael H. Posner, assistant secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Dina Guirguis, attorney at Egyptian American Rule of Law Association (EARLA), Samuel Tadros, research fellow at the Hudson Institute, and Dr. Michele Dunne, ...
November 20, 2011
Category: Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Egypt, Elections, Government, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Journalism, Judiciary, Justice, Political transition, Protests, Public Opinion, Reform, Rule of Law, Sectarianism, US foreign policy
Egypt’s Military Extends Blogger’s Detention
Egyptian military prosecutors have extended the detention of Alaa Abd El Fattah, a prominent blogger and activist, over a pending investigation into whether he incited violence and attacked military personnel during the deadly protests on October 9th. The extension ...
November 13, 2011
Category: Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, Judiciary, Military, Political transition, Rule of Law
Interview with Matar Ibrahim Matar by Aswat
In an interview with Matar Ibrahim Matar, an ex-member of the Bahraini Parliament and a leading figure in the Wefaq Society, Matar discussed his time in prison and his trial, as well as the Bahraini uprising and the human rights ...
November 6, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Freedom, Human Rights, Judiciary, Political Parties, Political transition, Rule of Law
October 30, 2011
Category: Egypt, Government, Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Political transition
Bahrain: Parliament to Vote on New Freedom of Expression Law
On Monday, the Bahraini ambassador to the United States Hooda Ezra Nonoo released a statement regarding newly proposed "freedom of expression" amendments which are designed to "provide stronger guarantees for freedom of expression in Bahrain by narrowing the circumstances under ...
October 24, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Freedom, Government, Human Rights, Judiciary, Legislation
Egypt: Military Trials Risk Destabilizing Transition
Eric Trager, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, argues the continued use of military trials of civilians by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) "risks confrontation with the public." After the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the SCAF has increasingly used military trials for civilians as a politically expedient alternative to civilian trials as well as a method of quashing dissent. Many high-profile activists and bloggers, including ...
Syria: Radwan Ziadeh’s Brother Arrested; More Sanctions
Yassein Ziadeh, the brother of Radwan Ziadeh who heads the Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies and is a visiting scholar at George Washington University, has been arrested by the "notorious" Syrian Air Force security forces. Yassein Ziadeh, who is ...
August 30, 2011
Category: Civil Society, Featured, Government, Judiciary, Military, Protests, sanctions, Security Sector, Syria, US foreign policy
Lebanon: Hariri Investigation Released Full Indictment
The U.N. backed tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has released the full indictment. Reactions to the release were predictably divided. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said, "the text in our hands ...