POMED Notes: “Building a Brighter Future in Syria”
On Friday, May 17, Freedom House hosted a panel discussion titled “Building a Brighter Future in Syria.” Panelists included Kinda Kanbar, a Syrian journalist; Mohammed Aly Sergie, Senior Editor at Syria Deeply; Omar Hossino, a Syria analyst; and Oubab Khalil, Chief of Staff for the National Coalition of Syrian Opposition Forces. Daniel Calingaert, Freedom House Executive Vice President, moderated the discussion. For the full event notes, continue reading or click here for ...
Home of Top Shia Cleric Raided in Bahrain
Bahraini authorities raided the home of a prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim on Friday. Opposition group al-Wefaq said Qassim was not home at the time of the raid but there were women and children present. A leading human rights activist ...
POMED Notes: “The Rise of Islamism: Its Impact on Religious Minorities”
On Wednesday, May 15, the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom held a panel titled, “The Rise of Islamism: Its Impact on Religious Minorities” to discuss Islamist radicalization in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. Panelists included former Pakistani parliamentarian Farahnaz Ispahi; Professor of Iranian, Central Eurasian, and Islamic Studies at Indiana University Jamsheed Choksy; and Executive Director of the Center for Islamic Pluralism Stephen Schwartz. Nina Shea, Hudson ...
Iraqi Provincial Election Results Show Maliki Coalition Win
Results of Iraq's provincial elections, which took place two weeks ago, were released on Saturday. The results indicate that the Shia-dominated coalition led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received the most votes in seven of twelve districts. However, ...
Iraq Suspends Ten TV Channels Amid Sectarian Violence
The Iraqi government suspended the broadcasting licenses of ten satellite television channels, including Al Jazeera. Iraq's Communication and Media Commission is imposing a ban on the operations of Al Sharqiyah, Al Sharqiyah News, Babylonian, Baghdad, Salah al-Din, Anwar ...
State Department Human Rights Country Report: Iraq
The annual State Department report on human rights practices in Iraq details a host of human rights concerns in 2012 attributed to a weakened government, increased sectarian and societal divisions and a culture of impunity and widespread corruption that ...
White House Suspects Chemical Attacks; Syrians Advocate Engagement
The White House today established that the U.S. Government now believes with "varying degrees of confidence" the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a small scale against the opposition. However, the Obama Administration stated that, given the ...
Clashes Erupt Between Iraqi Government and Protesters
A gun battle broke out at a Sunni protest camp north of Baghdad early Tuesday. Officials have reported that at least 20 people died and dozens injured. The clash occurred after government security forces entered the camp to make arrests, but ...
Despite Assassinations, Violence, Iraq to Hold Elections
Iraq will hold Governorate Council Elections in 12 of its 18 provinces on Saturday despite increased violence and a wave of assassinations. On Monday, approximately 20 separate attacks across the country killed nearly 50 and wounded more than 200. In recent months, ...
POMED Notes: “The Arab Awakening and the New Sectarian Divide”
On Wednesday, April 10th, The Brookings Institution held an event titled “The Arab Awakening and the New Sectarian Divide.” It featured Geneive Abdo, Middle East/Southwest Asia Fellow at The Stimson Center and Nonresident Fellow at Brookings, and Kristin Smith Diwan, Assistant Professor of Middle East Politics at American University. Daniel Byman, Research Director and Senior Fellow at Brookings’ Saban Center for Middle East Policy, moderated the event. For full event notes ...
El Baradei Offers Dialogue, Morsi Hints at Reforms
Mohamed El Baradei, a leading Egyptian opposition figure, said Monday he was willing to end the opposition's boycott in holding talks with President Mohamed Morsi and would negotiate a settlement to the political crisis if three conditions were met. ...
UAE Jails Activist, Saudi Arabia Interrogates Shia
A United Arab Emirates court sentenced Abdullah al-Hadidi to ten months in prison on Monday for disseminating false information about a public trial in bad faith. Al-Hadidi is the son of one of the 94 defendants that are being tried ...
Analysis: Why did the Lebanese PM Resign?
Writing for The New Yorker, Dexter Filkins suggests that the recent resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati was "sparked by the civil war" in Syria. While Mikati's decision to resign followed disagreements over internal issues, like the establishment of an election supervisory body, the country's politics are increasingly polarized by loyalties to the opposing parties of the Syrian conflict. Specifically, Filkins argues that Hezbollah's opposition to extending the term of Major General Ashraf Rifi, ...
Bahraini Crown Prince Appointed Deputy PM
Bahrain appointed Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa to the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority stated, "This appointment comes in light of efforts to expedite the reform program and oversee their enforcements to the ...