On Tuesday, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a hearing to examine the systemic and grave human rights abuses by the Syrian government, and the impact of those abuses on the Syrian people. Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) chaired the hearing. Congressman James McGovern (D-MA) and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) gave opening remarks. Panel one featured Ambassador Robert Ford as the witness, and Panel two featured Maria McFarland, deputy Washington ...

Amnesty International released (Arabic) its annual report charting the surge in executions carried out internationally in 2011. According to Foreign Policy, a surge in executions can be attributed to the Middle East, which saw a 50% in confirmed executions for the year 2011, bringing the total number to 558. Iraq saw an estimated 68 executions, Saudi realized 82 deaths, and Iran, the top-placer in the report, saw 360. The U.S. ...

On Tuesday, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted members of the U.N. Human Rights independent international Commission of Inquiry for Syria to discuss the findings of their recently released report. Paulo Pinhiero, the chairman of the commission, along with commissioners Yakin Erturk and Karen AbuZayd provided an overview of their investigation and described the current human rights situation in Syria. Senior Brookings Fellow Ted Piccone, deputy ...

On Monday, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted a discussion on U.S. policy options in Syria. Panelists included Senior Fellow Daniel Byman, director of research for the Saban Center For Middle East Policy; Senior Fellow Michael Doran; Senior Fellow Kenneth Pollack; and Fellow Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Center who appeared live from Doha Via video feed. Senior Fellow Tamara Cofman Wittes moderated the ...

On Thursday the Associated Foreign Press reported that twenty-three mutilated corpses were found outside the city of Idlib, showing blatant signs that the victims had been “blindfolded and handcuffed before being shot dead.” One year after protests in Daraa sparked a nationwide revolt against the Assad regime, protesters on both sides gathered to show their support diametrically opposed struggles. Human Rights Watch on Thursday demanded stage “to the ‘scorched earth methods’ ...

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon declared that Libyan authorities should investigate violations after U.N. report found both opposition and loyalist forces had committed war crimes during last years revolution. As the investigation was announced Ban Ki-Moon affirmed his support for the U.N. Support Mission of Libya to remain in the country as it deals with continued human rights abuses and a sensitive security situation. Reports of arbitrary arrests, vendetta attacks, and torture ...

The U.N. Human Rights Council released the "Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran." The document highlights the recent trends in the human rights situation in Iran, and though it does not cover all the violations entirely, "it provides a picture of the prevailing situation in that regard." The six recommendations the Rapporteur makes call on the government of Iran to reform ...

Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, after presenting a six-point peace plan to Assad, left Damascus for Ankara on Tuesday to meet with a delegation of the Syrian national council (SNC). Annan reported that a response to the six-point proposal is expected from Syrian authorities within the next day. “One I receive their answer we will know how to react,” he said. Annan was seeking an immediate ceasefire in order ...

Al-Jazeera reported that Israeli air strikes in the Gaza strip have killed a total number of 23 Palestinians since violence erupted in the Palestinian territory on Friday. Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group blamed for rocket fire into Israel, claimed that two of the dead were members. Israel justifies the attacks saying that it is “hitting back at scores of rocket attacks.” The violence erupted when the Israeli army carried out ...

International diplomatic efforts to persuade Syria’s president towards peace talks and a much-needed cease-fire were rejected by “the leader of the main exile opposition group.” Kofi Annan, who is due in Syria Damascus on Saturday to meet with Assad, said that any further militarization of the conflict would be a mistake and called for a political settlement to resolve the conflict. “I hope that no one is thinking very seriously ...

Questions have been raised as to whether Saudi Arabia’s status as top oil-producing country and trusted ally of the U.S. have kept the U.S. from condemning the overwhelmingly anti-democratic principles of Gulf kingdom. According to Le Monde Diplomatique (English), within the last year Saudi has “crushed democratic protests” in Bahrain, executed 76 people in 2011 (“including a woman accused of ‘sorcery’), threated to execute a blogger who engaged in an ...

According to a copy of a speech from the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, John McCain (R-AZ) has become the first U.S. senator to openly call for U.S.-led air strikes to halt the violence committed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The ultimate goal of the strikes, says McCain, would be to “establish and defend safe havens in Syria,” in order to create “safe-zones”  where opposition forces “can organize and plan their ...

On Monday, Arab League Chief, Nabil Al Araby told reporters that former U.N. Chief, and current U.N.-Arab League Envoy, Kofi Annan will head to Damascus attempting to engage in face-to-face talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Nasser Al-Qudwa, Palestinian foreign minister and representative to the Arab League will accompany Annan. Details of his mission have not been revealed, but Annan will attempt to “ease the path” to political dialogue. “The first ...

Human Rights Watched released new satellite images today that reveal the intensity of the shelling in the Neighborhood of Baba Amr. The new images reveal the positions of tanks and heavy artillery, s extensively documents areas that have been hit by mortar and tank shells, and picture enormous dust clouds that came as a result of large impacts. The shelling, according to Human Rights Watch, has "severely restricted movement and relief ...

On Thursday, the Associated Foreign Press reported the Syrian regime had taken full control of the Baba Amr neighborhood, as a security official in Damascus stated "the last pockets of resistance have fallen. “After a 27-day siege the rebels announced a “tactical” retreat.  The Free Syrian Army (FSA) chief, Riyadh Al-Assad, confirmed that the Revolutionary Brigades of Baba Amr “have pulled out tactically in order to protect the remaining civilians,” who are facing “a ...

The E.U. officially recognized the Syrian National Council (SNC) as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people after meeting in Brussels to discuss the implementation of stricter sanctions on the Assad regime. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe stated that while other opposition groups exist, these groups should be urged "to unite and become more organized. E.U. Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton urged the international community to "stand together" to halt the ongoing violence saying "We ...