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 ...
May 17, 2013
Category: Civil Society, Conflict, Democracy Promotion, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Political transition, Sectarianism, Syria, US foreign policy, Women, Youth
POMED Notes: “Egypt in Transition”
On Monday, May 6, the New America Foundation hosted an event titled “Egypt in Transition.” The event was moderated by Leila Hilal, Director of the Middle East Task Force at New America Foundation. Panelists included Ahmed Maher, co-founder and chief coordinator of the April 6 Youth Movement, Jawad Nabulsi, co-founder of the Nebny Foundation and founder of the Legislative Support Council, and Nur Laiq, Senior Policy Analyst at the International ...
POMED Notes: Senate Hearing “Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis”
On Tuesday, March 19, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs held a hearing titled “Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis.” The witnesses were divided into three panels. Panel 1 consisted of the Honorable Anne C. Richard, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and the Honorable Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at the U.S. Agency for ...
March 21, 2013
Category: Conflict, Congressional Hearing Notes (Senate), Diplomacy, Human Rights, Political transition, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy, Women, Youth
POMED Notes: “Constitutionalism and Human Rights in Tunisia: The Islamist-led Democratic Transition Post-Arab Spring
On Tuesday, March 5, 2013, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at The Johns Hopkins University and the Maghreb Center hosted a conference titled "Constitutionalism and Human Rights in Tunisia: the Islamist-led Democratic Transition Post-Arab Spring." The opening remarks for the conference were conducted by Dr. Nejib Ayachi, President of the Maghreb Center, Dr. Mohammed Mattar, Executive Director of The Protection Project at SAIS, and Issam Saliba, Secretary of ...
March 7, 2013
Category: Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Courts and Judiciary, Democracy Promotion, Economics, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Journalism, Political transition, Reform, Tunisia, Women, Youth
POMED Notes: “Yemen’s Ongoing National Dialogue: Moving Forward”
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) hosted a discussion titled "Yemen's Ongoing National Dialogue: Moving Forward" with Amat al-Alim Alsoswa, Former Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, United Nations Development Program, Stephen McInerney, Executive Director, POMED, and Abdulwahab Alkebsi, Regional Director, Africa and Middle East, CIPE. For full event notes continue reading, or click here for ...
Protests Resume in Bahrain Amid Calls for Dialogue
On December 13, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa lifted (Ar.) a ban on demonstrations, saying he considers demonstrations and freedom of expression to be a "constitutional right for all citizens." In response, thousands of opposition supporters participated in ...
December 14, 2012
Category: Bahrain, Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Congress, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, Political transition, Protests, Reform, Youth
Jordan: Protesters Released, Former MP Charged
In a meeting with the House of Commons in London, King Abdullah of Jordan stressed the important role Jordanian youth have to play in the reform process in his country. Abdullah expressing his desire to engage the youth ...
December 14, 2012
Category: Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Economics, Elections, Featured, Jordan, Protests, Reform, Youth
Cleaning Day in Yemen as National Dialogue Preparation Continues
A government-sponsored cleaning day brought hundreds of thousands of Yemenis into the streets of Sana'a on Wednesday, one day after an intelligence officer was gunned down in the coastal city of Mukalla and battles over an ...
POMED Notes: Protest and Rebellion in the Middle East
The Elliott School of International Affairs hosted an event Thursday (11/15) entitled “Protest and Rebellion in the Middle East,” to discuss opportunities, resources, and emotions in regional social protest movements. The panel included David Patel, Assistant Professor at Cornell University; Jillian Schwedler, Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Wendy Pearlman, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University; and was moderated by Marc Lynch, Director of the Institute for Middle East ...
November 19, 2012
Category: Egypt, Event Notes, Freedom, Jordan, Political transition, Protests, Reform, Sectarianism, Syria, Tunisia, Youth
November 7, 2012
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Human Rights, Protests, Reform, US foreign policy, Youth
Bahraini Medics’ Appeal Rejected Final Time
The appeal of nine Bahraini medics who treated victims of government crackdowns was rejected for the final time, and many of the sentences stem from "participating in illegal demonstrations." The sentences range from one month to five years. A number ...
October 1, 2012
Category: Bahrain, Civil Liberties, Democracy Promotion, Featured, Freedom, Hezbollah, Human Rights, NGOs, Protests, Reform, UN Human Rights Council, Uncategorized, United Nations, Youth
Morocco Receives Loans, Police Abuse Acknowledged
Morocco has been granted $190 million in financial assistance from the Arab Monetary Fund, an Abu Dhabi-based organization, to support trade with other Arab nations and help balance payments. “The Arab Monetary Fund supports the government’s strategy that ...
Yemen Announces Formation of New Election Committee
On August 30, Yemeni Minister of Legal Affairs Mohamed Mikhlafi announced the creation of an new election committee ahead of a round of elections which are slated to take place within the next two months. "The coming period ...
David B. Ottaway: “Saudi Arabia’s Race Against Time”
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars released a report by David B. Ottaway, Senior Scholar at the center and former Bureau Chief in Cairo for the Washington Post. Ottaway conducted two weeks of research and interviews in Saudi Arabia, and writes on the Saudi government's fears that youth, including thousands of students returning from studying abroad, have been inspired by other Arab uprisings, and will spark unrest in the ...
POMED Notes: “Is Egypt’s Transition On or Off the Rails?”
On Thursday, the Atlantic Council, in collaboration with the Project on Middle East Democracy, held an event titled “Is Egypt’s Transition On or Off the Rails?” The discussion focused on the implications of the latest developments involving the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the prospects for stability and democracy looking ahead. The panelists were: Bahey Hassan, general director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Mohsin Khan, a senior fellow at ...
June 22, 2012
Category: Egypt, Elections, Event Notes, Human Rights, Muslim Brotherhood, Political transition, Youth
Bahrain Puts 11-year-old Boy on Trial
On Wednesday, 11-year-old Ali Hasan will be prosecuted by the Bahraini government for helping protesters set up a road block during demonstrations last month. Though many have been arrested in the 15 month protest movement, Hasan's case marks a new precedent ...
POMED Notes: “The Arab Spring: Getting it Right”
On May 3rd, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) hosted its 13th Annual Conference entitled, "The Arab Spring: Getting it Right." The conference featured a series of four panels, and a set of luncheon and concluding keynote addresses. For full event notes, continue reading below or click here for the PDF. Panel 1 – Getting it Right: Elements of Successful Democratic Transitions The first panel of the 13th Annual ...
May 21, 2012
Category: Algeria, Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Event Notes, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Libya, Political Islam, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Youth
Moroccan Rapper Jailed for Song Criticizing Police
Prominent Moroccan rapper Mouad Belghouat, whose stage name is al-Haqed, was sentenced to one year in prison for attacking the image of the security services and "showing contempt" in a song about police corruption. At the sentencing, Belghouat's defense ...
POMED Notes: Bahrain at the Boiling Point? Failed Reforms, Mounting Frustration
On Thursday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted an event by the Project on Middle East Democracy titled “Bahrain at the Boiling Point? Failed Reforms, Mounting Frustration.” In light of recent developments in the Gulf Nation, the event was held to address the progress toward reform thus far, the steps that need to be taken next, and the role of the U.S. in moving toward a peaceful political solution. ...
HRW Exposes Ongoing Police Brutality in Bahrain
Following a five-day visit to the country, Human Rights Watch reports, "Bahrain’s police are beating and torturing detainees, including minors, despite public commitments to end torture and police impunity." According to Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director of HRW, “Bahrain has ...
