ANKARA — The Developing Eight have high expectations of Turkey’s presidency this year, says the group’s secretary general. Sayed Ali Mohammad Mousavi said Saturday Turkey was the “founding father” of D-8, which represents an economic development alliance among eight countries with high Muslim populations. “We appreciate the Turkish government’s support to the D-8,” Mousavi said. “Turkey…
An Egyptian coalition of Islamic parties says the United States and the European Union are supporting the Cairo military-backed government in its crackdown on people, Press TV reports. Egypt’s Anti-Coup Alliance has issued a statement describing a recent visit by EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, as an “evil” visit. The statement added that the…
By Ramsey Clark and Abdeen Jabara April 10, 2014 “ICH” – “CP” – We recently visited Egypt leading a delegation of lawyers to observe the situation of human rights in that country. We were troubled by what we saw and heard. We are also troubled by the United States’ support for a government installed…
By Sheera Frenkel and Maged Atef For the first time, one of the five founders of the Tamarod, the movement that led the protests that ousted the Muslim Brotherhood last year, admits his movement was taking orders from the army. “We were naive, we were not responsible.” April 18, 2014 “ICH” – “BF” – CAIRO – On…
The US government should support rather than oppose Palestinian actions to join international treaties that promote respect for human rights. On April 1, 2014, the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, signed accession instruments for 15 treaties, including the core treaties on human rights and the laws of war. On April 2, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha…
Genetic Engineering Companies Promised Reduced Pesticide Use … But GE Crops Have Led to a 25% Increase In Herbicide Use One of the main selling points for genetically engineered crops is that they would use substantially less pesticides than conventional crops. Because of that, and other, promises regarding GE crops, they have taken over much of the food…
By Shawn Donnan, Ben Bland and John Burn-Murdoch The precarious rise from poverty of millions in the emerging world. Muljoko, a 27-year-old cleaner who works in one of Jakarta’s gleaming office towers, has all the trappings of a newly minted member of the middle class. He owns a motorcycle, slings a Sony smartphone and has…
by Zafarul-Islam Khan Three diplomats sat in the French consulate in Beirut in May 1916 while the First World War raged and agreed on a secret plan to divide the Middle East among their countries. They represented Britain, France and Imperial Russia. After the Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917, Russia withdrew from the scheme. Britain and France stayed committed and soon after the end of the war,…
by Ekrem Bugra Ekinci The world’s oldest written constitution was announced 14 centuries ago in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The constitution featured a precursor to democracy. Turks are recognized as the leading actor of modern constitution, history since 1808 and the Ottoman Empire adopted the regime of constitutional monarchy with the Constitution of 1876 The Magna…
By Khalil al-Anani (CNN) — Since the July 3 military coup, Egypt has been witness to the rise of a new military dictatorship led by Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. El-Sisi’s recent presidential bid reveals a tenacious attempt of the Egyptian military to consolidate power and preclude Egyptians’ aspirations of having a genuine democracy. For the…