Sa’ad al-Faqih, the head of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, said on Wednesday that the number of jailed activists ranged from 25,000 to 30,000. Faqih also accused the government of stepping up the crackdown on dissent since the beginning of the year. The Saudi activist said the crackdown is a response to online […]
1000s behind bars in Saudi Arabia, activist says Read More »
By Felicity Arbuthnot “We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected round the world.” (President Barack Obama, State of the Union address, 24th January 2012.) As Easter was celebrated in the US and UK with, for believers, the message of hope, Fallujah, the region and much
US Military “Commemorates” Its Iraq Massacre. “Tell Them It’s the Sound of Freedom.” Read More »
April 23, 2014 “ICH” – It is unsurprising that public opinion in the UK and elsewhere, resents the notion that we should engage with the politics of the Middle East and beyond. We have been through painful engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 2008, we have had our own domestic anxieties following the financial crisis. And
War Criminal Tony Blair’s ‘Why the Middle East Matters’ Speech Read More »
By Lindsey German & Robin Beste Protest when Tony Blair gave evidence to the Iraq Inquiry, 21 Jan 2011. In a keynote speech on 23 April 2014, Tony Blair blamed Islamic extremism for failures of western intervention in the Middle East. Here are ten things he neglected to mention about the extremism of
Ten things you need to know about Tony Blair’s ‘extremism’ Read More »
Saudi students gather at an outdoor cafe at King Saud University in Riyadh, Oct. 30, 2002. (photo by REUTERS/Ali Jarekji) Saudi Arabia today faces something more challenging than a revolution — a sporadic and frustrated youth protest thus far expressed only in the virtual world. More than half a dozen men and women in recent weeks began to post
Marginalized Saudi youth launch virtual protests Read More »
Claim comes amid widespread anger at crackdown that has seen 16,000 arrested Egyptian students, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, demonstrate outside Cairo University. Photograph: Mahmoud Khaled/AFP/Getty Images Two male political dissidents claim they were raped in Egyptian police custody in separate assaults that campaigners suspect are indicative
Egyptian police ‘using rape as a weapon’ against dissident groups Read More »
By Thalif Deen April 11, 2014 “ICH” – “IPS” – – When Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas decided to defy the United States and Israel over stalled peace negotiations, he formally indicated to the United Nations last week that Palestine will join 15 international conventions relating mostly to the protection of human rights and treaties governing conflicts
Criminal Court a U.S.-Israeli “Red Line” for Palestinians Read More »
US President Barack Obama (2nd L) is escorted from Marine One to Air Force One while he departs Saudi Arabia to return to Washington, March 29, 2014. (photo by REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque) Nothing new came from US President Barack Obama’s visit to Riyadh on March 28, except a few additional photographs of the leaders of both
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) arrives at the Syrian parliament building for talks with Syrian officials in Damascus, Jan. 15, 2014. (photo by REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri) TEHRAN, Iran — When the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah entered Syria for the first time, almost a year ago, the status quo was different. Syrian regime forces were losing ground to opposition rebels. Among some observers,
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
