Project on Middle East Democracy

Project on Middle East Democracy
The POMED Wire Archives


Category: Human Rights

Egypt: Free, Fair Elections Are “Vital” to Egypt’s Future

November 23rd, 2010 by Evan

Responding to a question on Egypt’s upcoming election, State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said “we are closely monitoring events that are happening in Egypt, reports of arrests and intimidation, and we have not hesitated to express our concerns directly to Egyptian leaders.” Crowley added that “we think this is a vitally important period for Egypt’s future and we continue to encourage them to do everything possible to ensure a free, fair, and impartial election in Egypt.” Crowley’s statement comes amidst growing concern about the validity of the Higher Electoral Commission and widespread voter disinterest ahead of the election.


Posted in Egypt, Elections, Human Rights | Comment »

New NPR Series on Egypt

November 22nd, 2010 by Evan

NPR’s Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson began a weeklong series examining life in Egypt ahead of the country’s parliamentary election on Monday. The first installment focuses on growing discontent with the Mubarak Administration: “Not all Egyptians are in favor of Mubarak staying in power. A growing number of them are fed up living in what they see as a police state under his iron-fisted rule and in a country whose economy has failed to lift enough people out of poverty,” Sarhaddi Nelson writes. Much of the discontent stems from widespread corruption and police brutality. “Like many Egyptians of his generation, 29-year-old Ahmad Maher has a different view of life in Egypt today. The construction engineer says he could fill books with descriptions of everything that is wrong with Egypt after three decades of Mubarak’s rule. He complains that no one in government is accountable to the public,” she reports.


Posted in Egypt, Elections, Human Rights, Journalism | Comment »

Egypt: Domestic Monitors Face Challenges

November 22nd, 2010 by Jason

Bahey el-din Hassan writes in Al Masry Al Youm that civil society and human rights organizations face three major challenges in monitoring Egypt’s November 28 elections: First, the groups must obtain permits from the High Elections Commission (HEC), a process that has become increasingly opaque. “Although the HEC set 7 November as the deadline for human rights groups to submit applications to monitor elections, it set no date for the issuance of permits,” he writes. Also, the HEC “mandates that monitors be impartial, but how can the commission, with its limited resources, evaluate thousands of monitors for bias? Or is it planning to outsource the job to the security apparatus?” The second major hurdle for groups is a lack of accurate information, a problem exacerbated by the “deplorable state” of the HEC itself. The third challenge are the restrictions placed on the press. “The regime launched a quiet coup in October that restructured TV and print media and placed enormous restrictions on the free flow of information. This means that election monitors will do their job in the dark,” according to Hassan.

Al Masry Al Youm also reports that the head of the HEC, Al-Sayed Abdel Aziz, has now “definitively” stated that “there would be ‘no monitoring’ of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, stressing that the role of civil society and human rights organizations would be limited to ‘following’ the elections rather than ‘monitoring’ them.”


Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Human Rights, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, NGOs | Comment »

Iran: UN Adopts Resolution Criticizing Human Rights Abuses

November 22nd, 2010 by Evan

Last week, the Third Committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly approved a new resolution expressing “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations in Iran.” U.S. officials welcomed the resolution: “Iranian citizens and others continue to face abuses at the hands of the Iranian government. Those abuses undermine Iran’s standing in the international community and call into question the Government of Iran’s commitment to the principles of justice and the welfare of its citizens. […] By adopting the resolution, the international community has sent an unequivocal message to the Iranian government that universal rights must be respected,” said National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer. Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi also praised the resolution for showing the “gravity of the situation” in Iran.


Posted in Human Rights, Iran, United Nations | Comment »

Egypt: Amnesty Urges Respect for Human Rights During Election, Documents Abuse

November 22nd, 2010 by Evan

Amnesty International recently called on the Egyptian government to ensure that candidates and voters are not “harassed or intimidated by security forces” during the upcoming parliamentary election. “The Egyptian authorities must uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly and ensure that peaceful protesters are not arbitrarily arrested and detained,” said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa program. Smart added that “The eyes of the world will be on the conduct of the Egyptian authorities during this election. It’s an opportunity for them to show that Egypt can be a place where human rights are respected.” In a new report titled “Egypt: Shouting Slogans into the Winds” Amnesty details human rights violations in the run up to the election including attacks on demonstrators, the silencing of independent voices in the press, and the targeting of National Association for Change and Muslim Brotherhood members.


Posted in Egypt, Elections, Human Rights | Comment »

Bloggers Under Fire in Kuwait, Iran, and Egypt

November 22nd, 2010 by Evan

Kuwaiti lawyer and blogger Mohammad Abdul Qadir Al Jasem was sentenced to one in year in prison after he was found guilty of defaming Kuwait’s Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammad Al Subah. Earlier this year, Al Jasem was detained for six weeks on charges that he had harmed Kuwait’s national interests by criticizing the Al-Sabah regime. Also, Reporters Without Boards recently released reports condemning the arrest and trial of 18-year-old blogger and women’s rights activist Navid Mohebbi in Iran and the court martial of blogger Ahmed Hassan Basiouny in Egypt.


Posted in Egypt, Human Rights, Iran, Journalism, Kuwait | Comment »

Egypt: Widespread Arrests Stifle Campaigns

November 22nd, 2010 by Evan

Over 1,200 Muslim Brotherhood members, including eight nominees for the upcoming election, were arrested Friday and Saturday following a series of violent clashes with police at campaign rallies across the country. Representatives of the Brotherhood reported members were detained in 22 provinces, with the largest number of arrests occurring in Sharqiya and Alexandria. “The regime is sending a message that there will be no election,” said Saad el-Katatni, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc. In a new article for Al Jazeera, Evan Hill describes challenges facing the Brotherhood and the organization’s tenuous relations with proponents of democracy in the West, while Amro Hassan and Jeffrey Fleishman document internal rifts between conservatives and reformists and the effect of increased government pressure on the organization.


Posted in Egypt, Elections, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Muslim Brotherhood | Comment »

State Department Criticizes Iran’s Human Rights Record

November 19th, 2010 by Evan

Earlier this week State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley issued a statement expressing concern about continued human rights abuses in Iran. “The United States remains gravely concerned about Iran’s continued harassment, detention, and imprisonment of human rights defenders. For example, we understand that the trial of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is reportedly under way, but it is proceeding without the transparency and due process guaranteed under Iranian law. Iran’s leaders should know that their efforts to silence those Iranians who stand up for the rights of their fellow citizens does not go unnoticed. We once again join the international community in calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including those imprisoned for defending detainees or speaking out against human rights abuses, and urge Iran to afford its citizens those rights that are universal to all people,” Crowley said.


Posted in Human Rights, Iran | Comment »

Bahrain: New Amnesty Report on Torture Allegations

November 18th, 2010 by Evan

Amnesty International released a new report this week on the treatment of detained Shi’ite activists in Bahrain. Following their initial trial on October 28, the activists report that they were beaten, deprived of sleep and forced to remain standing for long periods in retribution for complaining about previous torture during their hearing. Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme called on Bahraini authorities to “conduct a prompt and independent investigation into both these allegations of torture,” adding that official must now “take steps to protect the 23 defendants from possible further retaliation, following their new allegations.”


Posted in Bahrain, Human Rights, Judiciary | Comment »

Report on International Religious Freedom Released

November 18th, 2010 by Jason

The 2010 Report on International Religious Freedom was released yesterday by the U.S. State Department. From the report’s introduction: “The values of religious freedom are universal, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This report is an important tool in the effort to ensure respect for these values. The United States takes seriously its international commitments and, in the President’s words, ‘Our nation’s enduring commitment to the universal human right of religious freedom extends beyond our borders as we advocate for all who are denied the ability to choose and live their faith.’”

A candidate was also nominated for the position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. Suzan D. Johnson Cook testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday. She told the assembled senators, “I am similarly persuaded in my mind, heart, and soul that religious freedom is the birthright of all people everywhere; it is a foundation of civil society, it is a key to international security, and it must always be a pillar of U.S. foreign policy.”


Posted in Civil Society, Freedom, Human Rights, US foreign policy | Comment »

Egypt: Blogger Kareem Amer Finally Released

November 17th, 2010 by Anna

After spending four years in prison, prominent Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil (who wrote under the name Kareem Amer) has been released, ten days beyond the end of his sentence. He was the first blogger in the country to be jailed specifically for his writings, and was charged with insulting Islam and the president. He was a vocal critic of conservative Muslims, calling Cairo’s Al-Azhar University a “university of terrorism” and describing the prophet Muhammed and his followers as “spillers of blood.” Nabil also called President Hosni Mubarak a “symbol of tyranny.” The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information has reported that he was beaten while in detention, and last week Amnesty International called on Egyptian authorities to release Nabil, pointing out that his sentence “was handed down for actions that amounted to no more than exercising his right to freedom of expression.”

For more news on Egypt, sign up for POMED’s Egypt Daily Update.


Posted in Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, Technology | Comment »

POMED Notes: “Voicing Dissent: Inside the Fight for Democracy and Human Rights”

November 16th, 2010 by Evan

On Tuesday, the Foreign Policy Initiative hosted a panel discussion titled “Voicing Dissent: Inside the Fight for Democracy and Human Rights” as part of its “Restoring America’s Leadership of a Democratic World” conference. The Washington Post’s Jackson Diehl moderated a panel composed of Ambassador Michael Kozak, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Win Min, a Burmese activist, and Michele Dunne Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Editor of the Arab Reform Bulletin.

To read full notes, continue below or click here for a pdf copy.

Read the rest of this entry »


Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Event Notes, Human Rights | Comment »

POMED Notes: “A Changing Middle East: Iran, Turkey, and Prospects for Peace”

November 16th, 2010 by Jason

On Monday evening, as part of the 2010 Foreign Policy Initiative Forum, a panel discussion was held titled “A Changing Middle East: Iran, Turkey, and Prospects for Peace.” The discussants were Elliot Abrams, of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Eric Edelman, of the Foreign Policy Initiative and Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Reuel Gerecht of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The discussion was moderated by Lee Smith of the Weekly Standard.

(To read full notes, continue below the fold or click here for pdf.)

Read the rest of this entry »


Posted in Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islamist movements, Israel, Middle Eastern Media, Palestine, Political Parties, Reform, Turkey, US foreign policy | Comment »

The Casablanca Call for Democracy and Human Rights

November 15th, 2010 by Evan

The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy recently published a document titled “The Casablanca Call for Democracy and Human Rights,” imploring governments and activists across the Middle East to continue working toward democratic reforms: “We, the signatories to this call, as politicians, intellectuals and civil society advocates, believe that the achievement of democracy and the embodiment of human rights in the Arab world is an absolute necessity and requires a broader engagement of all citizens and political and social forces. We observe, with great concern, the dramatic and alarming backsliding of political reforms in the Arab world, due to several structural obstacles since the beginning of the new century. We hereby appeal to all parties concerned with the future of democracy - governments, civil society institutions, political organizations, trade unions, and the media - in the belief that the achievement of real and effective reforms is the responsibility of all parties.”

The authors go on to list 12 actions that must be taken to ensure the success of reforms including the release of political prisoners, guarantees for the freedom of expression, and the participation of the private sector in political reforms. To date, over 600 people have signed the document.


Posted in Freedom, Human Rights, Reform | Comment »

“Islamic Feminism and Beyond”

November 15th, 2010 by Jason

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Middle East Program released a new paper (pdf) today, titled “Islamic Feminism and Beyond: The New Frontier.” The introduction is written by Haleh Esfandiari and Margot Badran, and the paper includes six sections covering a range of topics and countries. The articles include “Feminist Activism for Change in Family Laws and Practices: Lessons from the Egyptian Past for the Global Present” by Margot Badran, “Recent Amendments in the Turkish Civil and Criminal Codes and the Role of Feminist NGOs” by Binnaz Toprak, “Women and the Politics of Reform in Morocco” by Souad Eddouada, “Beyond Islamic Feminism: Women and Representation in Iran’s Democracy Movement” by Nayereh Tohidi, “The Personal Status Code and Women’s Celibacy in Tunisia” by Lilia Labidi, and “Analyzing Reform Successes and Failures: The Personal Status Regime in the Arab World” by Amaney Jamal.


Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Human Rights, Iran, Morocco, Reform, Tunisia, Turkey, Women | Comment »

Morocco: “Let Democracy Reign” in Western Sahara

November 10th, 2010 by Anna

At Foreign Policy’s Middle East Channel, Carne Ross of the diplomatic advisory group Independent Diplomat criticizes a recent article that calls for autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. He describes “the devastating violence unleashed by Moroccan authorities against the indigenous Saharawi people of Western Sahara in recent days,” including against Sahrawi protesters earlier this week. He argues that “the autonomy proposal is completely at odds with the peace agreement” signed in 1991, and charges that Morocco has undermined progress on the deal, including by challenging the voter registration process. He calls on human rights organizations and foreign governments to condemn the violence and affirms the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. Ross proposes: “let democracy reign. Give the people a vote. Let them decide between Morocco and independence.”


Posted in Human Rights, Morocco, Protests, Western Sahara | Comment »

Iran: Put Human Rights on the Table

November 9th, 2010 by Jason

Massoumeh Torfeh argues at The Guardian’s Comment is Free that the issue of human rights can not be forgotten as Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany) prepare for the resumption of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Torfeh reminds readers of several Iranian citizens currently languishing in prison; Nasrin Sotudeh, a human rights lawyer currently on hunger strike, Mohammad Seifzadeh, a lawyer sentenced to nine years in prison, and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, convicted of adultery and now facing a sentence of stoning. Iranian lawyers have also issued a statement, which Torfeh describes as  “urg(ing) the international community not to ‘deflect attention’ from Iran’s human rights violations just because Iran has agreed to talks with 5+1.”


Posted in Human Rights, Iran, US foreign policy, United Nations | Comment »

Morocco: Confrontation in Laayoune

November 8th, 2010 by Jason

The BBC reports that three people have been killed in a confrontation between Moroccan security forces and Saharawi protesters in the capital of Western Sahara, Laayoune. The security forces reportedly entered the camp, named Gadaym Izik and housing 12,000 protesters, early in the morning “using helicopters and water cannon to force people to leave.” The violence comes as talks between the Moroccan government and the Polisario movement, which seeks the full independence of Western Sahara from Morocco, are scheduled to begin at the United Nations in New York City. The Polisario’s representative at the talks, Ahmed Boujari called the forced removal of the protesters  “‘a deliberate act to wreck the talks.’”


Posted in Human Rights, Morocco, United Nations, Western Sahara | Comment »

Egypt: U.S. Must Address Egypt’s “Police-State Methods”

November 8th, 2010 by Jason

An editorial published in the Washington Post argues that the Egyptian government has begun to use “police-state methods usually associated with Syria or Sudan,” against members of the political opposition. The Mubarak regime’s abuses of the “emergency law” have included the arrests of hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the closing of media outlets, and the abduction and unlawful detention of peaceful political activists. Al Masry Al Youm adds that “Egyptian human rights groups have recently criticized the Obama Administration for supporting stability at the expense of democratic reforms in Egypt, often citing a decision by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide funds only for officially registered NGOs, a condition that adversely affects organizations more critical of the regime.”


Posted in Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, US foreign policy | Comment »

Egypt: “Political System” Explains Violence on Egyptian Campuses

November 3rd, 2010 by Anna

In World Affairs, Alaa Al Aswany juxtaposes his own positive experiences in the American university system with an incident in which a female student at a branch of al-Azhar University in Egypt, upon refusing to allow a security officer to search her bag, was brutally beaten on campus. He contends that the reason, at least in part, that students in Egypt can be abused is the political system. Although the president of a university in the U.S. is chosen “through a rigorous selection process” by multiple committees, monitored throughout his term, and free of government influence, the rector of al-Azhar “is appointed only after the security agencies have approved of him — and a single security report can lead to his dismissal.” Ultimately, the Egyptian security officer that beat a student, Aswany writes, “knows that he is much more powerful than the rector of the university.” Aswany contends that Egyptian university leaders are more interested in demonstrating loyalty to the regime than in education, and concludes: “The difference between what happens at the University of Illinois and al-Azhar University is the difference between a country where the people have authority and the law is sovereign, and a country where only the ruler has authority and is sovereign — while the people have no dignity and no rights.”


Posted in Egypt, Human Rights | Comment »