Project on Middle East Democracy

Project on Middle East Democracy
The POMED Wire Archives


Category: NGOs

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 »

POMED Notes: “Egypt’s Political Future: The Parliamentary Elections and Beyond”

November 18th, 2010 by Jason

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace held an event on Thursday titled “Egypt’s Political Future: The Parliamentary Elections and Beyond.” The speakers for the event were Michele Dunne, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment and editor of the online journal, the Arab Reform Bulletin, and Amr Hamzawy, research director and senior associate at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. The discussion was moderated by Jennifer Windsor, the associate dean for Programs and Studies at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown.

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

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Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Islamist movements, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs, Political Parties, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »

Egypt: Mubarak Insists Elections Will Be Fair, NGOs Disagree

November 10th, 2010 by Anna

At an NDP conference today, Hosni Mubarak said: “I reiterate the desire, of myself and my party, for free, transparent elections, conducted under the oversight of the High Elections Commission and civil society.” Various civil society groups, meanwhile, have called attention to shortcomings in the electoral process. Yesterday, the Forum of Independent Human Rights NGOs criticized the government’s crackdown on media and civil organizations, predicting in a report titled “Rigging the 2010 Parliamentary Elections in Egypt” that the upcoming vote “will not meet the international standards for free and fair elections.”


Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, NGOs | Comment »

Bahrain: Election Monitoring Efforts Announced

October 8th, 2010 by Evan

Bahraini officials recently announced the details of domestic electoral monitoring efforts for the October 23 parliamentary election. Justice Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa said that 300 citizens, four NGOs and the Bahrain Human Rights National Commission will monitor the vote. In an interview in The National, Al Khalifa dismissed the calls for international monitors, saying “It’s a matter of educating our people. We are a national institution and we are organising for the national election.” Opposition leaders responded to the announcement by saying that while the government goes to great lengths to create the illusion of legitimacy, the electoral process in Bahrain remains deeply flawed. Districts have been drawn to give the ruling Sunni minority an advantage, the country’s convoluted polling system gives the regime the ability to influence elections, and the  government recently took control of the Bahrain Human Rights Society, one of the key NGOs tasked with monitoring the election.


Posted in Bahrain, Elections, Freedom, NGOs | Comment »

Egypt: No Free and Fair Oversight of Elections

September 27th, 2010 by Jason

The lack of independent judicial oversight during the November parliamentary elections “raises expectations of fraud,” according to an article in Al-Masry Al-Youm. The lack of oversight can be traced to the 2000 elections when “‘…the country experienced its first ever free elections, as the constitutional court had decided that each ballot box had to be supervised by a judge,”’ says Nasser Amin, the general director of the Arab Center for Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession.  In part because of this rule, the Muslim Brotherhood was able to mount a real challenge to the NDP in 2005. This precipitated the amendment of Article 88 of the Egyptian constitution in 2007, which established an “11-member official electoral monitoring committee, composed of judges and non-partisan public figure,” that the opposition views as corrupt.  Leftist Tagammu Party leader Refaat al-Saeed said the committee resembles a secret organization: “’Where is the headquarters of this committee? What phone number does it have, or email address?’”

The article goes on to list other concerns, including the presence of government backed NGOs, the use of manual voting lists rather than computerized lists, and the possibility that the NDP is actively negotiating with opposition groups to simply award them a set number of seats in parliament:  “‘…it (the government) will distribute the 100 seats that it won’t keep for the NDP between the Wafd, Tagammu and Nasserist Parties as well as independents, keeping 344 seats for members of the dominant party,’” Amin, told Al-Masry Al-Youm.


Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Judiciary, NGOs, Political Parties | Comment »

Egypt: US “Interested in the Integrity of These Elections”

September 27th, 2010 by Anna

Speaking at the US Embassy in Cairo over the weekend, the State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Tamara Wittes emphasized the need for Egypt’s upcoming elections to be free and fair. According to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Wittes asserted that Egyptians should be allowed to participate peacefully in political activities, and that “[i]t is important that we see an open electoral process that the Egyptians feel is fair.” She also spoke about US support for nongovernmental organizations in the country, saying: “We firmly believe that civil society plays a powerful role in holding the government accountable.” In addition, Wittes stressed that the United States, as well as other governments, are “interested in the integrity of these elections” and will continue to engage with the Egyptian government to ensure that democratic principles are upheld.


Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, NGOs, US foreign policy | Comment »

POMED Notes: “What’s Next? Prospects for Iraq’s Democratic Future.”

September 20th, 2010 by Jason

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) held a panel discussion today to discuss the ongoing political impasse in Iraq. The event was moderated by Michael Svetlik, the Vice President of Programs for IFES. The speakers for the event were Ted Galen Carpenter, Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy at the CATO Institute, Perry Cammack, a professional staff member for Senator John Kerry who focuses on the Middle East, and Sean Dunne, IFES Chief of Party in Iraq.

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

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Posted in Civil Society, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Iraq, Judiciary, Kurds, Military, NGOs, Political Parties, Public Opinion, Sectarianism, US foreign policy | Comment »

POMED Notes: “Egypt at the Tipping Point?”

September 17th, 2010 by Anna

On Friday, David Ottaway gave a talk at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars titled “Egypt at the Tipping Point?” Ottaway – who is a senior scholar at the Wilson Center and the former Bureau Chief for the Washington Post in Cairo – discussed the findings from his recent paper, published in the Wilson Center Middle East Program’s Summer 2010 Occasional Paper Series. The talk was introduced and moderated by Haleh Esfandiari, the director of the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program.

(To read the full event summary, continue below. Or, click here to read the pdf.)

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Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Events, Freedom, Human Rights, Islamist movements, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs, Political Parties, Protests, Public Opinion, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »

Syria: Egyptian Activists to Protest Detention of Syrian Blogger

September 17th, 2010 by Anna

Sarah Carr of Daily News Egypt reported yesterday that a group of Egyptian activists from the Arab Network for Human Rights Information and the April 6 Youth Movement plan to demonstrate outside Syria’s embassy in Egypt on Sunday. They are calling for the release of 19 year-old Syrian blogger Tal el-Melouhy, who has been in detention for nine months. El-Melouhy reportedly wrote and published pieces in support of the Palestinian cause on her blog “Medawwenty,” and was arrested last December. A few weeks ago, the blogger’s mother wrote an open letter to President Al-Assad in which she stated that she received promises from security officials that her daughter would be released by the start of Ramadan. According to Egyptian activist Mohamed Maree, al-Melouhy’s young age is part of the reason that Egyptians are protesting, and said: “Tal will be a symbol of human rights abuses in Syria. During the protest we will call for her release in addition to the release of other prisoners of conscience.”


Posted in Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, NGOs, Protests, Syria | Comment »

Afghanistan: Time to Negotiate With the Taliban?

September 15th, 2010 by Jason

With parliamentary elections three days away and the beginning of a major offensive outside of Kandahar, worries about the coalition’s mission in Afghanistan are growing. Gilles Dorronsoro spotlights the deteriorating security condition in the country: “While it is still safe in Kabul, you can feel the Taliban tightening its hold around the capital.[…] The Taliban have a great deal of influence, but even where they haven’t established control, the Afghan government doesn’t enjoy any support.” Even NGOs are beginning to acknowledge the Taliban’s influence in the country: “The NGOs negotiate directly with Taliban leaders to ensure access to the Afghan people and carry out their programs. The process has become so formalized that international groups can now expect to receive a paper that is stamped and sealed by the Taliban outlining the permissions granted.” Dorronsoro concludes that it is time to begin negotiating with the Taliban and possibly bring them into a new coalition government, “…with assurances that Al Qaeda will not operate in Afghanistan again…”as part of the agreement.


Posted in Afghanistan, Elections, Islamist movements, Military, NGOs, Taliban, US foreign policy, al-Qaeda | Comment »

POMED Notes: “Peace Building in Dangerous Places”

September 14th, 2010 by Jason

The United States Institute of Peace held a panel discussion today that included four of its successful grantees. The event was moderated by Andrew Blum, a program officer at the Grant Program and opening remarks were given by Ambassador Richard H. Solomon, president of the USIP. The panelists for the event were Dr. Abdel-Mitaal Girshab, of the Institute for the Development of Civil Society in Sudan, Masood Karokhail of the Tribal Liaison Office in Afghanistan, Aari Mohammed of INSAN Iraqi Society, and Dr. Maria Emma Wills of the Historical Memory Commission in Colombia.

(For complete notes continue below the fold or click here to read as a pdf.)

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Posted in Afghanistan, Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Foreign Aid, Iraq, Middle Eastern Media, NGOs, Sectarianism, Sudan | Comment »

POMED Notes: New America Foundation “A New Way Forward? Rethinking U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan”

September 8th, 2010 by Jason

The New America Foundation held a panel discussion today to introduce the Afghanistan Study Group’s paper, “A New Way Forward: Rethinking U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan”. (PDF here) The panel members were all members of the study group, although not all of them signed the finished product making for an interesting discussion. The panel included Paul Pillar (Director of Graduate Studies, Center for Peace and Security Studies, Georgetown University and former intelligence officer), Matthew Hoh (Former Foreign Service Officer and Marine, Director, Afghanistan Study Group), Steve Coll (President of the New America Foundation), Brian Katulis (Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress), Charles Kupchan (Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, Professor of International Affairs, Georgetown University,Author, How Enemies Become Friends), Darcy Burner (Director, American Progressive Caucus Policy Foundation), Robert Pape (Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago Director, Chicago Project on Suicide Terrorism Author, Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism), and the event was moderated by Steve Clemons (Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation Publisher, The Washington Note).

 (Continue below the fold for full notes or click here for PDF)

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Posted in Afghanistan, Civil Society, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islamist movements, Military, NGOs, Pakistan, Sectarianism, Taliban, US foreign policy | Comment »

Yemen: Ceasefire in the North and Military v. Develop Aid

September 2nd, 2010 by Jason

Brian O’Neill at Always Judged Guilty brings to our attention two recent articles in the Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal on developments in Yemen. The Atlantic article deals with the recent ceasefire between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels in the north of the country. As O’Neill points out, “…the divisions are not cut-and-dried. This doesn’t fit the normal Sunni-Shi’ite clash we like to read about.” The WSJ article describes a growing gap between military assistance and civilian development assistance that one U.S. official describes as, “… tend(ing) to encourage a negative perspective in Yemen that all we care about is U.S. security.”O’Neill backs up this concern: “This seems on the face to be exactly what many are warning against- pumping in a flood of money to enhance the security services while leaving the massive underpinning structural issues untouched.” He goes on to define the “frustrating paradox of nation-building policies” as, “you can’t build a well while being shot, and the shooting won’t stop until there’s a well.”

On a more hopeful note, the National Democratic Institute has an article out describing their program to bring Yemeni youth together  to teach them conflict resolution techniques. According to NDI, “With almost half of Yemen’s population under age 15 and another one-third aged 15 to 29, a significant percentage of the population is growing acclimated to violence as the primary means to address or resolve conflict.” The program focuses specifically the resolution of tribal conflicts and has already seen some success at the local level.


Posted in Civil Society, Islamist movements, Military, NGOs, Yemen, al-Qaeda | Comment »

Iraq: Shortcomings in Social Service Provision

August 30th, 2010 by Anna

Recent reports have highlighted Iraq’s struggles to provide adequate social services to its citizens. For al-Jazeera yesterday, Victoria Fine profiled the troubled health care system in Iraqi Kurdistan. She describes the obstacles that patients face in getting access to doctors, surgeries, and other state-based medical services, which are officially free in Iraq. To cope, Fine writes, many citizens have turned to “a loose network of NGOs,” including international humanitarian organizations, to access care. In part, the obstacles in accessing medical services stem from a shortage of surgeons and urgent care physicians. Political realities also pose difficulties, according to Fine - a constituent of a particular political party, for example, might “run into problems” by appealing to another party for funding or services.

In a story on Iraq’s recent electricity shortages, Charles Recknagel writes for Radio Free Europe that “the amount [of electricity generated in Iraq] is still woefully inadequate to meet ordinary Iraqis’ needs,” despite improvements in recent years. Historically, electricity shortages have been blamed on the insurgency - the considerable weakening of the insurgency, however, “puts the spotlight for the electricity problems squarely on the government’s ability to deliver a better future.” Ali al-Saffar, an Iraq expert at the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit, estimates that Iraq is meeting only 46% of the demand for electricity, and blames “government bureaucracy, corruption, and unwillingness to get things done.” Recknagel concludes that eliminating some of the “bureaucratic entanglements” limiting power supply might “put Iraq more firmly on the free-market course it needs to become economically and politically strong enough to survive as a democracy.”


Posted in Iraq, NGOs, Political Parties | Comment »

Lebanon: Civil Society Speaking out for National Unity

August 11th, 2010 by Jennifer

Over 25 representatives from Lebanese civil society and NGOs attended a series of workshops on national unity and citizenship yesterday. The event– organized by the Makhzoumi Foundation and the Christians of the Orient and the Collective for Training on Development Action (CRTDA) –emphasized the need to form a common definition of Lebanese nationality over and above sectarian divisions; push for amendments to restrictive laws; and enact social reforms. Specifically, the workshops highlighted empowering women, improving education, and increasing access to health care as important steps to achieving a stronger sense of citizenship. According to Reem Zaben, project coordinator at CRTDA, “We need to encourage integration and we have to work together to develop a common concept of the state and of what our rights are within this state.” More workshops are reportedly planned for after Ramadan, while the CRTDA also intends to complete a report by the end of the year analyzing problems in the provision of social services to Lebanese citizens, and explaining the aggravating affect the situation has on sectarianism within the country.


Posted in Lebanon, NGOs | Comment »

Egypt: Khalid Said Case Continues

July 26th, 2010 by Jennifer

Protests over the June 6 death of Khalid Said continued over the weekend, as several groups organized events in advance of the opening of the first trial of the two policemen involved, which is set to begin tomorrow. In Alexandria, about 2,500 Egyptians assembled on the Corniche, including members of the National Association for Change (NAC), Eksab Haqak, Egyptians Against Corruption, and Egyptian Women for Change. The group held banners with the slogans “We Are All Khaled Saeed” and “No to the Emergency Law, No to Torture.” In Cairo, police broke up a protest by black-clad members of the Facebook group “We’re All Khaled Saeed” as well as a demonstration along the Nile Corniche, in which two NAC activists were arrested. Attorney Mohamed Abdel Aziz cited 5 goals to the protests: to force the Egyptian government to sign an anti-torture protocol; to institute mandatory dismissal of any police officers accused of torture; to monitor police stations; to expand the definition of torture in Egyptian law; and to institute more severe penalties for police brutality against citizens.

The protests also came following a new development in the Khalid case, as Ali Qassem, Said’s uncle, alleged last week that nine men joined by Egyptian security forces attacked and threatened one of the witnesses, Tamer el-Sayed Mohamed, trying to coerce him into altering his testimony.


Posted in Egypt, Human Rights, NGOs, Protests | Comment »

Arab Civil Society — Not as Powerful as Thought

July 26th, 2010 by Farid

Rami G. Khouri writes in The Daily Star that foreign scholars and donors have viewed Arab political culture “through the lens of three arenas”: government, the private sector, and NGOs. Khouri argues that civil society, though “flourishing” in the region, has had a limited impact on democracy promotion in the Arab world. He proposes that the assumption that greater civil society will “spur a more democratic culture” in the Middle East “remains unproven,” stating that foreign governments and Arab activists continue to view the issue using outmoded categories of analysis.” Khouri explains that the division between the private sector, the state, and NGOs is increasingly “blurring” in the Middle East and that while “state services are declining in quality,” services provided by the private sector attract the rich who can afford them, while the poor must rely on the low-quality services of the deteriorating state apparatus. Also, Khouri points out that NGOs in the Middle East are often led by “people whose day jobs are in the government, often in high places” and other social elites who use NGOs as “proxies” for political participation in autocratic Arab states, in which political institutions usually have “limited credibility and impact,” according to Khouri.


Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, NGOs | Comment »

Arab Youth: On the Path to a Revolution?

July 16th, 2010 by Jennifer

In an interesting piece in The Huffington Post, Daoud Kuttab analyzes the situation of the youth in Arab countries, in light of a recent meeting of civil society leaders from Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Palestine (both West Bank and Gaza), and Jordan, under the umbrella of “Naseej,” a five-year community development initiative launched by Save the Children in 2005 with funding from the Ford Foundation. The Naseej project seeks to engage young people, “who account for 60 per cent of the region’s population,” as “active agents in their own development and that of their communities.” The program uses an innovative concept of “by and for the youth” that Kuttab reports has “proved to be more effective than major multimillion dollar fancy projects.” With the project nearing the end of its funding mandate, Hania Aswad, its director, hopes to turn Naseej into a permanent institution.

Kuttab notes that Arab youth leaders expressed some concerns at the event, including restrictions placed on youth NGOs by Arab governments; the portrayal of youth organizations that receive foreign funding as Western “puppets”; and long-term sustainability and structure issues for youth civil society. Nevertheless, Kuttab commends Naseej for its relative success, arguing that such initiatives could eventually lead to a ground-up youth mobilization across the Arab world: “The energy of today’s young Arab leaders has certainly not reached the critical mass that is required for major change and reform. But it is clear that in a few years, if the present direction continues, with the current passion and commitment, we will witness such a critical mass whose impact will surely be felt throughout the region.”


Posted in Foreign Aid, NGOs | Comment »

Egypt: Human Rights Report Paints Ugly Picture

July 14th, 2010 by Jennifer

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) held a press conference yesterday to announce the completion of a 578-page report on torture, detention, and human rights abuse in Egypt. According to the annual report, in 2009, 12 people were tortured to death by Egyptian police; 63 cases of torture in detention occurred; 530 cases of mistreatment of prisoners were recorded; 113 people were detained arbitrarily; 20 “disappearances” occurred; the police carried out ten cases of “collective punishment” to extract information; 3 civilians were tried before military tribunals; 82 peaceful demonstrations were put down; 190 instances where freedom of expression was repressed or blocked were recorded; and 148 reporters were tried on charges of libel or spreading “rumors.” Other violations in 2009 mentioned in the report include widespread arbitrary arrests; detention of prisoners in inhumane conditions; physical and sexual harassment, and verbal humiliation of detainees. The report also documented 125 cases of death resulting from torture in the period between 2000-2009.

Hafez Abu Saada, an attorney and chairman of the EOHR, blamed the longstanding Emergency Law for the prevalence of human rights violations in Egypt. He also indicated that the report’s conclusion includes a set of demands for constitutional, legislative, and human rights policy reform, while expressing his hope that the report “will have a positive effect on the improvement of democracy and human rights situation [sic] in Egypt,” according to the organization’s website. The report comes at a time of heightened international and U.S. focus on human rights abuses in Egypt, following the death of Khalid Said last month.


Posted in Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, NGOs, Publications | Comment »

Sec. Clinton: Freedom of Association Critical to Democratization

July 6th, 2010 by Jennifer

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made important remarks on civil society, freedom of association, and democracy promotion at the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Community of Democracies in Poland this weekend. Clinton identified three essential “legs” of the stool supporting a free nation: representative government, a well-functioning market, and civil society, stating that these three pillars “lift and support nations as they reach for higher standards of progress and prosperity.” Calling Poland a “case study” in “how a vibrant civil society can produce progress” in a previously non-democratic nation, Clinton called for progress in the Middle East and in Egypt specifically on the issue of freedom of association. Commenting that in many countries, “the walls are closing in on civic organizations,” she added:

“The Middle East and North Africa are home to a diverse collection of civil society groups. But too many governments in the region still resort to intimidation, questionable legal practices, restrictions on NGO registration, efforts to silence bloggers. I hope we will see progress on this issue, and especially in Egypt, where that country’s vibrant civil society has often been subjected to government pressure in the form of canceled conferences, harassing phone calls, frequent reminders that the government can close organizations down, even detention and long-term imprisonment and exile.”

Clinton suggested that nations in the region that hold elections, but do not accept pluralism, opposition, and other key aspects of a democratic society, cannot be considered true democracies. In light of the challenges posed by repressive states worldwide, Clinton pledged that the United States will work with the Community of Democracies to develop initiatives in support of civil society. In that regard, she proposed that international efforts should include four elements: the Community of Democracies should establish an objective, independent mechanism to monitor repression of NGOs; the UN Human Rights Council should give specific attention to freedom of association as a human right; the Community of Democracies and the U.S. should work with regional and other organizations to take stronger action in defense of freedom of association; and finally, the international bodies involved should coordinate their diplomatic pressures to achieve results. Clinton also announced the creation of a new fund to support the work of NGOs, to which the U.S. intends to contribute $2 million.

Affirming the administration’s commitment to the matter, Clinton concluded, “We will continue raising democracy and human rights issues at the highest levels in our contacts with foreign governments.” President Obama issued parallel statements on the occasion, voicing the United States’ concern about “the spread of restrictions on civil society, the growing use of law to curb rather than enhance freedom, and widespread corruption that is undermining the faith of citizens in their governments,” and calling for enhanced partnership with the Community of Democracies to address these issues.


Posted in Foreign Aid, Freedom, NGOs, US foreign policy, United Nations | Comment »