Al-Jazeera indicates that two rights groups from France plan to sue Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the ruling Baath party. They rights groups are pushing for the French government to investigate whether they (the Baath party) actually own any assets in France. Reuters reports, "  has imposed asset freezes and travel bans on Assad and other officials and targeted companies with links to the Syrian military," and "EU foreign ministers said last ...

In a report released today by the Working Group on Egypt are questions and concerns regarding the transitional government (SCAF) in Egypt. Thoughts and suggestions outlined in the report are summarized below: International monitoring of elections: The report suggests that, "U.S. policymakers should strongly encourage the SCAF to grant domestic as well as international monitors full access to all aspects of the polling process." The SCAF has purported that international monitoring undermines the ...

On Monday, protesters called for action against the government officials who were accused of restraining the peaceful demonstrations. As Bahraini's gathered to rally for reform, Bahrain's king set up an international panel in an effort to investigate the Shi'ite-led protests and the deaths of over 30 people as a result.  Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, the head of the five-member panel, reported on Sunday that the panel would meet with both government officials ...

On Monday, the United States Institute of Peace hosted an event entitled "Beyond Tahrir: The Trajectory of Egypt's Transition." The discussion was with Major General Said Elassar, Assistant to Egyptian Defense Minister, Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). Tara Sonenshine, Executive Vice President, United States Institute of Peace, provided introductory remarks. William Quandt, Edward R. Stettinius Professor of Politics, University of Virginia, moderated the discussion. For full notes, continue reading. ...

Al-Jazeera reports that the court trials for former President Hosni Mubarak and ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly have been merged. The Egyptian cabinet announced the decision today in an effort to further placate protesters who have accused the interim ruling military of retaining the former regime's practices. Additionally, six other high-ranking officials had trial dates set for August 3. Former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif was also charged and ordered detained for 15 days ...

Yemen's opposition rejected government plans for peace talks on Monday claiming that they "had not heard of any such roadmap for peace" thoughVice President Abd-Rabbu Hadi Mansour claimed that a roadmap toward peace would be launched within a week.  The opposition said that they would not engage in peace talks until President Ali Abdullah Saleh signs a transition plan introduced by the Gulf Arab states, which Saleh has backed out ...

Nearly two dozen political parties, coalitions and movements released a joint statement that condemned the attacks on the Abbasiya March on July 23, calling it the "Second Battle of the Camel."  The original Battle of the Camel took place on February 2 when "anti-government thugs" rode camels and attacked the protesters in Tahrir Square.  The statement said that the organizations “strongly condemn the attacks on the peaceful march which started from ...

About 1.2 million Syrians staged an anti-government protest on Friday where at least 11  people were gunned down by government troops, human rights groups reported on Saturday.  Human rights groups also said that security forces used tanks and gunfire in Damascus and other cities on protesters.  President Bashar al-Assad has denied access to almost all foreign journalists and according to activists, communication was completely cut in Syria on Friday. In the ...

Amnesty International (AI) reports that the Draft Penal Law for Terrorism Crimes and Financing Terrorism, a new anti-terrorism law in Saudi Arabia, will allow authorities to prosecute peaceful dissent as terrorist crime. The law provides a broad definition of "terrorist crimes," including "endangering…national unity," "halting the basic law or some of its articles," or "harming the reputation of the state or its position." AI Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Philip Luther argued that the ...

Robert Worth, writing in the New York Times Magazine, recently authored a captivating and in-depth profile of the opposition in Yemen. His piece focused on non-violent efforts, led by Bushra al- Maqtari, in the city of Taiz. Her non-violent efforts were met with overwhelming violence by forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh in late May. On May 29, scores of soldiers loyal to President Saleh stormed the central square of Taiz, ...

Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer and women's activist sentenced to 11 years in prison sent a letter in March 2010 to the head of Iran's judiciary.  The letter was released for the public today: "Your Judge confirmed that Iranian women cannot be ignored under any pretext," Sotoudeh wrote.  Isa Sahahrkhiz, an Iranian journalist and one of the founders of the Society for the Defense of Press Freedom in Iran ...

Reuters reports that Saleh loyalists opened fire in Taiz today killing one protester. The demonstrators had been camping out in the city square for nearly six months calling for an end to Saleh's three decade rule. Additionally, the Republican Guard, headed by Saleh's son, killed another two protesters in Arhab after a three-day clash. It is unknown whether those killed were actively taking part in the battles or if they were caught ...

Al-Masry Al-Youm reports that feminists are dismayed with the progress of protests and are rallying other female rights groups together to defend women's rights against the perceivable threats of resurgent Islamists groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. Feminist Nawal al-Saadawi said, "Women need to unite" in a recent interview. The World Economic Forum's  2010 Global Gender Gap Index (which gauges women's equality) reports that Egypt ranked 125th out of 134 countries. Feminists like Saadawi ...

Today, 14 ministers are reported to take oath in Egypt's cabinet despite continuing protests. Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has already rescheduled the swearing-in twice (one scheduled for this past Monday) due to disagreements  about his cabinet choices by the ruling military council. Sharaf had hopes that reshuffling the cabinet would quell protesters who are continuing a sit-in at the now infamous Tahrir Square in Cairo. Protesters exclaimed that the ministers that the new ...

On Tuesday, the Middle East Program hosted an event at the Woodrow Wilson Center entitled “Arab Spring or Arab Winter (or Both)? Implications for U.S. Policy” featuring expert panelists: Marwan Muasher, Vice President for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Ellen Laipson, President and CEO of the Stimson Center; Rami G.Khouri, Director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of ...