A report released by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran featured interviews with 35 prominent Iranians living within Iran including, activists, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and members of the political oppositions and addressed the possibility of a military strike against Iran.  The interviewees expressed "grave concern" of the possibility of a military conflict, which would negatively impact the human rights situation and provide a "pretext for the full ...

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 ...

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 ...

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) released a statement on Saturday in response to the thousands of people marching to the headquarters of SCAF, accusing the 6 April Movement of attempting to cause a strife between the military and the people.  SCAF's statement was perceived as an attack on the political groups and resulted in over 28 political groups issuing a joint reply.  The reply was a confirmation ...

Libyan representatives have reported they are ready have more talks with the United States and Libyan rebels in an effort to further push Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi from power.  According to a Libyan government spokesman, Gadhafi "will not bow to demands he leave power."  After a productive dialogue with Libyan representatives and the U.S. last week where the U.S. officially recognized Libya's rebel government, government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said, "We believe ...

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 ...

A Saudi Arabian woman was arrested earlier this week in Jeddah for driving during what she said was a medical emergency and will be put on trial.  The unnamed 35-year-old woman was released after her father acted as her "guarantor."  A Saudi daily newspaper, Okaz says that the woman had been suffering from a hemorrhage and did not have access to public transportation or a personal driver to take her ...

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 ...

The Muslim Brotherhood confirmed their scheduled "million man march" set to take place in Tahrir Square on July 29 to "circumvent the will of the people and an aggression against the sovereignty of the people."  According to the Brotherhood's secretary general, Mahmoud Hussein, the protests is in response to the attempts by numerous groups to ignore the referendum passed in March that called for the transfer of power from the ...

On Monday Partners for Democratic Change hosted the Society for International Development, Washington’s Middle East Workgroup for a monthly brown bag lunch entitled “An Update from Bahrain with Bahraini Human Rights Activist, Maryam al-Khawaja.” Monalisa Salib, Senior Manager, Partners for Democratic Change opened the event. Cole Bockenfeld, Advocacy Director for the Project on Middle East Democracy provided background information on events in Bahrain and introduced Maryam al-Khawaja. Notes on the event ...

Syrian's opposition met on Saturday in Istanbul and elected a National Salvation Council to present "a united challenge to President Bashar al-Assad's rule." Meeting participants elected a 25-member National Salvation Council that consisted of Islamists, liberals and independents.  Nearly 350 people attended the meeting, including a number of Syrian exiles.  Due to the crackdown on Friday, the meeting participants were unable to connect with the Syrian opposition in Damascus via ...

Military forces removed tents and dispersed protesters at a sit-in in front of Gharbiya headquarters on Saturday.  The sit-in was organized by political groups including the 6 April Youth Movement and the Freedom and Justice Movement.  Protesters were demanding the dismissal of the heads of city councils in Gharbiya, and for an increase in job opportunities, unemployment benefits and compensation for families of the martyrs of the revolution. General Tareq al-Mahdi, ...

James Traub writes in Foreign Policy on Friday about the meeting in Istanbul with the Libya Contact Group, an assembly of representatives from NATO, Middle Eastern countries, international organizations and the U.S. State Department that spoke on the possibility of a "good outcome" in Libya.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that it is essential to "keep the alliance speaking with one voice."  The coalition decided on Friday to recognize ...

On Saturday, Yemeni protesters organized a transitional council of opposition figures in an effort to force out President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The 17 member council includes individuals from different political affiliations and former Yemeni President Ali Nasser Mohammed, leaders of several opposition groups and exiles. General Abdullah Ali Aleiwa, a former defense minister, as the armed forces commander.   The council will form a 501-member national assembly who will be responsible ...

Dina Guirguis from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy analyzed the growing frustration within Egypt regarding the pace of constitutional change. Guirguia presented an argument of conflict and uncertainty within the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), especially concerning the extent to which SCAF would suppress popular protest. She noted the disagreements between SCAF and the Islamists, especially the Freedom and Justice and Party of the Muslim Brotherhood. ...

On Wednesday the New America Foundation hosted an event entitled “How to Ignite, or Quash a Revolution in 140 Characters or Less.” The event featured eight panels throughout the day, including: Reflecting on the Tunisian Hair Trigger by Sami Ben Gharbia, co-founder of www.nawaat.org, moderated by Steve Coll, President, New America Foundation; Internet Freedom and Human Rights: The Obama Administration's Perspective by Michael H. Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for ...