Dissent

By Nicholas McGeehan via Human Rights Watch Follow @Ncgeehan Many Bahraini activists have borne the brunt of their government’s unjust laws, unfair convictions and unlawful tactics, but few have resisted with such steely resolve as the activists in the al-Khawaja family. Maryam al-Khawaja’s August 30 arrest on charges of assaulting a police officer at Manama […]

African-Americans

Sean Hannity Pwned by Patricia Bynes when he tries to “Educate” Her

contributors

The Young Turks: “A Ferguson, Mo. official was having none of Fox News host Sean Hannity’s attempt to “educate” her on police brutality Wednesday night. Hannity kicked off an interview with Democratic committeewoman Patricia Bynes by pointing out that she was not present when black teenager Michael Brown, who was unarmed, was shot by a […]

Democracy

Why Militarized Policing is the worst Response to Ferguson’s Problems

contributors

By Chris Cocking, University of Brighton The town of Ferguson, Missouri has now seen ten days of almost nightly disorder following the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by the police. The decision to bring in the National Guard has not quelled the disorder and in fact may be aggravating the situation. Society often has […]

Democracy

How effective will Erdogan be as Turkey’s new President?

contributors

By Mustafa Gurbuz The future of Turkey depends not only on Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ambitions but also strategies of the opposition parties, which have proven to be ineffective so far. Turkey’s first direct presidential election results were no surprise. But despite his success by a narrow margin of 51.8 %, Erdogan did not achieve the […]

Central Intelligence Agency

How America made Martyrs of two Iranian Democrats and overthrew Iran’s Liberal Government in 1953

contributors

By Farhad Malekafzali August 19 is the anniversary of the 1953 CIA-MI6 coup in Iran. The coup overthrew a government with a remarkable commitment to the norms of liberal democracy. The fate of Premier Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh has rightfully received a good deal of scholarly and journalistic attention. He was tried for treason, imprisoned for […]

Democracy

Largest Israeli anti-War Rally since Gaza Campaign Began: 10,000 Protest in Tel Aviv

contributors

Reuters: “Anti-war demonstrators protest against the war in Gaza at a rally in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square. Rough Cut” – Largest anti-war rally since attack on Gaza began in July. Reuters: “Anti-war demonstrators protest in Tel Aviv” For an idea what is driving the protesters, from Meretz and Jewish Voice for Peace, see Social TV, […]

Democracy

Only Mideast Democracy? In Midst of War, Israel Clamps Down on Dissent

contributors

By Sarah Lazare As a tenuous ceasefire takes hold, the besieged Gaza strip must contend with the path of death and destruction left by Israel’s month-long military assault, including 1,939 Palestinian lives lost, 9,886 wounded, over 200,000 displaced, and more than 10,000 Palestinian housing units severely damaged or completely ruined. Israeli critics of the “Operation […]

Arab Spring

Q & A w/ Juan Cole on “The New Arabs”: If Elders in Mideast Can’t Get it Done, will the Youth?

Juan Cole

by *JOSEPH RICHARD PREVILLE and JULIE POUCHER HARBIN for ISLAMiCommentary Column » By the Book “Many Palestinians see the Israelis as aggressive colonizers of Palestinian land and resources or as jailers; many Israelis see the Palestinians as irrational, violent and a ticking demographic time bomb that endangers a Jewish-majority state between the Jordan and the […]