International Politics and Economy

British Pathe | — “Footage from 1915 of Constantinople, in the Ottoman empire (now Istanbul, Turkey), as the allies approach the city during World War One. Tracking shot on the water (Bosporus straits), moving to left. We pass many old buildings, Hagia Sophia, as well as other churches and mosques with domes, minarets, etc. Low […]

Copts

Dissident Youth, Facing Military-Media Crackdown, begin new Exodus from Egypt

contributors

By Muhammad Moneib | (Your Middle East) — “A lot of posts share tips and tricks about finding a legal way out of Egypt” Perfectly timing the theatrical run of Ridley Scott’s epic new movie, starring Christian Bale as Moses, God’s prophet who leads the oppressed Israelites out of ancient Egypt through the miraculous parting […]

censorship

NCIS Egypt-Style: 820 Civilians referred to Military Courts since October

contributors

Human Rights Watch | — (New York) – Egyptian authorities have referred hundreds of civilians to military courts based on an October 2014 decree by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. At least 820 civilians have been referred to military prosecutors in the past six weeks based on the unprecedented extension of military court authority, according to […]

Islamophobia

Germany Accepts 200,000 Asylum seekers in 2014; Thousands of Bigots Protest ‘Islamization’

contributors

BBC News | — “A record 17,500 people turn out for the latest “anti-Islamisation” rally in the German city of Dresden, according to police estimates.” BBC from Tuesday: “Anti-Islam ‘Pegida’ rally in Dresden sees record turnout”

Dissent

Schoolboy arrested for insulting Turkish president released

contributors

Euronews | — “A Turkish teenager who was arrested at his school on Wednesday for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been released from police custody. The 16-year-old was met by his parents. His mother said: “I’m not ashamed of my son.” The boy, who has not been named because of Turkish laws that […]

Christianity

How Jesus’ Message of Peace & Non-Violence Got Lost

contributors

By Mairead Maguire | (Nobel Peace Laureate) BELFAST (IPS) – I recently visited Assisi, the home of St. Francis and St. Clare, two great spirits whose lives have inspired us and millions of people around the world. St. Francis, a man of peace, and St. Clare, a woman of prayer, whose message of love, compassion, […]

Democracy

Tunisia: Nationalist Candidate’s claimed win in Presidential Poll Contested

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — The major political parties do fairly sophisticated exit polling in Tunisian elections now, and secular, nationalist warhorse Beji Caid Essebsi claimed a victory of some 52 or 53% on Sunday evening. His opponent, human rights activist and incumbent interim president, Moncef Marzouki, however, declined to concede. Formal results […]

Dissent

Leftist Jordanians protest expected gas deal with Israel

contributors

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Dozens of protesters marched in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Friday to denounce a gas deal with Israel that is expected to be passed by the end of the year. Protesters held signs against the Israeli diplomatic mission in Jordan and against normalization with Israel during the rally, bearing messages such […]

Drones

Top 7 Ways Assassination Fails USA as Policy

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole Wikileaks has released a government assessment of drone strikes aimed at assassinating top leaders. The document urges such strikes, but is amazingly frank about the drawbacks. it says, “Potential negative effects of HVT ope rations include increasing the level of insurgent support, causing a government to neglect other aspects of its counterinsurgency […]