Arab World

Manifesto of the Under-Signed | Tunisia | – – During the 61st anniversary commemorating the enactment of the Personal Status Code, the Tunisian Head of State Beji Caïd Essebsi made two announcements of historic proportions. If implemented, they would constitute a major step forward in the field of women’s rights. The first proposal concerns equal […]

Feminism

Given Fundamentalist impact on Syria, Women’s Freedoms in Doubt

contributors

By Manal Ismael | ( Global Voices Online ) | – – In early September 2017, a piece of paper with a potent message targeted against women, held by a group of Hezbollah fighters in Juroud Arsal, Eastern Lebanon, went viral. The message, which celebrates “every woman who is not using her own photo as […]

Displaced and Refugees

Saudi-led Airstrikes on Yemen Deadly for Children

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – UN Should Create International Inquiry, Return Coalition to ‘List of Shame’ (Beirut) – The Saudi-led coalition carried out five apparently unlawful airstrikes in Yemen since June 2017 that killed 26 children among 39 civilian deaths, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks, which struck four family homes and a […]

al Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula

London Covered but 83 Iraqis killed in ISIL attack largely ignored by US TV News

contributors

TeleSur | – – Security officials say that the attacks are an attempt by the terrorist group to project strength after losing their strongholds in Iraq. The so-called Islamic State group carried out a terrorist attack on Thursday in Iraq that took the lives of at least 83 people, and wounded at least 93 others, […]

Featured

Russia rebuffs Israeli demand for 40 mi. Buffer with Iran in Syria (Haaretz)

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – According to Haaretz Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu asked Vldadimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation, to keep Iranian troops and Hizbullah militiamen in Syria about 40 miles from the Israeli border. The Russian replied that these were matters for the Syrian Arab Army, but that […]

Elections

Can Iran keep its Influence in Baghdad?

Juan Cole

Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – Iran wants to reunite the fighting Shiite Muslim political parties in Iraq that once gave it unconditional support. But that job is far from easy. Last week Mahmoud Shahroudi, the head of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, which advises that country’s theological leader, Ali Khamenei, visited Baghdad. […]

Featured

Saudi Arabia wants to improve Image; Here’s How

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Saudi Arabia is alleged to be hiring a PR firm to improve its tattered image in the West . As usual, such a campaign confuses substance with fluff and the money will be wasted. I am sympathetic to Saudi feelings that they get an unfair rap. […]

Iraq

Will Iraqi Kurdish Independence Referendum Further Roil the Middle East?

contributors

By Ali R. Abootalebi | (Informed Comment) | – – The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President in June 2017 announced September 25 as the day for a referendum on independence from the rest of Iraq. In August, U.S. Central Command Head Gen. Joseph Votel and Defense Secretary James Mattis separately sat down with Kurdish […]

Iraq

As ISIL dwindles, Iraq fears extremists fleeing Syria

contributors

Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – Iraqi forces are upset about the safe passage granted to Islamic State fighters from Syria. They will enter Iraq, where, locals say, thousands of their comrades await them in the extremists’ secret capital. Last week, Lebanese officials confirmed that around 670 defeated members of the extremist […]