Middle East

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 […]

Apartheid

Arab East Jerusalem a la Detroit: Being Starved of Water

contributors

RT | — “This is the renowned Teddy Fountain in central Jerusalem. Spectacular water shows go off every ten minutes – a sight enjoyed every evening by locals and tourists, but in another part of the city, water is not nearly as abundant. Paula Slier reports from the Shufat refugee camp in East Jerusalem.” RT: […]

Bashar al-Assad

Did Iran win “2014”? Top 6 Iran Developments this Year

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — In 2014, Iran made news on a number of important fronts. 1. Although there was no decisive breakthrough in its relationship with the United States and the European Union, there was anticipation that some sort of deal would be reached eventually with the permanent members of the UN […]

Apartheid

5-year-old Palestinian Boy shot in face by Israeli Police

contributors

RT | — “Israeli police have fired a rubber bullet at a five-year-old Palestinian boy’s face as he was getting out of a school bus on his way home, the child’s family told Palestinian media. He sustained a skull fracture under his eye.” RT from Thursday: “5yo Palestinian boy shot in face by Israeli police”

Human Rights

Saudi Women who dared Drive to be tried in Terrorism Court

contributors

DeutscheWelle English | — “Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that bans women from driving. Two women who did just that have been in custody for nearly a month – and they may now be charged with terrorism because they used social media.” DW: “Saudi women drivers fear terror charges | Journal”

Apartheid

Top 5 Five reasons 2014 was a game-changer for Palestine

contributors

By Ramzy Baroud | (Ma’an News Agency) — In terms of losses in human lives, 2014 has been a horrific year for Palestinians, surpassing the horrors of both 2008 and 2009, when an Israeli war against the Gaza Strip killed and wounded thousands. While some aspects of the conflict are stagnating between a corrupt, ineffectual […]

Iraq

Senior Kurdish Politician: Kirkuk is ours; if Arabs & Turkmen want it, let them fight ISIL for it as we do

contributors

Shalaw Mohammed | Sulaymaniyah | (Niqash.org) Senior Iraqi Kurdish politician Mullah Bakhtiar discusses his party’s relationship with Iran and with Kurdish parties in Syria – and in particular, in Kobani and Rojava, as well as whether anyone should be concerned about the unofficial Shiite Muslim militias behaving badly in northern Iraq. The head of the […]

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 […]

Israel

Haniyeh: Hamas committed to ceasefire as long as Israel observes It Too

contributors

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Deputy head of the Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday that the group is committed to the ceasefire with Israel but called for international attention to ensure Israel abide by its terms. “We are committed to what was agreed on in Cairo as long as the occupation is,” he […]