First Independent Mena Newspaper
President Erdoğan has stated that Egyptian death row prisoner Mohammed Morsi is still the president of Egypt as far as he is concerned. The Turkish president based his stance on democratic principles and criticized the international community for being silent. Erdoğan’s latest attack must have been provoked by the decision of an Egyptian court that […]
At least seven people were killed in Tunisia in violent clashes that occurred lately between local security forces and Islamist militants as tensions build up in the North African country which is bracing for landmark parliamentary elections. Tunisian police officers stormed the home of suspected militants to end a 24-hour standoff on Friday, leaving five […]
With barely less than 48hours before the opening of the polls for the legislative elections in Libya, the United Nations Security Council and the European Union have expressed their concerns about the situation in the country. The elections are being held at a time when rebels control certain parts of Libya with the government struggling […]
It was an excruciating experience for observers and journalists alike. Following the coup of 3 July 2013 and the quiet consolidation of power by army chief al-Sissi, the United States had to weigh its future policy vis-à-vis Egypt carefully. But nobody quite expected the diplomatic tussle that followed – an administration unwilling to recognise a […]
Egypt has received warnings that the European Union (EU) would stop its aid package of €5 billion if its reforms for democracy fail to be effective. In the European Union’s latest report, the European Commission was unsatisfied with the progress Egypt has registered since the elected government took over. EU has already cut some of […]
The role of civil society in bringing about change in the Arab world has been widely acknowledged. Today, civil society organisations (CSOs) face the challenge of helping consolidate the process of reform at a time when progress towards democratisation is uncertain. Emerging think tank and policy research initiatives are at the centre of these efforts, […]
The new governments formed in the aftermath of the Arab Spring are facing the challenge of creating rights-respecting democracies, says Human Rights Watch in its “World Report 2013”, wondering whether these new Arab governments will produce a genuine democracy and fall back into dictatorships. In its 665-page report, HRW says “the creation of a rights-respecting […]
Two years ago, Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution toppled Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali’s dictatorship and ignited the first flames of what would be called the Arab Spring. At the same time, it kindled Tunisians’ hopes and dreams for a better future, a better Tunisia where democracy, freedom and social justice will prevail. Two long years have elapsed, […]
The transitions away from authoritarian rule in North Africa and Burma (also known as Myanmar) have often been compared to one another, highlighting major challenges but also reasons for hope. When Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of Burmese opposition, addressed the Clinton Global Initiative Conference in New York in 2011, […]
The Party of justice and development (PJD) is the first Islamic party to lead the government in Morocco’s modern history. This was the results of the early elections held in Morocco on November 25, 2011. The Islamist party won 107 out of 395 seats. Between pros and cons, the Moroccan society has different views about […]