Asia Features International

Iran offers “eternal” support to Syrian regime

The two-day working visit of the head of national security and foreign policy committee of the Iranian parliament, Alaedin Boroujerdi, to Syria during which he met with prominent officials such as President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi, and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem ended on Thursday. Addressing the press before leaving for Tehran, Boroujerdi said […]

Asia Features International

US Drone Downed by Syria or Suffered Malfunction?

Syrian authorities have said that their air forces have shot down what they described as “a hostile US surveillance aircraft in Latakia” province, the stronghold of Bachar al-Assad in north-west of Syria. The state-controlled Syrian news agency said “air defences brought down a hostile US surveillance plane in northern Latakia”, stressing that the hit aircraft […]

Egypt Features Headlines

US must not sideline Egypt as the terrorist threat is expanding, Sisi

President Al-Sisi has warned that terrorism is no longer a national or regional issue but a “threat to the stability and security of the whole world” that continues to expand. He called for a religious “revolution” and urged moderate Muslims to “stand up” against terrorists giving a distorted image of Islam before stressing that it […]

Asia International

Qatar: U.S training Syrian rebels in Qatar

Sources close to Qatari and U.S military operations have revealed that fighters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are being trained in Qatar. The objective of the training is to oust President Assad, fight against the Islamist State and probably against other overtly Islamist insurgent groups. The training according to a source is being held […]

Columns Features Opinions

Pregnant in War, a Fact of Life for Too Many Women in the Middle East

UNITED NATIONS – Imagine giving birth in a refugee camp after you fled the brutal repression of an Islamic group or while missiles are being dropped a few meters away. You will then understand how war and forced displacement in the Middle East are taking a heavy toll on pregnant women. As humanitarian crisis grew […]

Columns Opinions

Islamic law and human rights: do they mix? (part II)

Muslim jurists can interpret Islamic law in a way that is consistent with international human rights law. Militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria have raised concern over the impact of a conservative interpretation of the Sharia (i.e. Islamic law). The jihadist group, which grew out of Al Qaeda in Iraq, proclaims itself […]

Opinions

Islamic law and human rights: do they mix? (part I)

There is an ideological dichotomy between international human rights law and Islamic law, which may explain the numerous human rights abuses in the Muslim world. On August 19, the faculty of law of Buenos Aires University presented the first international code of human rights published by Thomson Reuters. It gathers all the rights, declarations and […]

Features Op Eds Opinions

The inconvenient truth : Arab states failure to support Palestinians

Notwithstanding passionate discourses against Western responsibility and “Zionist conspiracy”, commitment to the Palestinian cause has not translated into any support.   “Israel is an abnormal case in the history of humankind and the geopolitical map of the world.” These words, uttered by Mr. Imad Nabil Jadaa, Ambassador of Palestine in Chile on August 14, are […]

Egypt Features Headlines

Egypt’s military turns to ‘made in Russia’

Russia could be on the verge of signing an agreement with Egypt as reports claim that a delegation of advisers is in Cairo to meet with officials. Egypt is expected to buy 24 advanced MiG-35 fighter jets as part of its switch towards using Russian military hardware. Negotiations have reached advanced stages. The MiG-35 jets […]