News and Analysis (2/25/10)

With four coups since 1960, the arrests indicate that civilian rule has deepened enough to challenge the military for ultimate authority in Turkey:

• Turkey Coup Plot: 12 Officers Charged as Government Takes on Military (Christian Science Monitor)

Records “show that Afghan passengers took more than $180 million to Dubai during a two-month period starting in July. If that rate held for the entire year, the amount of cash that left Afghanistan in 2009 would have far exceeded the country’s annual tax and other domestic revenue of about $875 million”:

• Officials Puzzle Over Millions of Dollars Leaving Afghanistan by Plane for Dubai (Washington Post)

Expectations of votes largely divided by sect raises the question of which Shi’a group will emerge as leader of the majority:

• In an Iraqi City, the Real Ballot Contest Is for Shiite Leadership (NY Times)

“Khan says she was initially told she could wear a hijab, or headscarf, but a visiting district manager said scarves were not allowed during work hours”:

• Woman Says Abercrombie Fired Her Over Headscarf (AP / Washington Post)

As the list of suspects continues to grow, Israel remains silent:

• Mystery Over Dubai Killing of Hamas Official Deepens (Guardian)

As his father sits in an Israeli prison for political activity:

• Son of Hamas Founder Says He Served Israel as an Informant (Washington Post)

Syria hopes to play a crucial role in mediating peace negotiations between Iran and the West:

• Ahmadinejad Set for Syria Talks (Al Jazeera)

The state has never executed anyone under the law, but angry mobs have killed “many”:

• Pakistan Intends to Alter Blasphemy Law (Reuters / Washington Post)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant