News and Analysis (6/12/07)

“The President cannot eliminate constitutional protections with the stroke of a pen by proclaiming a civilian, even a criminal civilian, an enemy combatant subject to indefinite military detention”–US court of appeals ruling…

• Judges Rule Against U.S. On Detained ‘Combatant’ (Washington Post)

…Meanwhile Georgetown law Professor Rosa Brooks opines that term “unlawful enemy combatant” is the Bush administration’s failed legal attempt to have its cake and it eat too, and ironically finds that civilian courts have been more effective at prosecuting terrorists than the military tribunals:

• What’s Unlawful About These Enemy Combatants? (Christian Science Monitor)

State hegemony and intellectual incompetence cause people to lose trust in the leaders of the once prestigious Al-Azhar University in Egypt:

• A Compass That Can Clash With Modern Life (New York Times)

“Dirty bomber” Jose Padilla trial centers on the translation and meaning of words, with defense arguing that the FBI misconstrues the concept of jihad and “used the most sinister language possible in its translations:”

• Meaning of ‘Jihad’ Focus of Fla. Trial (Associated Press/Washington Post)

Government hypocrisy in Egypt’s latest electoral farce as ruling party claims “unprecedented freedom of expression” and uses religious icon as its party symbol on ballots for illiterate voters, but bans use of religious slogans and images in opposition members’ campaigns and prevents people from reaching polling stations and arrests opposition candidates:

• Egypt Vote Shows Unease with Democracy (Christian Science Monitor)

Muslim faithful of Dagestan caught between heavy-handed tit-for-tat provocations between Russian security forces and militant rebels:

• Tense Front in Moscow’s ‘War on Terror’ (BBC News)

Alejandro

Alejandro Beutel is program assistant for the Minaret of Freedom Institute with expertise in religious freedom, democratization and security issues.