Month: April 2007

Strife Iraq is worsened by allegations that PM Maliki’s cabinet fired some of the nation’s top police and army commanders based on sectarian considerations: Maliki’s Office Is Seen Behind Purge in Forces (Washington Post) Iran’s decision to send high-level official on Iraq conference sends reassuring message that “some diplomatic doors remain open” between Tehran and…

While an independent film powerfully highlights the death of an innocent Afghan to raise questions about the US’ use of indefinite detention and torture, 82 inmates at Guantanamo are cleared of charged, but still detained and the US-backed Ethiopian government continues to indefinitely detain American-Muslim: Down a Dark Road (Washington Post) 82 Inmates Cleared but Still Held…

Turkish Parliament most likely to vote in first Islamic-oriented president since the founding of the secular republic: Turkish Parliament to Select President (Associated Press) Saudi Arabia completes massive preemptory crackdown on alleged terrorists plotting attacks on “‘public figures, oil facilities, refineries … and military zones’”: Saudis Arrest 172 in Alleged Terror Plot (Associated Press) High…

China sentences Uighar Muslim man to nine years in prison: “His crime? Having a human rights activist for a mother” Inherited Persecution (Washington Post) Egypt tries civilians in secret military court: Muslim Brothers on Military Trial (BBC) Iranian Judge warns of unintended consequences as police enforce ‘Islamic dresscode’:  “Hauling women and young people to the…

In the wake of publicized abuses and appointment of new Undersecretary of Intelligence, Department of Defense announces end to obscure and intrusive domestic intelligence program:     Pentagon to End Talon Data-Gathering Program (Washington Post)  Extremist secular nationalism and the interference of the secular military establishment foment religious intolerance toward faith-based activism and religious minorities in Turkey: …

Syrian democracy and human rights reform advocate Anwar al-Bunni is arrested by government security forces for spreading “hostile information”: Syria Jails Human Rights Activist (BBC News) Despite condemnations and allegations of fraud, intimidation and other forms of abuse from European Union and Nigerian electoral watchdog NGO, Umaru Yar’Adua is named victor of elections: Nigeria Election…

Efforts to enact security sector reforms to combat lawlessness and internal fighting among Palestinians suffer set back as the Interior Minister submits his resignation: Palestinian Minister ‘Resigns’ (Al-Jazeera) Somalis many challenges to fleeing for safety: Some can’t leave the country, others brave the deadly sea route trying to escape to Yemen and others still who…

While lead Presidential candidates and Nigeria’s head monitoring organization call for new elections, the apathetic Syrian “electorate” openly voice openly voice “their lack of interest in the polls”: Nigerian Candidates Reject Poll (BBC News) Syrians Unmoved by Chance to Vote (BBC News) Prime Minister Maliki and prominent Sunni parliamentarian Adnan Al-Dulaimi reject sectarian wall built…

Thursday’s deadly bombings demonstrate that without fast and smart political action from the Iraqi government, the ‘surge’ is a failure and the bodies will continue to pile up: Iraq Falling Behind on ‘Benchmarks’ (Christian Science Monitor) “Are we in the West Bank?” – Abu Qusay, Baghdad resident In Baghdad, U.S. Troops Build Wall to Curb…