News and Analysis (4/24/07)

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 Victor Is Named Despite Protests (Washington Post)
  

Muslim women in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia slowly but steadily empower themselves by entering into the workforce:

• More Saudi Women Join the Workforce, but Limits Remain Strict (Christian Science Monitor)
  
• Shear Insanity in ‘Kabul Beauty School’ (Christian Science Monitor)
  

Some Sudanese are becoming increasingly frustrated with the government’s foot dragging on Darfur, but also feel “aid agencies [that] exaggerate the scale of the humanitarian disaster” and general economic sanctions are counterproductive:

• Sudanese Want Action on Darfur (Christian Science Monitor)

George McGovern takes Vice-President Cheney to task for his comments about the former presidential candidate’s past and current anti-war stances and how they measure up to the current status of Iraq and the “War on Terror”:

• George McGovern: Cheney is Wrong About Me, Wrong About War (LA Times)

Alejandro

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