News and Analysis (5/8/07)

Although Muslim women suffer under sexist and culturally skewed interpretations of Islam, nascent Muslim civil society institutions are stepping in to address and prevent domestic violence: 

• For Some Muslim Wives, Abuse Knows No Borders (Washington Post) 

Suddenly evicted from his home in Anbar province, a shaykh periodically visits his home and patiently waits for the American and Iraqi soldiers to eventually leave his private property: 

• A Sheik and His Uninvited ‘Guests’ Mirror Uneasy Iraq-U.S. Ties (New York Times) 

Minority Sunni Arab activists flee Iran for Syria, but find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place 

• Iranians Find Tenous Refuge in Syria (Christian Science Monitor) 

Meeting between EU and Gulf leaders commence, free trade and regional security are the main discussion topics: 

• Middle East: EU-Gulf Summit Opens in Riyadh (Adnkronos International) 

Iraq news compilation by Middle East expert Juan Cole includes Sunni threats to pull out of the government, rampant sectarianism dominating the minds of tribal leaders of Anbar in spite of its so-called stabilization, and what are the real issues behind the Iraqi oil bill: 

• Sunnis Threaten to Pull out of al-Maliki Government, Demand a Unitary Iraq; 65 Killed in Civil War Violence (Informed Comment) 

• Petroleum Law Not About Fair Distribution of Revenues (Informed Comment) 

Selfless act by Muslim student at Virginia Tech gave his life to save others’: 

• Student Gave His Life To Save Others (Sky News)

Alejandro

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