Analysts say Kuwait’s mixture of non-party democracy and persistent monarchical power have led to political and economic stagnation:
- Critics Blame Kuwait’s ‘Half Democracy’ for Political Deadlocks (AFP/Daily Star Lebanon)
ABA gives award for Abdurrahman al-Lahem for his legal defense of human rights in Saudi Arabia:
- American Bar Association Honors Saudi Dissident (AFP/Daily Star Lebanon)
Baghdad’s contradictory messages on Iranian influence in Iraq are shaped by the costs and benefits of attempting to simultaneously maintaining good relations with Tehran and Washington:
- Iraq Sends Mixed Message On Iran, Weapons (Los Angeles Times)
Rumors swirl in Turkish media of possible plans by AKP members to form a new party in case the “judicial coup†succeeds:
- Turkish PM’s Office Denies Reports On Party Plans (Reuters/Washington Post)
Global food crisis rocks war-torn Somalia, leading to unrest in the capital:
- Tens of Thousands Riot in Somalia Over Rising Food Prices (Associated Press/Washington Post)
Indonesian Muslim scholars assert that media outlets need to focus less on radicals and more on mainstream religious figures promoting compatibility between Islam and democracy…
- Media Should Promote Islam and Democracy: Discussion (Jakarta Post)
…however that does not remove the obligation of governments and civil society to protect people’s human rights, including religious freedom:
- Religious Strife Erodes RI Image, Say Experts (Jakarta Post)
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