Analysis: Focus on “Iran’s Record of Abuse”
Writing in the Huffington Post, Hadi Ghaemi, the Executive Director of the International Campaign for Human Rights, asks for the U.S. to "challenge Iran's record of abuse and to support the Iranian people's aspirations for rule of law, democratic ...
“Release of U.S. Hikers in Iran Delayed”
The release of the two jailed American hikers in Iran,Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal, was delayed Sunday because one of the judges was on vacation. The lawyer, Masoud Shafiei, said "when he attempted to get the two signatures required for the ...
State Dept. Releases International Religious Freedom Reports
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced the State Department's annual International Religious Freedom Report, stating that "it is our core conviction that religious tolerance is one of the essential elements not only of a sustainable democracy but of ...
September 16, 2011
Category: Algeria, Bahrain, Civil Society, Egypt, Freedom, Iran, Iraq, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, US politics
Oman to Be “Honest Broker” in Hiker Negotiations
As the U.S. seeks to free the last two hikers held in Iran, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, Oman has assumed the role as the "honest broker" between the two countries. After playing a role in releasing American hiker Sarah Shourd in ...
September 16, 2011
Category: Featured, Human Rights, International Law, Iran, Iraq, Multilateralism, Oman
Iran: Opposition Journalist Faces “Inhumane Treatment”
According to Radio Farda, the family of jailed Iranian journalist Isa Saharkhiz, a member of the central council of the Association for the Defense of Press Freedom, wrote to Iran's judiciary chief to complain that he is being ...
September 15, 2011
Category: Featured, Human Rights, International Law, Iran, Reform, US foreign policy, US politics
Kirk: “Standing for Human Rights” in the Senate
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) published the first edition of his newsletter entitled "Standing for Human Rights," in which he outlines his efforts, through various programs and legislation, to champion human rights through the United States Senate. Among his initiatives ...
September 15, 2011
Category: Congress, Democracy Promotion, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Iraq, Legislation, sanctions, Syria, US foreign policy, US politics
Rubio: America Must Champion Democracy Abroad
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations delivered a speech Tuesday at the Jesse Helms' Center emphasizing the need for America to "champion the cause of freedom—not only with the power of our example but also ...
September 14, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Iran, Libya, Military, Reform, Syria, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: “The Arab Uprisings and the United Nations”
On Tuesday, the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and the National Security Network (NSN) hosted a panel discussion with Dr. James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, Geneive Abdo, fellow at the Century Foundation and the National Security Network, and Ted Piccone, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. The event was moderated by Heather Hurlburt, executive director at NSN, with a welcome by Stephen McInerney, executive director ...
September 14, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Egypt, Events, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Iran, Israel, Political transition, Reform, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy
Syria: U.S. Amb. Ford Discusses Policy on Facebook
As violence rages in Syria, U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford has utilized his personal Facebook page to communicate with fellow users critical of U.S. policy in the country. Critics note that Ford's freedom in expressing his views on behalf of ...
September 9, 2011
Category: Featured, Iran, Political transition, Syria, US foreign policy, US politics
Iran: Ahmadinejad Urges Assad to End Violence
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad adjured Bashar al-Assad to end his violent response to Syrian unrest and open talks with the opposition. Ahmadinejad stated "a military solution is never the right solution," and added that "other countries in the ...
September 9, 2011
Category: Featured, Freedom, Government, Iran, Political transition, Protests, Syria
Analysis: Iran Playing Role in Iraq-Syria Relationship
Writing for the Washington Institute of Near East Policy, David Pollack and Ahmad Ali illuminate the growing ties between Baghdad and Damascus, and suggest that Washington policymakers must address this issue. Pollack and Ali assert that "Iraq has stood ...
Iran: Drying Up Of Lake Sprouts Political Protests
Iran's largest lake, Lake Orumieh, has shrunk by about 60 percent in recent years as a result of drought and "misguided development policies." Tensions increased over the lake's falling water levels last week after the Majlis (parliament) decided against lawmakers' proposed fast-track solution. Environmentalists warned that "unless something is done, the lake will disappear forever." Protesters took to the streets demanding action, resulting in conflict with security forces and numerous ...
Iran: Political Prisoners Granted Furlough Despite Additional Arrests
Three reformist political prisoners, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Ghorbanali Behzadannejad and Javad Emam, were granted three-day furloughs in Iran. Tajzadeh was a senior member of the Islamic Iran Participation Front and was arrested for participating in protests during the 2009 presidential elections. He was sentenced to six years in prison. Behzadannejad was sentenced to five years in prison for aiding presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi. Emam was sentenced to one year in prison for ...
September 1, 2011
Category: Freedom, Government, Human Rights, Iran, Journalism, Protests, Reform, Women, Women's Rights, Youth
London-Based Bahraini Group Linked to Iranian Government
The London Evening Standard has reportedly uncovered links between Dr. Saeed Shehabi's London-based group Bahrain Freedom Movement and the Iranian Government. According to the Standard "Dr. Shehabi has made speeches supporting Iranian hardliners and worked for 13 years in offices owned by the government of Iran." These links are troubling as Dr. Shehabi has been as a "credible voice on Bahrain" and even met with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown when ...
Iran: Nationwide Water Gun Fight Scheduled
After 800 men and women gathered in a park in Tehran several weeks ago for a water gun fight, security forces have been tracking participants through social media websites and arresting them. Security forces have been using Facebook to find the organizers and participants of the water gun fight through their Facebook accounts. The Facebook page for "Water Wars in Tehran" now has 19,000 members and 22 local chapters for ...
Bahrain: U.N. Shows Concern Over Human Rights Violations
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights released an update on the situation in Bahrain highlighting that there are currently, 264 cases pending before a military trial. Thousands of others individuals are jobless due to accusations that they ...
WSJ: “Arab Spring Turns Up Heat on Iran”
Farnaz Fassihi writes in the Wall Street Journal that Iran's support for Syria "has rapidly eroded Tehran's credibility among Arab's" resulting in a "foreign policy dilemma" for Iran. Fassihi argues that Iran's support for President Bashar al-Assad will further isolate Iran within the region, however, abandoning Assad "will crumble Iran's platform in Syria." Fassihi writes that Iranian officials have taken a "selective approach" to the Arab Spring hailing Egypt's movements as ...
August 30, 2011
Category: Egypt, Freedom, Government, Iran, Jordan, Libya, NATO, Political Islam, Political transition, Protests, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Syria
Analysts Discuss Syrian-Iranian Alliance
In an interview, Karim Sadjadpour with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discussed the close relationship between Iran and Syria in the wake of the Arab upheavals. According to Sadjadpour, Iran welcomed the Arab unrest until it hit Syria. If President Bashar al-Assad's regime were to fall, it "would be a huge blow" to the Iranian regime and their support of Hezbollah. With the possibility of a new regime in Syria unfriendly towards Hezbollah, ...