POMED Notes: “Bahrain: The Forgotten Uprising in the Arab Spring”
On Tuesday, the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted Maryam al-Khawaja, Head of Foreign Relations at the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Al-Khawaja discussed the human rights violations that have accompanied the Government of Bahrain's crackdown on popular protests. Haleh Esfandiari, Director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center, moderated the event. For full event notes, continue reading. Or, click here for the PDF. Al-Khawaja began her presentation ...
October 5, 2011
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Category: Bahrain, DC Event Notes, Foreign Aid, International Law, Political transition, Protests, Reform, UN Human Rights Council, US foreign policy, Women
Syria: New U.N. Resolution, Turkey Drafts Sanctions
Several E.U. powers plan to draft a new U.N. resolution, dropping the immediate calls for sanctions against Syria. Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal are proposing a scaled-back resolution aimed at appeasing the "BRICS" bloc in the U.N., that will threaten ...
September 28, 2011
Category: International Law, Multilateralism, sanctions, Syria, Turkey, United Nations
September 20, 2011
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Category: Bahrain, Featured, Government, Human Rights, International Law, United Nations
Clinton Emphasizes Women’s Political Participation at UN Event
At the end of yesterday's UN Women event on Women's Political Participation, representatives signed a joint declaration affirming that "women’s political participation is fundamental to democracy and essential to the achievement of sustainable development and peace. " The declaration also ...
September 20, 2011
Category: Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Featured, Freedom, International Law, Libya, Political transition, Reform, Tunisia, United Nations, US foreign policy, Women, Women's Rights
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
September 14, 2011
Category: Arab League, Featured, Human Rights, International Law, Multilateralism, sanctions, Syria, United Nations
Bahraini Medics Released, Charges Still Pending
Twenty Bahraini medics who had been incarcerated for giving medical aid to injured protesters this spring were released from prison, though the charges against them are still pending, according to the state news agency, BNA. The verdict pertaining to ...
September 8, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Featured, Government, Gulf Cooperation Council, Human Rights, International Law, Monarchy, Political Parties, Political transition, Protests
Algerian Government Grants Sanctuary to Gadhafi Family
Colum Lynch argues the Algerian government's decision to provide refuge to Muammar Gadhafi's wife and children would appear "at first glance to constitute a clear-cut violation of a U.N. measure banning travel by the Libyan leader and members of ...
August 30, 2011
Category: Civil Society, Featured, Government, International Law, Middle Eastern Media, Protests, Syria, UN Security Council, US foreign policy
August 29, 2011
Category: Civil Society, International Law, Libya, Political transition, Rule of Law, UN Security Council, United Nations
Libya: TNC Moves to Tripoli; U.S. Releases $1.5 Billion
Ali Tarhouni, finance minister for the Transitional National Council (TNC) announced that the Council had begun their work in Tripoli and that Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the TNC leader, would move to Tripoli as soon as the security situation ...
Libya: Assets Release “Moving;” Trying to Find Gadhafi
Al-Jazeera reports that the Libyan Contact Group has agreed to speed the release of $2.5 billion in frozen Libyan assets by the middle of next week. Fathi Baja, head of the rebel political affairs committee said, "there are ...
August 24, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Government, International Law, Syria, UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council, US foreign policy
Lebanon: Hariri Investigation Released Full Indictment
The U.N. backed tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has released the full indictment. Reactions to the release were predictably divided. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said, "the text in our hands ...
Bahrain: BICI’s Bassiouni “No Crimes Against Humanity”
Dr. M. Cherif Bassiouni, chairman of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) setup by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa has concluded that "no crimes against humanity" were committed by the government against the protesters, according to al-Arabiya. ...
August 15, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Freedom, Government, Human Rights, International Law, Monarchy
HRW Calls on Saudi King to Withdraw Counterterrorism Law
Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, wrote a letter to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah today, urging him to withdraw from cabinet consideration the draft Penal Law for Crimes of Terrorism and Its Financing. Roth argues, "the draft law contains numerous flaws that seriously undermine basic human rights and fundamental freedoms in the name of combating terrorism." HRW also attached a memorandum with the letter, identifying the following ways in which the law seriously ...
Libya: ICC Issues Warrant for Gadhafi
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Col. Moammar Gadhafi, for crimes against humanity and ordering attacks against civilians. Warrants were also issued for Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi. The organization Lawyers ...
Situation Report and Policy Recommendations for Libya
According to a Situation Report on Libya released by the Libya Outreach Group on Friday, Colonel Moammar Gadhafi's forces are moving to the Western Mountains in an attempt to attack the Wazin border crossing, over 100 opposition fighters are receiving high-level military training in the Western Mountains, Gadhafi is considering fleeing Tripoli, the International Court is set to decide on Monday whether or not to issue an arrest warrest for ...
June 25, 2011
Category: Foreign Aid, Freedom, Government, Human Rights, ICC, International Law, Libya
ICC is Set to Decide Qadhafi’s Fate
A panel of judges from the International Criminal Court are meeting on Monday to decide whether Colonel Moammar Qadhafi and his son, Saif al Islam, should be arrested for "widespread and systematic attacks" on civilians. According to Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief ICC prosecutor, the court has evidence of Qadhafi ordering attacks on unarmed civilians, torture and disappearance of protesters. Charges would include the deaths of over 1000 people since the anti-government ...