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December 2005 Archives
December 30, 2005
Orhan Pamuk and the Turkish Officer
Once a month or so, my good friend Turkish (nickname to be explained shortly) and I meet up for lunch to discuss both local and Mideast politics. Turkish is very serious, intelligent and articulate, the sort of person who thinks more than he speaks and measures every word carefully. He is also an ex-officer in the Turkish military and an avowed Kemalist, which makes for an interesting perspective. Once I asked him what he thought about Kurds and he replied with an enigmatic smile: “Kurds are Turks too, they just haven’t realized it yet”. I think he was joking, but I'm not entirely sure.
When we last met, Turkish author Orhan Pamuk was due to appear in court shortly, charged with the “public denigration of Turkish identity” for making a pointed observation in a Swiss newspaper about his country’s silence over Kurd and Armenian deaths. From FT (subscription, but I quote extensively for the uninitiated):
"Thirty thousand Kurds and a million Armenians were killed in these lands and almost nobody but me dares to talk about it."
His comment referred to the two most traumatic events in Turkey's modern history: the struggle against Kurdish separatism in the 1980s and 1990s and the massacre of Ottoman Armenians by Ottoman Turkish forces as the empire collapsed during the first world war. The Armenian question is especially sensitive in Turkey. Armenians say the event marked the twentieth century's first genocide. Turkey rejects any such assertion, though it does not deny that many Armenians and Turks died in those terrible days…
Mr Pamuk is being tried under article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which criminalises "insulting Turkishness, the republic, and the institutions and organs of the state". If found guilty, he faces three years in jail, part of which is an extra punishment for committing his "crime" abroad.
Continue reading "Orhan Pamuk and the Turkish Officer"
Posted by eerie at 09:33 PM
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Filed Under: EU Foreign Policy
, Political Development
, Press Freedom
$500,000 Prize for Advancing Freedom
The winner gets $500,000 cash within the next 6 months.
Well, that got your attention. Nominations are being accepted for the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty. Previous winners include Hernando de Soto and Peter Bauer. It goes to "an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of human freedom."
MENA-oriented folks like our readership may come up with some deserving person others will not immediately think of. Warning to progressives: the prize-givers take economic liberty in free markets as a vital component of broader liberty. So a successful nominee will probably have made an impact in that area.
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 07:51 AM
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Filed Under: Economic Development
, Political Development
December 27, 2005
Dar Fur spillovers: Tchad and a State of War
Thanks to The Skeptic الشكاك (I rather like the blog name by the way, الشكاك, a new development in Dar Fur, one that might have been expected but regardless is interesting for potential implications.
Added: synthesis: My apologies, my initial posting I see is... ahem, somewhat hard to follow. I blame it on the various narcotics and the like for this bloody disease eating my lung. The executive summary is (i) the leader of Tchad declared his country to be in a state of belligerence with the Sudan, (ii) at the same time French General Henri Bentegeat visited French forces in the immediate area issuing a statement « La France condamne toute tentative de prise du pouvoir par les armes » (France condemnes any attenpt to take power by force of arms).
Taken in context, the French are clearly sending a shot across the bows of elements in the Tchad-Soudan border area that might get frisky.
It appears Idriss Idriss Deby, President of Tchad has 'declared' war on Sudan after a fashion. To quote:
In a statement, the government calls on Chadians to mobilise themselves against Sudanese aggression.
Relations between the two states have deteriorated since Chad accused Sudan of being behind Sunday's attack on Adre, which left about 100 people dead.
The strong language in the statement will alarm observers who have already warned that tensions along the Chad-Sudan border are nearing breaking point.
Continue reading "Dar Fur spillovers: Tchad and a State of War"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:02 PM
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Filed Under: North Africa
, Op-Ed
Reporters Without Borders Challenges Egyptian Gov't's Treatment of Journalists
Reporters Without Borders (that's Reporters sans Frontieres to you Francophones) has issued a statement denouncing recent crackdowns in Egypt on journalists. In particular, they highlight the cases of Mohamed Abdul-Latif and Manal Lasheen of Al Fajr (Dawn) who apparently were sued and sentenced to several years in prison without any prior notice whatsoever, in response to a report of theirs exposing the case of an MP's cousin whose criminal sentence was served by a bribed substitute.
The journalist organization also noted the recent summoning of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat columnist and international reporter Mona Eltahawy by the Egyptian State Security in an apparent effort to intimidate her in relation to her critical articles on the recent election cycle. (Cool MENA-interested web surfers may know that your team at 'Aqoul here appears to be the first to publicly report that action.)
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 02:19 PM
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Filed Under: Press Freedom
December 24, 2005
The bubble bursteth?
A Christmas crash for soaring sandland stocks:
Retailers dump UAE stocks
Posted: Friday, December 23, 2005
Dubai: Retail investors put the skids under UAE shares and drove the Dubai market perilously close to the 1.000 point level that analysts say could trigger an institutional sell-off.
The Dubai index, which has fallen steadily since hitting a record high on November 9, closed 4.79 per cent lower at 1,003.72 points. The Abu Dhabi index finished 3.03 per cent down at 4,984.21 points.
Brokers said retail investors were behind most of the selling.
'There is real fear among the small, day traders. This is a clear sign that sentiment has turned,' said Mohammed Yassin of Emirates Capital Corporation.
In Dubai more than 78 million shares traded hands, just above the daily average for a week that has generally seen moderate volumes. The focus next week will be whether the market can keep the index above the key support level of 1000.
'If the index falls below that level then some institutions will have to start selling. I don't expect panic but there will be a gradual sell-off, which could exacerbate the correction,' said one fund manager. [Reuters]
Posted by secretdubai at 04:28 PM
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Filed Under: Economic Policy
, Gulf
, Gulf
, Op-Ed
December 23, 2005
Ayman Nour Verdict Today (Dec. 24) in Egypt
December 24 is the day set by the Egyptian court to give a verdict in the forgery/fraud trial of liberal political candidate Ayman Nour. UPDATE: He was found guilty and sentenced to a five-year term. He is on a hunger-strike.
Informed sources and observers say that this prosecution is a revealing indication of how far the Egyptian government will go to suppress and intimidate opposition; many argue that the fraud charge is merely a pretext to discredit and harass the liberal opposition. Indications of the government's nervousness about scrutiny has included intimidating critical journalists, as in the case of Mona Eltahawy, below.
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 10:57 PM
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Filed Under: Press Freedom
As a side reference: Bin Laden Niece as a Leb Pop Tart
It may not be approp for 'Aqoul at the moment, so I refer you here to my somewhat sordid commentary.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:22 PM
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Filed Under: Gender Issues
Skeletons aren't the only things in closets here
The least bad local paper ran two stories alongside one another yesterday, each ostensibly about Elton John's marriage to (well, civil partnership with) David Furnish. What I found interesting was the way the first and second stories differed.
The first, which was longer and given the top of the page, exclusively quoted people who opposed gay marriages. The people who were quoted could reliably be expected to take a particular line- two were figures from local churches and two more were prominent UAE academics, (unfortunately but predictably) including one who wants to register the UAE's first independent human rights organization. That fact was notable by its absence from this article.
The second article was somewhere between neutral and pro-gay marriage. The only national quoted opposed gay marriage in his own backyard. The last names of people who are quoted do not appear in the article; neither do their places of work (contrast with other article). Also note the phrase "gives a stuff" in this 'family' newspaper. But what grabbed my attention was the first line:
For the rest of Dubai Elton John's wedding is a minor event. But for one shadowy and little-understood minority of Dubaians, it is a very special day.
The author simply cannot explicitly acknowledge that there actually are gay people here. Whenever anyone is caught for 'immoral activities,' the media always describes them as some sort of freaks whose acts are alien to all that the local culture stands for, but a tiny aberration in an otherwise moral country. I suspect it is going to be a fair while before that changes.
Posted by dubaiwalla at 08:58 AM
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Filed Under: Gulf
, Media
, Society & Culture
December 22, 2005
Egyptian Journalist Mona Eltahawy Questioned on Election Column
We've been teasing below but no jokes or banter this entry; this is serious.
Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy's just-issued International Herald Tribune op-ed has been published. It argues that "our recent parliamentary elections with their paltry 25 percent turnout would have been roundly condemned by international observers had they been allowed to come and see how the state hijacked democracy." She has been regularly reporting on the elections and the accompanying problems.
This has caused disturbing repercussions. A source reliably familiar with the post-publication situation confirms that expressing this opinion has resulted in Ms. Eltahawy being officially summoned to the Egyptian State Security for a brief meeting in which a message was conveyed that she was in trouble and being monitored. Persons, especially outside Egypt, interested in the situation may consider noting their concerns to the following organizations.
Continue reading "Egyptian Journalist Mona Eltahawy Questioned on Election Column"
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 07:03 PM
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Filed Under: Media
, North Africa
Sleeper Cell
Putting aside our Mona Eltahawy daydreams for a moment, and because I’ve been a delinquent contributor lately, here is a review of a miniseries I found last night while trying out the “on demand” feature on my digital cable box. Obviously I was trying to avoid finishing an entirely separate entry on Turkey, but since the show happened to be about a terror cell operating in post 9/11 America, I thought it might be worth mentioning here.
Of course, I’ve only managed to watch three episodes so far, so it may end up being a stupid series after all.
Judging by the exposed breasts (ah yes, brace yourselves, my male readers) and provocative subject matter, Sleeper Cell is clearly not for regular network television. Produced by Showtime (which, irritatingly, does not allow non-US visitors to view its website), it follows the progress of an Islamist terror cell as it plans a major attack on US soil. The twist to this tale is that the group has already been infiltrated by an FBI agent posing as a Muslim bent on jihad against the West. The twist to that twist is that he is in fact a devout Muslim, and seems to alternate between morbid fascination and utter revulsion at his terrorist comrades.
Continue reading "Sleeper Cell"
Posted by eerie at 04:37 PM
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Filed Under: Reviews
December 20, 2005
The Semi-Bogus Dilemma of Democracy versus Mosque & State
[A long and boring essay, written with all the arrogance I could muster out of being male, foreign to the region, and American.]
A "Semi-bogus" dilemma, I call it, because the issue of what type of rulers might emerge from real democratic processes in MENA is a fair question. My real target for discussion is more the Western progressive, since those are my own people (though I am more right wing “libertarian” than progressive). I speak about their fears and those of many MENA-ites as well, who express endless reservations about MENA democracy. They do so because democratic empowerment has a real risk of empowering retrograde Islamist/traditionalist forces, e.g. the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. To give away the ending, my message below is basically: shut up and get over it.
My more complex message directed towards MENA-ite advocates of liberal or social democracy is derived from reflections upon the insightful work of Mona Eltahawy regarding Egypt's last election rounds, and the harassment of the Coptic minority. This ugly American’s (meaning me) more complex message to MENA-ites is: don't shut up, but do get over it. . . for now, at least. The following is a look at why.
Continue reading "The Semi-Bogus Dilemma of Democracy versus Mosque & State"
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 09:53 PM
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Filed Under: Islamism
, MENA Region General
, Op-Ed
, Political Development
, Society & Culture
The Munich Wars
Mona Eltahawy over at the Shark argues that Spielberg's upcoming flick looking at the 1972 Munich killings of Israeli Olympic athletes and the subsequent retaliatory killings by Israel should encourage reassessments of myths on both sides of the divide.
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 07:37 PM
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Filed Under: Terrorism
On Iraq, Elections, Spying and US Media Coverage
Being back in the land of tubby supersized people is reminding me what completely atrocious news coverage is available in the US broadcast media. The shrieking exageration that seems to be the baseline for any and all stories is painful to watch.
Truly painful. It doesn't seem particularly ideologically focused, despite the endless whinging I have read online in blogs and the like (which one may take, including I may add this one as mere navel gazing, and the pretension among some in the "blogosphere" that they are bringing new standards is absurd and laughable... although given broadcast media in the US of A....). Rather, it strikes me as simply bad professional practice.
Continue reading "On Iraq, Elections, Spying and US Media Coverage"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:26 PM
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Filed Under: EU Foreign Policy
, Iraq War
, Op-Ed
, US Foreign Policy
December 18, 2005
Yemen, Democracy and Stupidity
U.S. Ideals Meet Reality in Yemen
By David Finkel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 18, 2005; A01
An interesting if excessively personalised article on the ludicrous Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) initiative and other US Gov "democratisation" efforts in the MENA region.
Continue reading "Yemen, Democracy and Stupidity"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:53 AM
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Filed Under: Gulf
, Op-Ed
, Political Development
, US Foreign Policy
December 13, 2005
Joseph Nye the PR Guy: "Soft Power" in Iraq
Just saw Joseph Nye speak on the subject of “Can Democracy Defeat Terrorism?”, a talk which ended up being mostly about Iraq and what U.S. policy should be in that neck of the woods. "Soft power" is his term for what in other fields of endeavor is sometimes called “hearts and minds,” or maybe “public relations”- the idea that convincing people of the merit of your position by diplomatic means is more effective than doing so by force, and at a lower cost.
Continue reading "Joseph Nye the PR Guy: "Soft Power" in Iraq"
Posted by evaluna at 11:10 PM
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Filed Under: Foreign Policy & MENA
, Iraq War
, Political Development
, Terrorism
, US Foreign Policy
December 12, 2005
On Syriana (cross from Lounsbury)
Having just seen this film, I thought I might make a comment or two.
Overall, a very interesting film, I rather liked it. Somewhat on the dramatic side, as relatively large budget film has to be, but very nicely done overall. I shall not pretend to review the film as a film reviewer, but some thoughts on its MENA subject matter and small details that pleased me (as well as displeased), from someone who operates in this kind of world.
What follows will have direct reference to the film’s events, “spoilers” to use that silly precious little phrase. Don’t want to read them, don’t read on. For those who may want to see the film, my summary is I found the film to be a very nice rendition of affaires here in my region, although to be sure dramatised.
Continue reading "On Syriana (cross from Lounsbury)"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:54 PM
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Filed Under: Op-Ed
, Reviews
December 09, 2005
A Cross-Religion Project of Possible Interest
This may be of interest to readers and their associates.
The Children of Abraham project (their website has yet to be updated to reflect this project) is currently recruiting 16-18-year old Jews and Muslims to work together on a Muslim-Jewish Relations Guidebook to Mutual Discovery.
The group is searching for 18 exceptional young people (nine Muslims and nine Jews) from eighteen different countries to participate in an historic project. Together, they will create an unprecedented Muslim-Jewish Relations Guidebook to Mutual Discovery. [The Guidebook] will be distributed to Jewish and Muslim communities all over the world atthe end of 2006.
Applications are due no later than January 20th. To suggest a candidate, e-mail houda@children-of-abraham.org and copy office@shalomctr.org.
More detail below.
Continue reading "A Cross-Religion Project of Possible Interest"
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 05:58 PM
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Filed Under: Islam General
, Religious Minorities
A "piquant" problem
Overlooking the ever-painful prose of the Khaleej Times, this article highlights the problems faced by Druze people in the Gulf:
ABU DHABI — The Ministry of Education was placed in a piquant situation when a family belonging to an Islamic sect sought exemption for their son from being taught Islamic Studies in a private school, claiming to be followers of an independent faith.
The ministry, which had not faced such a situation earlier, however, turned down the Lebanese Druz family's request, after it was proved legally that the sect belonged to Islamic faith.
So much for freedom of religion. Islam shouldn't even be coerced among muslims, let alone those that don't identify as muslims. Fortunately the situation is better in Levantine countries, the key homeland of the Druze:
"In Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, the Druze have official recognition as a separate religious community with its own religious court system."
There are several small and often obscure religious sects around the Middle East, from Mandaeans to the Yezidi. Many of these groups are found primarily in rural areas, and continue to suffer terrible prejudice and persecution today.
Posted by secretdubai at 02:19 PM
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Filed Under: Religious Minorities
December 08, 2005
More on Egypt's Election Dilemma
Mona Eltahawy strikes again with another look at the recent rounds of Egyptian elections and finds not enough to like in either the government or the main opposition. In the latter case, she finds their stand on women's rights frightening even, and especially, when it is advanced by women.
"We must not be silenced out of misplaced sympathy just because . . . the government went out of its way to arrest and harass Brotherhood voters . . . . We condemn the violence and the vote rigging but we must not be guilt tripped into silently accepting the Muslim Brotherhood's positions."
Meanwhile, eight more dead in election related violence.
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 10:08 AM
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Filed Under: North Africa
, Political Development
People who "objectively" blog on news/politics should better be careful with their assertions
I do read Nur al-Cubicle's blog on a regular basis. She (I THINK it's a "she" - but maybe I let the fact that "Nur" is a female Arabic name mislead me) is providing an invaluable service to all those of us who either cannot read French/Spanish/Italian or just don't feel like slugging through all the newspapers ...
But I find some of her slants to be cheap, petty, & based on ideological assumptions as opposed to solid reasoning. And what is worse - while in being cheap & petty she is merely putting herself onto the same intellectual level as the rightwing assholes against whom she is trying to write - by letting her emotion-based ideology getting the better of her careful reasoning she is giving them ample ammunition to invalidate ANYthing that she says, just like Cindy Sheehan's antics have done a grave disservice to all those involved in bringing the number of casualties in Iraq to the forefront of public awareness in the U.S.
Posted by raf* at 05:39 AM
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Filed Under: Iraq War
, Op-Ed
December 07, 2005
The Saudi Women's Driving Protest: 15 Years Later
Faiza Ambah writes in the Christian Science Monitor on the 15 years that have elapsed since a dramatic protest by some Saudi women over their lack of driving rights.
Just to be a curmudgeon, I note this passage: "But the opposition to driving often comes from women themselves. A group of some 500 women, including university professors, doctors, journalists, and teachers, sent a petition to King Abdullah in July saying they wanted things to stay the way they were."
Continue reading "The Saudi Women's Driving Protest: 15 Years Later"
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 07:06 PM
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Filed Under: Gulf
, Society & Culture
Hymen Reconstruction, Circumcision and Sexual Promiscuity
The hymen reconstruction industry in North Africa has flourished recently. Following a fatwa dispatched a few years ago by Al Azhar in Egypt that reconstructions were allowed in the case of rape, the recent developments in surgery and the rise in pre-marital sexual activity, females of marriage age have sought the quick fix in order to keep their reputations (and necks) intact.
Continue reading "Hymen Reconstruction, Circumcision and Sexual Promiscuity"
Posted by Meph at 04:15 PM
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Filed Under: Gender Issues
December 05, 2005
Observations on Khartoum
A popular blogger based in Darfur has recently posted an entry from Khartoum. While generally her observations are well informed (she is a releif worker), reasonably dispassionate and genuinely involved without losing perspective, I found the post from Khartoum to be rather shallow albeit written with a rather refreshing fascination with the city.
The occurences in Darfur, although tragic, have diverted the spotlight from Khartoum, the emerging political culture, the deep-rooted corrpution and obscene social disparities that exist. One finds very little meaningful exposition of Sudanese politics and culture now outside the frame of terrorism and Darfur. While Sleepless's efforts I am sure are appreciated, the Khartoum she sees is a sanitised NGO/diplo/rich kids version that only a miniscule fraction of the population are fortunate enough to see.
Continue reading "Observations on Khartoum"
Posted by Meph at 05:42 PM
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Filed Under: Op-Ed
Arab journalists "weak and corrupt"
A bit of a clash of kanjas is taking place in the UAE after Dubai Holding chairman Mohammed Al Gergawi accused Arab journalists of being weak and corrupt:
Dubai: Arab journalists have expressed anger over a statement by Mohammad Al Gergawi, Executive Chairman of Dubai Holding, who accused media professionals of being corrupt and accepting bribes from various parties.
...
Al Gergawi called on the media to refrain from focusing on people who have been marginalised, as well as in concentrating on their issues and project the positive aspects of society.
So on one hand journalists are being paid off to write nice things about their governments, on the other hand they're not being positive enough and should crank up the spin?
Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of Al Watan Saudi newspaper said that it is not fair to hold all the Arab media responsible or accuse it of corruption.
Prince Bandar stressed the importance of supporting the media by Arab governments, to help it reach a better performance in form and content.
Al Gergawi overruled what Prince Bandar had said and commented that governments should not direct media. Journalists and media men rejected Al Gergawi's statement.
So now we have Gergawi fearlessly standing up for media independence, as long as it leads to the printing of nice things, and doesn't focus on the "marginalised".
Posted by secretdubai at 04:34 PM
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Filed Under: Media
New Month Open Discussion
In keeping with tradition, I invite commenters to post their thoughts, questions and whiny complaints about the site, its content and contributors. Lounsbury has promised to be less abusive, so this pretense of customer service might actually be somewhat convincing this month.
In related news, I am setting up a "Memorable" section on the main sidebar. Far too many interesting and useful entries are not accessible to new visitors because they are buried in the Archives or are otherwise difficult to locate. With the help of our contributors, regulars and random passers-by, I'd like to identify entries that were memorable (for whatever reason, but should not all be sex-related) and add them to this section.
As a warning, the hypersensitive spam-guardian may decide to shove all comments containing URLs into the moderation queue, so be patient and/or email me if you're having trouble posting comments. Don't email me if you can't figure out the bloody anti-spam Turing test, I will not be sympathetic.
Posted by eerie at 01:33 PM
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Filed Under: Site News
December 03, 2005
Torture, U.S. Foreign Policy, and International Law: The Truth Can Sting
I had the opportunity this week to hear John Yoo, the author of the infamous U.S. Justice Department torture memo speak in justification of physical mistreatment of alleged Al-Qaeda operatives because they are ostensibly not protected by the Geneva Conventions, debate a prominent human rights law expert on the legality of this practice under U.S. and international law. (Disclosure: I’ve known Doug Cassel professionally for years, and in a prior life was privileged to provide interpretation services for his expert testimony in political asylum cases.) This memo has been used by the Bush administration to justify interrogation methods which any normal person with morals would agree constitute mistreatment of alleged Al-Qaeda detainees in Afghanistan and Guantánamo.
Continue reading "Torture, U.S. Foreign Policy, and International Law: The Truth Can Sting"
Posted by evaluna at 10:39 PM
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Filed Under: Foreign Policy & MENA
, Iraq War
, Terrorism
, US Foreign Policy
A Most Elusive Fish: Poached Sturgeon in the Caspian
The nations of the Caspian Sea basin share a scarce resource other than petroleum: sturgeon. However, the Iranians, Azerbaijanis, and Turkmen are faring possibly worse at protecting their beluga supply than they are even at divvying up shares of the usual type of black gold under discussion.
Continue reading "A Most Elusive Fish: Poached Sturgeon in the Caspian"
Posted by evaluna at 08:28 PM
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Filed Under: Central Asia
, Economic Development
December 02, 2005
Guantanamo: Biographies of prisoners
The fact that this report appears in the professional journal of the US military may deprive it of credibility in some corners and augment it in others. But the well-written and edited account gives an overview of the self-reported biographies of about 600 young men held prisoner in the controversial US detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba, most of whom were pre-9/11 volunteers for jihad and were the trainees and foot soldiers in various Afghan camps run by al-Qaeda and friends. Although the author-analyst at times strays into the silly and stereotyped (the last paragraphs get downright stilted, for example, just ignore), she provides a compassionate and thorough view.
Some interesting things of note:
Continue reading "Guantanamo: Biographies of prisoners"
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 08:05 AM
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Filed Under: US Foreign Policy
Egypt’s Elections: Progress or Regress? Masri Misery?
Quizzical readers! It costs no quid to equip oneself by quitting over to this exquisite enquirer for quick disquisitions on the quinellas of Egypt’s requisitioned elections of quislings and inquisitors .
More substance, and less art and alliteration: seems the recent elections left a lot to be desired in the "genuine democracy" category. See Mona Eltahawy's latest in al-Sharq al-Awsat for the latest on Masri misery.
Posted by Matthew Hogan at 07:51 AM
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Filed Under: North Africa
