Group items tagged

The article focuses on the Muslim Brotherhood's belief that Women's rights would result in the destruction of Egyptian Society. The brotherhood disagreed with the statements made in the UN Declaration regarding women's rights. Such concerns included the potential access women would have to travel, work, money, and contraception without the approval of their husbands. The U.N. Commission of the Status of Women seeks to improve the lives of women. The conflict that exist between women's rights/freedoms are restricted by the religious beliefs of the Muslim Brotherhood. 

After many years of trying to give women rights, a decision can not be made without bringing important issues like religion and culture to the table. The Muslim Brotherhood is on the opposing side when coming to a decision on giving rights to women.

After many years of trying to give women rights, a decision can not be made without bringing important issues like religion and culture to the table. The Muslim Brotherhood is on the opposing side when coming to a decision on giving rights to women.

The U.S. should no long really solely on air-strikes to bring down the ISIS group in Syria but it needs other strategic plans. They need to work with the people in Syria and gain their support and trust in order to defeat ISIS.

A Texas plumber is freaked out to realize that his truck was stolen and is now in the hands of ISIS. This brings fright into Americans especially those living in Texas.

A Texas plumber is freaked out to realize that his truck was stolen and is now in the hands of ISIS. This brings fright into Americans especially those living in Texas.

When we think of domestic abuse or abuse in general we often think at home situations involving a man and woman. In Saudi Arabia, and surely other parts of the world, maids are frequently subjected to abuse. This article is one example of a maid that was severely abused for the simple act of bringing coffee too late. Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are often abused by their employers.

This source reports the third day of a successful blockade of an Israeli ship in the port of Oakland. The organization blocking the ability to dock wishes to voice their disapproval with the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and bring exposure to the partnership formed between the two countries which they believe resulted in the current militarization of police forces in the United States.

Arab states have began to jump on board offering support to the coalition against ISIS. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon have recently voiced their support. Turkey, the only Arab member of NATO has voiced their lack of support in the coalition thus far. Saudi, the home to major religious cities, feels like a direct threat to ISIS and have made it clear that they will be playing a major role in the war against the Islamic State. UAE allegedly initiated bombings from Egyptian bases on Libya due to islamic militia takeovers of major cities and institutions. Arab states along with France, Germany, and Britain have agreed to form a "coordinated military campaign." Bringing in Assad from Syria is somewhat crucial, but the coalition is hesitant due to the loss of the Assad Regime's legitimacy over the past years of civil strife. Official plans of attack are still sketchy, but are definitely in the works. The coalition of states have made it clear that in order to tackle this ISIS threat, they must band together to dynamically exterminate the Islamic State from all angles.

In this article Andy Young discusses the multiple ways poetry has shaped and formed itself in Egypt because of revolutions. Young brings up multiple poems that became the voice of the people in the 1952 revolutions and again in the 2011 revolutions.

The Council on Foreign Relations published an article about democratization in the middle east and the major obstacles that are present in the process. While most assume Islamists and Islamic embedded institutions are the root of the delayed democratic transition, the problems are much bigger than that. While Islamist regimes do indeed stunt the growth of democratic progress in terms of creating a stable government, Arab countries struggle with economic and social factors as well. The Arab Spring Revolutions have caused economic and social degradation across the region, resulting in a road block of political leadership. Without a reliable and capable government structure, the states are unable to progress economically. However, in order to have a stable government, social and economic institutions must be in place to create this capitalist economy that they strive for. Because most wealth resides in oil, the revenue that the states bring in isn't distributed properly throughout society and is concentrated within few business elites. The article stresses that instead of foreign aid going into the hands of an unstable leader or regime, it should be invested in institutions in order to spur economic growth and eliminate corruption. Rather than focusing on the Islamist-secularist divide, the world should be working towards the strengthening of institutions to create a stable foundation for governance. 

Despite the hardships Egyptian citizens have endured in the last 4 years they have poured a collective 8.5 billion dollars into an upgrade of the Suez Canal, a long time symbol of national pride. Al-Sisi is planning to build a waterway parallel to the Suez Canal. Egyptians had the option to invest in the waterway by purchasing certificates with a guaranteed return. 82% of investments were from individuals instead of institutions and the canal is expected to bring in $2 to $5 billion in revenue over the next two to three years.

After the city of Kobani had all but been lost, people had given up. But after a rejuvenated effort by airstrikes, and the Kurdish fighters, it is now getting more support. Iraqi Kurdish fighters of the peshmerga fighters have now entered through Turkey. They bring with them several weapons.

Women do a flash mob to bring attention to women rights. Many went to support the event, it was form of expression to get more supporters and stop sexual harassment.

This article accentuates the "Age of Proxy Wars" in the Middle East. While Syria and Libya are the 2 most known proxy situations, the article illuminates other states involved as well. We know already about UAE, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, which this article also brings up, but new information suggests that Bahrain and Kuwait are supporting sides of the regional war as well. While these nations think they're doing their part to support their values, these proxy wars are actually fostering further extremism since people supporting each side do not directly suffer the consequences. The article states that the metastasizing of these jihadist groups is grave threat to US national security, and the US must intervene in order to solve this crisis. The author says the US needs to improve their performance in donor cordination, funding the right groups, as well as be more aggressive in working directly with elections, uncovering networks of money and influence. He says rather than the conduction of elections, we must focus on the nature of politics in general, curbing corruption and embedding sectarian democratic values in their political sphere.

Russia is attempting to bring opposition groups and the Syrian government to Moscow in order to "talk peace." In the past, Russia has supported the Syrian President and because of this, opposition groups are wearing of these alleged "peace talks." 

Women2Drive is a group related to a national campaign trying to bring awareness and make a change in the laws in Saudi Arabia forbidding women to drive. They hope that by spreading social awareness they will make a change. Women2Drive encourages Saudi women to post pictures of themselves behind the wheel to help advocate.

This Video talks about the recent attacks and conflicts in the Middle East and some potential issues that it may bring to the oil production, Specifically Saudi Arabia's concern about houthi rebels launching missile attacks towards mecca.

Being terrorist groups, Al Qaeda and ISIS, are sometimes perceived as the same things, but that is not the case. This video brings in motives and other things that separates the 2 groups. Also, some cool facts and things most people do not know are included.

This article describes what the Pentagon went through in order to warn the oil tanker drivers of the coming fighter jets that were going to destroy their trucks. This was because the tankers were carrying oil that was bringing in revenue to ISIS.

An interesting article about "dozens of Russian generals" being killed in Syria. I am very curious about this article because it comes from "The Jerusalem Post." From what I recall, Israel's relations with Syria are not the best. This brings me to question why no other news outlet has published such news, and how "The Jerusalem Post" is so well informed about the happenings in Syria.