The setbacks women experienced since the Muslim Brotherhood gained political power vary, from the approval of a constitution that lacks a clear statement on women’s rights
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Syrian army gains in north and south; two rebel-held towns agree to cease-fire - 0 views
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As the Syrian army pushes toward the Turkish border in the north, the government is also achieving major gains in strategic southern Syria near the Jordanian frontier. Aided by Russian airstrikes. Syrian officials have vowed to close off the Turkish and Jordanian borders, long crucial conduits
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Terrorists' supply routes from Turkey cut off during army offensive in northern Syria -... - 0 views
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This is an article from Russia today that talks about supposed gains that the Syrian government has made with the support of Russian air power. It has an accompanying video of the Syrian Armed Forces fighting against rebels. Overall a piece of propaganda, but interesting footage nonetheless of Syrian Armed Forces using a variety of US and Russian-made weapons.
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Syrian army makes gains in Daraa with local militia support (VIDEO) - RT News - 0 views
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A Russia Today article on the current counterattack that the Syrian Armed Forces are attempting in both the northern and southern fronts of the conflict. With their goal being of pushing Al-Nusra out of Daraa, all of this with the support of local militia groups.
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Eric Trager and Marina Shalabi | In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood's New Leaders Turn Re... - 0 views
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Highlights the strategy of the brotherhood to infiltrate from the inside out in order to gain the most power. Also focuses on the journey of one specific leader in the brotherhood to give the most accurate analysis.
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Middle Eastern Women and the Struggle for a Public Voice - Centre for World Dialogue - 0 views
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This article discusses women and media in the Middle East, and how women can "gain power through self expression." I thought that this was a very important message, and found points that the article raised about women in film and journalism were very relevant.
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ISIS may be losing, but the big winners are America's enemies - 0 views
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With the retaking of Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, we seem to finally have made tangible, on-the-ground gains against ISIS - that is, if "we" refers to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. President Obama and several of his would-be successors are satisfied: The terrorists of ISIS are losing ground.
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shared by aromo0 on 05 Oct 14
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VOICES: Women's Rights in Egypt - Re-examining a Revolution | Middle East Voices - 1 views
middleeastvoices.voanews.com/...e-examining-a-revolution-99467
rights egypt women muslim brotherhood
shared by aromo0 on 05 Oct 14
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istorical feminist figure Doriya Shafiq from school textbooks.
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he Women Deliver conference, coined as the largest meeting of the decade focused on the health and rights of women and girls.
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I’m not defending the Islamists, but I’m saying that the general mood around the world is more conservative. And this is clear in particular in the case of anything related to women, whether rights or services or freedom
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Tallawy pointed out that in Egypt the political hurdles are intensified by a strong wave of anti-female sentiment where women’s actions are policed at all times, coupled with a decreased emphasis on education in favor of marriage and homemaking.
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women’s causes is further hindered by the fact that non-governmental organizations operate within a framework of harsh government restrictions and a perpetual lack of funding. But she also believes that women’s rights groups have not changed their ways enough since the revolution, often working in a reactionary way rather than developing new ideas or tackling the deeper issues.
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So we have more work to do on the real common issues between all women, and to develop their sense of empowerment to make choices, set their own priorities, and express themselves well.”
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more on-the-ground interaction and research will be required. The second consideration, Abouzeid believes, must be the high rates of illiteracy, which can be addressed by utilizing audiovisual media campaigns, along with changing a media culture dismissive of women and their plight.
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The article from June of 2013 addresses the issues women face in Egypt and the causes of those issues. The article reflects on the need for women to identify the roots of their injustices and seek opportunities to prevent further restrictions on their rights. The article concludes by recognizing the means that will work best for encouraging women to pursue their rights, such as sing audiovisual media campaigning as well as well as developing "their sense of empowerment to make choices." - ...1 more comment...
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This article mentions setbacks in the progress to women rights. These include setbacks by the government and societal norms within the culture. -
This article mentions setbacks in the progress to women rights. These include setbacks by the government and societal norms within the culture.
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Re-examining a revolution that is needed in order to create a better environment for women. The Muslim Brotherhood coming into power damaged women's rights.
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Gender equality? It doesn't exist anywhere in the world - LA Times - 1 views
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t's been more than 100 years since the world began observing International Women's Day, and yet no country has achieved full gender equality.
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But in Yemen, the country that ranks lowest according to the same data,
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About two-thirds of countries in the developing world have achieved gender equality in primary education according to U.N. data, but the progress is less substantial at the secondary school level.
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In Africa and South Asia for example, boys remain 1.55 times more likely to complete secondary education than girls, according to World Bank data.
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Even when girls make it into the classroom they still “continue to face particular risk in chaotic conflict settings,”
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n Pakistan, for example, the Taliban has declared war on girls' education, and frequently attacks educational institutions
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“They don’t translate into greater equality in the labor market,” said Sarah Gammage, director of gender, economic empowerment and livelihoods at the International Center for Research on Women. “Around the world women have disproportionately been part of the informal economy.”
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hey are typically responsible for providing care services for family members, Gammage said. Other duties include child rearing, cooking, and other household chores. It is work for which they are not paid. Women perform three times more unpaid work than men, according to the U.N.’s 2015 Human Development Report.
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eing able to make decisions, such as voting, owning land, and deciding whom to marry “is where we see the most significant difference between the least developed and developed countries,” said Varia.
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In Saudi Arabia, women are not permitted to drive and cannot open bank accounts without their husbands' permissio
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Uganda forbids women to gain permanent custody of children after a divorce,
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Honor killings, the traditional practice that allows the slaying of a family member who is believed to have brought dishonor on a family, claims thousands of women’s lives every year in South and Central Asia.
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This article is a response to International Women's Day, saying that gender equality doesn't exist in the world. In the middle of the article, they show a chart of the gender gap between men and women. Egypt is last in the chart. -
This article goes into depth about the inequality in the Middle East which extends to today. This looks at the ideas of democratization which would promote higher education. Greater rights for women. and improve infant morality rates
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Where are the youth of the Egyptian revolution? - 0 views
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motivated by the knowledge they gained from the internet and social networking sites
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combat tyranny and human rights violations
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non-violent resistance movements abroad.
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broadcast information on human rights violations
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mobilise the masses
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rejecting tyranny
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calling for freedom
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refused any and all partial solutions
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did not care to make an intellectual presence
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clearly defined political project
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no leadership
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sufficient time to prepare themselves
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elite and the military took over during the transitional
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period
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balance of power
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did not succeed in establishing new parties
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participate
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accountability and trial
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for killing youth
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social justice
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political elite became more polarised
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until the youth became polarised
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how to topple tyrannical regimes
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information about human rights violations
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too preoccupied with side issues
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true nature of revolutionary change
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not necessarily mean the fall of the system
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lacked the focus necessary to achieve any of their strategic goals
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application of Shari'ah law
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Enabling the youth
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did not allow the youth to engage in the public domain or contribute
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military imposed their presence
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failed to keep pace
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in terms of democracy itself
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endorsing the army
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aggravating an already sensitive situation
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media
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bribing the youth with money
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violent Islamist groups have emerged as a way of confronting the state
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youth do not see the dangers of politicising the military and are calling for military intervention to resolve their political differences with the Muslim Brotherhood
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military intervention as the only solution
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oust the first elected civilian president in the history
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main responsibility
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nascent democratic experience
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aggravating the political situation
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deepening the political divisions in society
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universal pillars that are needed for making political changes
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engage the community and educate
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restore national unity
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bigger picture
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valuable information
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media platform
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policy for communication
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infuse the entire
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society with the values and goals of the revolution
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community awareness
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revolutions
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several phases
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common political vision and strategy
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advice of experts in situations where there is a shortage of expertise on a particular subject pertaining to state
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respects differences
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political etiquette
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This author gives an analysis of where the Egyptian youth failed and succeeded in their revolution. He applauds their original motivation: overthrowing the oppressive regime and seeking political freedom. However, he criticizes the movement for not having organized goals with practical implications. Their focus was so set on overthrowing Mubarak that they did not have a plan once that was achieved. As a result, the youth allowed the military to become politicized and enforce their political ideas. The author claims this move set a dangerous precedent for the future and took away the attention of the military from places it was needed. The author claims that by endorsing the army to act militarily against the first civilian elected president of the country, the youth is undermining their original goals. He goes on to explain his suggestions for the Egyptian youth to get back on track and follow through in the remaining phases of the revolution.
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shared by allieggg on 28 Sep 14
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Islamists Aren't the Obstacle | Foreign Affairs - 0 views
www.foreignaffairs.com/...islamists-arent-the-obstacle
middle east democracy Islamists institutions egypt politics tunisia
shared by allieggg on 28 Sep 14
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A minority of the population -- 26 percent of Tunisians and 28 percent of Egyptians -- believes that Islam should play a large role in government.
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Both secularists and Islamists associate democracy with economic prosperity
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Islamist parties received considerable support in both countries' recent elections -- not only because there is a broad ideological affinity for Islamism among the population but also because of Islamist parties' effective campaigning.
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When asked about the most important feature of a democracy, 69 percent of Egyptians and 32 percent of Tunisians put providing people with basic necessities or narrowing the gap between rich and poor at the top of their lists.
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On a related note, Islamist parties have shown a remarkable ability to maintain their base.
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Tunisia has fared better than Egypt so far in the post-Arab Spring transition, with less violence, fewer demonstrations, and greater political stability. This is in part because challenges are easier to confront in a country of only 11 million, 98 percent of whom are Sunni Muslim, compared to the more diverse and populous Egypt. But Tunisia's success is primarily a result of its stronger institutions, which provide a conduit for political debate.
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Many onlookers claim that Egypt's more tumultuous post-revolution trajectory is because of the country's legacy of religiosity and Islamism.
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Egyptians, in fact, are no more religious than Tunisians.
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Egypt's institutions are weak and have been routinely undermined by entrenched interests. The countries' different geopolitical situations play a role here. Tunisia's minimal strategic importance means that foreign countries have less reason to intervene. But Egypt's proximity to Israel and the Palestinian territories, its 1979 peace treaty with Israel, and its role as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas make its political developments important to Israel and the United States. Consequently, Egypt is vulnerable to foreign interference, particularly to attempts to prop up its military. Furthermore, beyond serving as a pillar to Egypt's authoritarian regimes, the Egyptian military has significant business interests and accounts for ten to 30 percent of Egypt's gross domestic product.
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Egypt's judicial branch, which is also more powerful than Tunisia's, has at times undermined democratic processes.
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Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that the Islamist-dominated parliament and the Constituent Assembly it elected were unconstitutional, because Islamist parties contested seats intended for independent candidates. The move polarized the country and pushed the executive branch to take extreme measures.
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Egyptian democracy is undermined by the inability of institutions to address citizens' demands and the impulse of powerful actors to interfere, not by the divide between Islamists and secularists. Institutions in Egypt fail to provide a meaningful forum for debate. As a result, violent street protesters and extremist sheiks are gaining power.
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U.S. policy must support institutions rather than actors, and processes rather than outcomes, in order to help Egypt and Tunisia achieve their democratic potential.
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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.
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To Stop ISIS in Syria, Support Aleppo - 0 views
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President Obama's speech last week signaled a likely expansion into Syria of American airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, yet offered little indication of an immediate strategy to halt ISIS' gains there. Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and considered to be in the most strategic position. Syria apparently has been dealing with ISIS much more severely than Iraq.
| Syria Deeply, Covering the Crisis - 0 views
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ISIS claims increasing stake in Yemen carnage - 1 views
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As Yemen falls into disarray, a power vacuum is allowing ISIS and al-Qaeda to gain more power. This, along with the fact that much of this is being supported by Iran, is making it difficult for the US to maneuver.
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Islamic State gains Libya foothold - BBC News - 0 views
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"It is a failed state. Unlike other countries in the region, it does not have a semblance of government. This makes it the most vulnerable,"
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Moreover, Libya is rich in oil and, earlier this month, gunmen claiming to represent IS raided a French-run oil facility in al-Mabruk, south of Sirte city,
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many IS-aligned fighters collect salaries from the Libyan state," Jason Pack, a researcher in Libyan history at the UK's Cambridge University, told the BBC.
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Mr Pack points out that the country has three main power blocks: Libya Dawn (a mixture of Islamist and non-Islamist militias allied with the Tripoli-based government), Operation Dignity (led by forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar and allied with the internationally recognised government based in the eastern city of Tobruk) and Jihadist groups (which include IS, al-Qaeda and Ansar al-Sharia - the most powerful of them). "There is a civil war between the two main groups [Libya Dawn and Operation Dignity]. The jihadists act as spoilers," Mr Pack says.
Egyptian Women Protest - 0 views
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This Is How ISIS Smuggles Oil - 0 views
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Turkish-Syrian border
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The militants can make more than $1 million a day selling oil from fields captured in eastern Syria.
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In recent months, the government has vowed to crack down on illicit oil, and police have targeted smuggling routes, seizing oil drums and digging up pipelines.
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helped make ISIS the world’s richest extremists.
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Rebel groups targeted oil resources from the regime in battles often overshadowed by higher-profile fronts in the war — namely in the provinces of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, where there were refineries and oil fields.
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Strapped for cash, the rebels smuggled some of the oil to buyers in Turkey, whose government was one of the Syrian opposition’s main backers, having already opened its borders to activists, fighters, and refugees.
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Omar would receive a call from a commander in the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the U.S.-backed rebel coalition, telling him to head to the Syrian side of the border.
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If he took in $1,500 in a night, he would give $500 to the FSA commander and another $500 to the Turkish border guards. “You can’t really say that we are smuggling oil, because we take permission from the Turkish side and the Syrian side,” Omar said. “But since it’s under the table, we call it smuggling.”
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it controlled Raqqa, and soon after it was battling for control of the rebel-held parts of Deir Ezzor.
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As ISIS gained new oil fields, Omar kept smuggling. He may have worked along an FSA-run border, but he knew he was buying the oil from middlemen who had taken it from ISIS’s hands.
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For ISIS, the profits were startup funds as it built up its self-styled caliphate, buying weapons and paying salaries.
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U.S. airstrikes now targeting its oil infrastructure, ISIS can make over $1 million a day from the trade
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ISIS controls 60% of the oil-producing resources in eastern Syria, he said, plus a handful of marginal oil fields in Iraq.
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The group sells most of it within its own territory in Iraq and in Syria — which covers more than 12,000 miles, a size comparable to Belgium, and includes some 8 million people, a population approaching Switzerland’s. Desperate residents need the fuel to run their cars, generators, and bakeries.
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It was the worst example of a wartime pillage that has stripped Syria of everything of value, from scrap metal to precious artifacts. “I just want to show the world what they are doing to my country,” he said.
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ISIS has become very rich extremist group because of the oil smuggling business they are involved in.
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shared by allieggg on 14 Nov 14
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Oil Extends Drop on Libyan Field Restart, OPEC Outlook - Bloomberg - 1 views
www.bloomberg.com/...-rise-less-than-predicted.html
militias oil bloomberg field armed groups war middle east OPEC
shared by allieggg on 14 Nov 14
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Libya should resume pumping “soon” at Sharara, its biggest-producing oil field prior to the disruption, following an attack yesterday, an official said.
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“The Sharara disruption highlights the current chaos in Libya, and also how fragile the production is.”
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climbed $1.49 to $78.68 a barrel yesterday.
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This article basically highlights the significance of Libyan oil fields in terms of the international community. Chaos in Libya not only affects the eastern region, but all OPEC members and importers of crude oil across the globe. After the recent attacks on Sharara, the biggest field in Libya, production has significantly slowed down. Libya's elected parliament assures the global community that they will resume normal outputs soon, but as the country deepens further into civil war, international actors remain skeptical.
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Video: ISIS: Behind the Group Overrunning Iraq - 1 views
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Background on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Islamist group that gained control of the second-largest city in Iraq.