Islamists Aren't the Obstacle | Foreign Affairs - 0 views
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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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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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Both secularists and Islamists associate democracy with economic prosperity
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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.
Democracy Under Way, Tunisia Turns To Tough Economic Agenda - Gulf Business - 0 views
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With a new economic agenda being created and putting into place the people of Tunisia are worried. With the term "reforms" people of Tunisia are worried that the wrong issues are going to be handled. Like for instance creating jobs instead of increasing prices. Authorities tried to raise money by imposing a tax of $20 on foreign travellers, that angered residents but also hurt trade with Libya. This caused protests, caused officers to react with physical abuse.
Tunisia reopens crossing point on border with Libya Anadolu Agency - 1 views
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Earlier this month, the residents of Ben Gardane declared a strike that led to the closure of the border crossing to demand lifting a 30 dinar tax imposed on foreigners crossing into Tunisia from Libya. Saturday Libyan vehicles crossed into Tunisia's border for the first time after the three week protest. According to the Tunisian security officials the protest was ended "swiftly" and "peacefully".
Gazans Speak Out: Hamas War Crimes - 0 views
Civilians struggle to cope as Yemen conflict escalates - Al Jazeera English - 0 views
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Civilians struggle to cope as Yemen conflict escalates
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concern over civilian casualties and fears that country will plunge deeper into poverty.
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lockdown of the capital Sanaa, with residents fleeing for safety and many businesses shutting down.
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ISIS is broke, and only accepting payments in US dollars | New York Post - 1 views
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Faced with a cash shortage in its so-called caliphate, the Islamic State group has slashed salaries across the region, asked Raqqa residents to pay utility bills in black market American dollars, and is now releasing detainees for a price of $500 a person. After America blew up Isis's money hideout, they have hit a skid with the money not coming in and the war still raging on.
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The US was able to commit such detrimental airstrikes to ISIS currency storage facilities that the "caliphate" is now cutting salaries. Millions of their finances have been drained since this attack.
Houthis celebrate after takeover of Sanaa - Al Arabiya News - 0 views
Muslim Brotherhood: The coup has betrayed Egypt and implemented the Zionist agenda in S... - 0 views
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The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt announced its full support of the families residing in Sinai and said
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hat they will not leave them to face the coup's schemes and state-induced terrorism alone.
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the group condemned the regime's use of murder, kidnapping and forced displacements of families in Rafah.
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The rise and rise of Libya's rogue general - 0 views
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Hafed al-Ghwell is a senior non-resident Fellow with the Rafik Hariri Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. On Monday, Libya's House of Representatives, whose legitimacy has been questioned since the day it was elected by a mere 15 percent of the country's eligible voters, decided to add more gasoline to the already raging fire that is the four-year civil war in the country.
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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Tradition of female genital mutilation persists in Egypt - SFGate - 0 views
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Tradition of female genital mutilation persists in Egypt
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Raslan Fadl, the first doctor in Egypt to be put on trial for committing female genital mutilation
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still practicing
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Qatar-Gulf deal forces expulsion of Muslim Brotherhood leaders - 1 views
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As part of a 2013 agreement signed in the Saudi Arabian capitol of Riyadh, Qatar has agreed to expel exiled leaders of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood that have taken up residence in the country that has traditionally supported them. The Muslim Brotherhood is seen as an extremist organization by many Arab states and the West but Qatar and Turkey are still supporters of them however pressures from the threat of ISIS finally coerced Qatar to honor the 2013 agreement. The exiled leaders have already been welcomed into Turkey however.
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This article discusses Qatar's agreement to expel any exiled leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. This is just one of the many agreements that Qatar is forced to abide by under Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This decision was made as a way of shifting political alignments.