MIDDLE EAST

Leader of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea said that there exists a possibility for a void in the Presidency “should the other camp choose to obstruct the democratic process”. In an interview scheduled to air on al-Jazeera television Monday night, Geagea said, “I do not fear security chaos should vacuum arise.” “Vacuum is also possible should centrists shy away from …

Prospective women lawmakers intend to bring women’s issues to the forefront during their campaign for the elections to be held later this month, as a genuine fear of women’s rights being completely eroded away in Iraq hangs in the air. A constitutional requirement in Iraq states one-fourth of MPs must be women; however, only one of the 31 cabinet positions …

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators will meet separately with US peace envoy Martin Indyk on Friday, only a day after the five hour three-way talks between the parties, during which they failed to reach an agreement.  According to sources, Indyk is to hold talks with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat in the city of Jericho in West Bank.  Thursday’s talks between …

On Wednesday, The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists said that Syria is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in the world, as it published its annual impunity index, tracking unsolved killings of reporters. The New York-based watchdog reported “a rising number of journalists in Syria. “With unprecedented numbers of abductions and high rates of fatalities in combat and …

On Wednesday, an Egyptian court handed out jail sentences for over 120 supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi related to clashes last year with authorities which left dozens dead, officials said. The trial was a part of an unrelenting crackdown on Morsi supporters going on since the army ousted him last July. According to judicial officials, the defendants were …

International mediator Lakhdar Brahimi told reporters that a deal between Syrian authorities and trapped civilians and fighters in the city of Homs had broken down on Thursday. For the past few days, government forces appear to be on the verge of regaining control of the besieged opposition region. Homs had played host to several demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime …

Several rights groups led by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said on Wednesday that sexual violence against women in Egypt has been abundant since the 2011 uprising and that women protesters had been the target of sexual attacks with impunity, they said. In their report, the groups said that “successive Egyptian governments have failed to address violence against …

On Tuesday, a legislation tabled in the Iraqi parliament could introduce new religious restrictions on women in the country, including laws which could make it legal for nine-year-old girls to marry and force married women to comply with their husband’s sexual demands. The bill looks to be the last legislation the current government will pass before the elections towards the …

A Saudi court ordered the arrest of an eminent rights lawyer Waleed Abulkhair, who was on trial for defying the ruler and insulting the authorities in the conservative kingdom, according to his wife Samar Badawi. Abulkhair was on bail for organizing unapproved meetings for reformists when he went to the fifth hearing of his trial on Tuesday at a court …

On Monday, a UN human rights monitor urged Iran to stop the execution of an Iranian Reyhaneh Jabbari, who allegedly murdered a former intelligence official, saying that the trial was deeply flawed. Jabbari has always maintained that she acted in self-defence against a sexual assault. The case raises several concerns because of Jabbari’s alleged forced confession and the errors made …