Michel Sulayman
My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "Michel Sulayman and Sovereignty".
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
Exclusive in Al-Akhbar: sexual harassment in Lebanese parliament
Ghassan Saud writes in Al-Akhbar about sexual harassment by Lebanese MPs. This is a first in the Arabic press.
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
Exclusive from Al-Akhbar English: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
"In November, rumours emerged that Rami Abdulrahman was a pseudonym of SOHRâs founder. Many who doubted SOHRâs credibility cried âsmoking gun.â When a professional-looking letter published last week by a rival group, claiming to speak on behalf of SOHR, accused Abdulrahman of falsifying his name and hijacking SOHRâs identity, suspicions turned into certainty. The politically motivated debate about SOHR clouded a much needed examination of all the facts involved. A closer look at these facts suggests that the pseudonym issue is the least significant element of the controversy. More than anything else, the row between the two rival groups laying claim over SOHR seems to reflect a wider political feud brewing between the two main Syrian opposition camps: the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria (NCB), both increasingly at odds with each other over the call for foreign intervention....The moving force behind the rival group (www.syriahr.org) who issued a letter attacking Abdulrahmanâs group (www.syriahr.com) is a London-based Syrian exile and medical doctor named Mousab Azzawi. The smear campaign launched by Azzawi seemed to have undertones of classism. Abudlrahman was depicted in the letter as someone who is âunable to communicate professionally in English language [sic.],â has a âvery modest level of education,â and whose âprimary profession is installing satellite dishesâ but happened to help out with posting Arabic articles for the Azzawi-led site. Despite these âhumbleâ credentials, Abdulrahman was linked to Rifaat Assad, exiled uncle of Syrian President Bashar Assad and a current dissident widely resented by pro- and anti-regime forces alike. Most damaging in the letter, perhaps, was the revelation of Abdulrahmanâs real name â Ossama Suleiman. But, apart from using a pseudonym, Abdulrahman denied these charges well before the letter surfaced. As far as his name was concerned, Abdulrahman appeared last November on a London-based Arabic satellite channel al-Hiwar showing what he said was his British passport and Syrian ID papers with his real name, Ossama Suleiman, to the cameras. He did so after a critical article on an opposition website had disclosed the name. He also denied any links to Rifaat. Abdulrahman says that as a longtime opposition activist who organized emonstrations at the Syrian Embassy in London, he has always preferred to use a nom-de-guerre, something he points out is common among political leaders...In a phone interview with Al-Akhbar, Azzawi said he is a consultant pathologist who lectures at two universities, though he preferred not to name them. The General Medical Council (GMC) register shows that although a Mousab Azzawi with an MD from a Syrian university is licensed to practice medicine in the UK as of 2009, he is not on the specialist register. The GMC press office told Al-Akhbar that while the National Health Service (NHS) requires all its consultants to be on the specialist register apart from locum work: âthe term âconsultantâ isnât in itself protected, and could, hypothetically, be used differently by private providers.â Azzawi said he practiced as a consultant pathologist privately, and did some locum work for the NHS. While disputing the personal identity and political connections of Abdulrahman, Azzawi himself seems to have offered misleading information about his credentials. While he identifies himself in the English version of the letter as a medical doctor and human rights activist, he signed an earlier Arabic version of the letter as a member of Amnesty International. Amnesty membership is open to anyone, and being a member is a far cry from being an active persona grata in the human rights organization, something most English readers are likely aware of." Asa did an excellent investigative work here.
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
UAE and Human Rights: it is cute when US clients violate them
"Human Rights Watch accused the United Arab Emirates of cracking down on freedom of expression, during a news conference on Wednesday which was disrupted by men who claimed to be UAE officials and demanded the rights group end its presentation."
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
Bastions of human rights
"The countries have put the issue on the agenda of the next meeting of the organizationâs Executive Board, from Feb. 27 to March 10, the diplomats said. They include Qatar, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League; Kuwait; the United Arab Emirates; Djibouti; Chile; South Korea; Japan; the United States; and European countries including France, Britain, Germany and Austria." Yeah. I mean who can better defend human rights than Qatar and UAE and Kuwait. They sure offer lessons on human rights and democracy.
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
The Muslim Brotherhood practices discrimination against women. No way. Really? How could that be? The Brotherhood of all people?
"As the Muslim Brotherhood strives to project the image of a moderate and democratic political organization, a book featuring the angry account of a former member has hit the market. "The Memoirs of a Former Sister: My Story with the Muslim Brotherhood" is the testimony of Intissar Abdel Moneim, an Alexandria-based novelist and author. With a compelling style and sharp language, the book takes the reader on a journey exploring the internal politics of the 83-year-old organization, placing special emphasis on discrimination against female members. Throughout her work, Abdel Moneim decries the sistersâ internalization of oppression as women are socialized in a way that compels them to accept male dominance within the organization â and the household.
Early in the book, Abdel Moneim condemns what could be interpreted as the Brotherhoodâs exploitation of the permissibility of polygamy in Islam. âOne of the areas where the Brothers have exploited the idea of blind obedience and submission is polygamy,â she writes, adding that a brother would take second and third wives for no valid reason. âWhen the [first] wife complains, a session is held for her where other sisters would remind her of the importance of obedience, patience and submission to Godâs will and to [the husband]âs will,â she writes. To understand the roots of the subjugation of women, Abdel Moneim unpacks the writings of Hassan al-Banna, the groupâs late founder. Here, the author summons her courage and puts forth a vehement critique of the groupâs canonized leader, who is rarely questioned, even by the most vocal ex-brothers. Banna's teachings sought to limit women to "catering to their husbands' desires and to reproduction," Abdel Moneim writes. The book dismisses Banna's dictum that there is no need to invest heavily in girls' education and that women should be trained only to serve as housewives and mothers. Abdel Moneim feels that this sentiment is contradictory to true Islam." (thanks Ahmet)
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
They do the dying AND the killing
""More aggressive robotry development could lead to deploying far fewer U.S. military personnel to other countries, achieving greater national security at a much lower cost and most importantly, greatly reduced casualties," aerospace pioneer Simon Ramo, who helped develop the intercontinental ballistic missile, wrote in his new book, "Let Robots Do the Dying.""
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
I can see Israel sinking and an Israeli military official saying: this is really is strategically beneficial for Israel
""The changes in Syria bear strategic benefits for Israel," former Military Intelligence Chief and Head of the Institute for National Security Studies Amos Yadlin said Thursday, at a seminar held at Tel Aviv University. Yadlin said that "For many years defense and political officials recommended that Israel strike a peace deal with Syria, even if it entailed paying a heavy price. The justification was to pull it out of the radical Syria-Iran axis."
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
Muslim Brotherhood wants to do business
""Over the last few months the Egyptian investment bank EFG-Hermes organized sit-downs between Al-Shater and 14 major investment managers from Europe, the United States and Africa. Al-Shater used the opportunity to reassure investors that the new government shares their goals. âI believe the meeting dismissed some investorsâ concerns about an extreme economic policy,â said Wael Ziada, an official with EFG. The Brotherhood wants continuity. Al-Shaterâs relationship with EFG-Hermes has raised some eyebrows, since the investment bank was partially owned by deposed President Hosni Mubarakâs son Gamal. But the businessmen in the Brotherhood do not seem concerned by this connection, and they are not at all hasty to jettison the Mubaraksâ economic legacy...."" (thanks Nu`man)
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
NATO regime in Syria
"The moral authority of Libya's new government was called into question by two international aid groups yesterday as confidence begins to falter that the National Transitional Council, backed by Western governments in last year's civil war, can deliver on its promises to deliver freedom and democracy. MÊdecins sans Frontières (MSF) brought an abrupt halt to its operations in the Libyan town of Misrata after being asked by officials to treat torture victims, in some cases to allow members of the country's new leadership to abuse the prisoners again. The move came as Amnesty International said it has collected evidence that Gaddafi supporters had been tortured to death in makeshift detention centres."
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent)
So I mentioned yesterday the lousy statement on Lebanon by the lousy Syrian National Council. Samir Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent) expressed strong support for the statement. Burhan Ghalyun is now officially an ally of Saudi Arabia and Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent). And you wonder why I would not make peace with the Syrian National Council?
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
Cowardice of Bashshar
Finally, Syrian media has received orders to start attacking Saudi Arabia. I can report to you this: the criticisms are rather mild which only proves my theory: that the regime still hopes for a deal under the table.
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
When the GCC visits an Uprising: lessons for Arab opposition
Look at the Arab League (GCC) proposal for Syria: it is a typical GCC initiative that seeks to preserve a regime but only change its face. They did the same in Yemen and wished to do the same in Egypt. It is a lesson for dumb (or worse) Arab opposition groups who throw their lots with Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries. We now know from British press that the Syrian National Council is now officially receiving Saudi funding. You expect progressives to support clients of GCC countries and refer to them as revolutionaries? Are you kidding me? Does that not vindicate all our suspicions about the lousy outfit known as the Syrian National Council?
Posted on January 27, 2012 by As'ad
Memory lane
One of the students at University of Nottingham tonight, Husayn Khalidi, is the grandson of Walid Khalidi who was my teacher at the American University of Beirut. I am delighted that Husayn's politics are closer to my politics than to his grandfather's.
PS Husayn: please make Hamzah contact me via email tonight regarding arrangements of travel for tomorrow.
PS Husayn: please make Hamzah contact me via email tonight regarding arrangements of travel for tomorrow.
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Flash. Exclusive. The King of Jordan has dignity.
"A Jordanian political activist was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison for undermining King Abdullah II's dignity, after he set alight a picture of the monarch this month. "The [military] state security court sentenced Uday Abu Issa, 18, to two years in jail. He has been found guilty of undermining the king's dignity," a judicial official said."
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
That lousy Wifaq opposition group in Bahrain
The Bahraini people are suffering from oppression, and this lousy group is relying on the services of Ahmad Chalabi: "Jawad Fairooz, secretary general of Wefaq and a former member of Parliament in Bahrain, acknowledged that there had been contacts with Mr. Chalabi. âMr Chalabi has helped us with contacts in Washington like other people have done and we thank them,â Mr. Fairooz said. "
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Zionist logic about Arab monarchist dictatorships
"Of the possible sources of legitimacy -- such as democracy, religion, monarchic succession, or the creation of great prosperity -- they had none. " He forgot to add Israel. Their alliance with Israel gives them great legitimacy, right? (thanks Nabeel)
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
GCC alliance
"Certain regional pressures may also apply against states wishing to reform, as the US political science professor As'ad AbuKhalil noted. AbuKhalil, who was invited to meet the emir of Qatar, subsequently wrotethat the latter informed him that political advances in one Gulf state couldn't exceed political advances in another. Today, Bahrain's parliament is almost devoid of opposition voices after the main opposition party decided to boycott post-crackdown elections, bringing the once-vibrant parliament in line with its Gulf peers." (thanks Sultan)
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
"controversial"
It was explained to me that the reason why University of Leeds required security is that I was considered a "controversial speaker". What is controversial about me, damn it?
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Dumb and Dumber
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad