Watching the Shadows

Italy pardons US colonel in CIA rendition case

Italian president Giorgio Napolitano pardoned US Air Force Colonel Joseph Romano of his conviction related to the “extraordinary rendition” of Egyptian cleric Abu Omar.

North Africa

Whither the ‘Topless Jihad’?

Rival online campaigns are waged by the "Topless Jihad" and Muslim Women Against Femen. Is the Topless Jihad a defense of women's freedom, or imperialist propaganda?

North Africa

Moammar Qaddafi’s cousin arrested in Egypt

Ahmed Qaddaf al-Dam, cousin of Moammar Qaddafi, was arrested in Cairo by Libyan forces. The raid came on the second anniversary of the opening of NATO's Libya campaign.

Greater Middle East

UN criticizes Egypt draft demonstration law

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized Egypt’s draft law on demontrations that bars many of the same tactics used in the protests against Mubarak.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: death sentences for anti-Muslim ‘film’

An Egyptian court upheld the in absentia death sentences of seven Coptic Christians and a US preacher on charges stemming from the amateur anti-Muslim film Innocence of Muslims.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: Ikhwan Holocaust denial abets Zionists

Fathi Shihab-Eddim, a senior aide to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, spews Holocaust-denying malarky—seemingly oblivious to how he legitimizes Zionist political logic.

Greater Middle East

Riots rock Egypt on revolution anniversary

Protesters calling for the fall of President Mohamed Morsi clashed with police clashed in Cairo on the eve of the the second anniversary of the uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

Greater Middle East

Saudi court convicts Egyptian rights lawyer

A Saudi Arabian court convicted Egyptian human rights lawyer Ahmed el-Gezawi of smuggling drugs, sentencing him to five years imprisonment and 300 lashes.

North Africa

Attack on Coptic church in Libya

Two Egyptians were killed and two injured in an explosion at a Coptic church at Dafniya, near the Libyan city of Misrata. The blast came just as mass was ending.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: opposition to appeal constitution vote

Egypt’s opposition will appeal the referendum that appears to have voted in a new constitution backed by ruling Islamic parties, asserting the vote was marred by fraud.