Greater Middle East

Saudi Arabia: blogger faces death penalty

Human Rights Watch has urged Saudi Arabia to dismiss a criminal case against a website editor who may face the death penalty on apostasy charges for abandoning Islam. 

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.

Greater Middle East

Syria: Nusra Front makes ‘terrorist’ list

The US government added Syria's al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant to the "foreign terrorist organizations" list, placing sanctions on two of its senior leaders.

Greater Middle East

UAE arrests 18-year-old blogger: report

The Emirates Centre for Human Rights reports that the United Arab Emirates has arrested an 18-year-old blogger as part of a wider effort to crack down on government opposition. 

Greater Middle East

Syria chemical weapons threat: how real?

Is a "false flag" attack in preparation to faciliate military intervention that would install the rebels in power? Or is Washington more afraid of WMD falling into jihadist hands?

Greater Middle East

Amnesty: human rights ‘catastrophe’ in Yemen

A report by Amnesty International documents a "raft of gross and deeply disturbing abuses" committed by both Islamist rebels and government forces in the battle for southern Yemen.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: high court suspends work in face of protests

Egypt’s Supreme Court indefinitely halted its operations amid pressure from protestors aiming to block the judges from ruling on the validity of the country’s new constitution.

Greater Middle East

Syria: endgame or wider war?

With pitched fighting in Damascus, the Internet is down across Syria. Russia meanwhile protests NATO plans to place missiles along Syria's border in Turkey.

Greater Middle East

Riots rock Jordan, protests shake Kuwait

Riots over rising prices exploded across Jordan, while the oposition held a mass rally in Kuwait to oppose an electoral law aimed at extending the power of the royal family.