Middle East - Global Experts

The Complex Politics of the Anti-Islam Video and its Consequent Protests

September 25th, 2012, Comment & Analysis

The wave of global protests about the anti-Islam trailer ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ reflects the tensions, contradictions and polarizations of the world within which we live. Having watched this badly produced ‘clip’, it dawned on me that it does not warrant the terms ‘movie’, ‘trailer’, or ‘video’ as it simply does not amount to anything artistic or creative and should have been left to obscurity.

Re-empowering a Declining Movement?

September 25th, 2012, Comment & Analysis

The killings of Chris Stevens, the American ambassador to Libya, and his colleagues in Benghazi and the outpouring of violent protests against the U.S. in many parts of the world, in particular the Middle East, cannot just be explained in terms of the “legacy of tyranny” or the outcome of Arab world’s transition to democracy, a process which many political theorists believe, tend to be very turbulent.

Fostering Democracy in the New Middle East: Bet on the Region’s Women and Girls

September 25th, 2012, Comment & Analysis

The massive wave of social and political protests of the “Arab Spring” shook up the status quo in the Middle East, making the voice of the women in the region heard with unprecedented power. Yet, in the post-revolutionary phase, this initial rise in the status and influence of women has been reversed.

Responding to profanity

September 19th, 2012, Comment & Analysis

It was indeed shocking news of what happened in the aftermath of a released preview of a profane film which has left the Muslims in a state of sadness and shock across the world. As horrific and offensive as the video might be, nothing justifies the sort of violent acts we have seen in Egypt, Libya and Yemen. Nothing is worth the cost of a human life and as a Muslim, I firmly believe that there is no honor or faith in committing such violence, and we all unequivocally oppose the senseless violence in different parts of Muslim world.

The Tyranny of Small Numbers

September 19th, 2012, Comment & Analysis

In the last few days we have seen violent demonstrations in the world from Nigeria to Cairo to Indonesia to even Australia. Some are thinking this is representative of the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. It is not.

Benghazi as a wake-up call

September 14th, 2012, Comment & Analysis

Benghazi as a wake-up call By: Alon Ben-Meir The unconscionable attack against the United States Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four officials, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, must be condemned in the strongest terms possible and the official response should be swift but proportionate. The event underscores the reality that Libya remains in [...]