In Turkey, Debating A Women’s Right To Bear Arms »
Hundreds of Turkish women die each year at the hands of men, often their husband or a family member, and many more are routinely abused. Activists say the police and legal response has been dismal. One group has issued a controversial proposal: arming at-risk women and training them in self-defense. » E-Mail This » Add [...]
In Change, Palestinians Now Seek High-Profile Visits »
For decades, the Palestinians have urged foreign Muslims to boycott one of the holiest sites in Islam, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. But now, Palestinian religious figures are encouraging such visits, saying they could highlight Palestinian claims in their feud with Israel. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
Egypt’s New President Could Come From Old Guard »
Egypt had a revolution last year as the country united behind a call to oust Hosni Mubarak and sweep away his regime. Yet just days before the country’s presidential election, the front-runner is Amr Moussa — one of the country’s most prominent political figures during Mubarak’s rule. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle [...]
Why The U.S. Is Aggressively Targeting Yemen »
Yemen is now considered to be “the greatest external threat facing the U.S. homeland in terms of terrorism,” says investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
Palestinians Tout Non-Violent Resistance »
Palestinian prisoners ended a mass hunger strike aimed at improving their conditions in Israel prisons after striking a deal with Israeli authorities this week. Meanwhile, Israel points to continued attempted Palestinian terror attacks against civilians as proof nothing has changed. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
U.N.: It Takes Time To Achieve Results In Syria »
The head of United Nations peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, was in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday and talked to Michele Kelemen about how many unnamed observers are in Syria and what they are able to do. Ladsous has said that the ongoing violence is appalling. Some in Washington have been calling for stronger measures, including humanitarian corridors [...]
U.N. Presence Fails To Prevent Syrian Bloodshed »
U.N. monitors were attending a funeral in a northern Syria village when it turned into a protest, and then a violent clash. More than 30 people were killed, and the U.N. peace plan suffered another setback. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
At 96, Historian Lewis Reflects On ‘A Century’ »
Over his long academic career, Bernard Lewis has arguably become the world’s greatest historian of the Middle East. Now, at 96, Lewis turns his attention inward in a memoir that looks back on his life, work and legacy. NPR’s Neal Conan talks with Lewis about his new book, Notes on a Century. » E-Mail This [...]
Violence In Syria Has Not Abated »
Over the weekend, Syrian troops continued their brutal campaign against those who oppose the regime of President Bashar Assad. And a questionable video has been released by a group claiming responsibility for massive explosions that shook Syria’s capital last week. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
A Deadly Raid On Syrian Village »
Syrian forces killed at least five people in a raid on a farming village in the country’s northwest on Sunday while continuing to crack down on rebellious areas near the capital Damascus, activists said. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
For Egyptian Candidate, Broad Appeal And Expectations »
In Egypt, a one-time leader of the Muslim Brotherhood is emerging as a leading candidate in this month’s presidential election. He’s considered a moderate Islamist who appeals to secular and religious Egyptians. But, as we hear from reporter Merritt Kennedy in Cairo, the candidate is walking a tightrope trying to stay true to his agenda. [...]
Al-Qaida Infiltration ‘Important’ But ‘Not Unheard Of’ »
Host Rachel Martin speaks with former CIA official Philip Mudd about the British undercover agent who helped thwart a terrorist who aimed to use the newest version of the underwear bomb. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
Al-Qaida In Yemen: A New Top U.S. Priority »
Terrorists are still targeting the U.S. homeland, as demonstrated by the news that al-Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen plotted to blow up a plane headed to the U.S. What’s also clear, NPR’s Dina Temple-Raston reports, is just how aggressively the U.S. is targeting the terrorists in Yemen. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East
Largely Unseen, Syria Carries Out Arrest Campaign »
The ongoing violence has dominated the headlines from Syria. But monitoring groups say that nonviolent activists and intellectuals are being arrested in growing numbers. Critics say it’s an attempt by the Syrian leadership to undermine any potential political negotiations. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Middle East