Ever since the Arab Spring, Egyptian politics have been a mess. Beginning with the successful ousting of US-backed technocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the Egyptian people have been taken on a tumultuous political journey. After winning Egypt’s first democratic presidential election by a razor thin margin, Muhammad Morsi of the Egyptian Brotherhood-backed Freedom and JusticeContinue reading “The Price of Security: Egyptian Freedom in the Age of Sisi”
Tag Archives: democracy
Singapore: A wealthy city-state where the freedom is poor
Singapore is known to outsiders for its unique laws on the likes of chewing gum, tobacco, toy currency (not counterfeit, but the ones children play with) and pornographic material. It is also one of the wealthiest countries in the Asian continent, if not the world, with a GDP per capita of $60,900. Likewise known forContinue reading “Singapore: A wealthy city-state where the freedom is poor”
Religious Oppression and the Muslim Brotherhood: Egypt in Focus
The Egyptian government has struggled to consolidate its power since the fall of Hosni Mubarak; the Muslim Brotherhood now dominates the newly elected government. The fact that a religious political organisation is the dominant political power has brought unwelcome consequences for religious minorities in Egypt. Coptic Christians represent the single biggest religious minority in theContinue reading “Religious Oppression and the Muslim Brotherhood: Egypt in Focus”
Will Cuba still remain an Island-Cage?
Last summer, I had the chance to travel throughout the eastern part of Cuba and stay in casa particulares – rooms in Cuban homes rented by locals who obtained a license from the government. This trip gave me the chance to receive a first-hand perception of how Cubans have lived under the Castro regime forContinue reading “Will Cuba still remain an Island-Cage?”
The future of Saudi Arabia lies in Hamza Kashgari
(and incidentally, vice versa…) On the occasion of Mawlidon February 4, 2012, Hamza Kashgari, a columnist for the Jeddah-based daily Al-Bilad, published three tweets about an imagined meeting with Muhammad, addressing him as an equal. One tweet read, “On your birthday, I shall not bow to you. I shall not kiss your hand. Rather, IContinue reading “The future of Saudi Arabia lies in Hamza Kashgari”
“Khodorkovsky” – Jigsaw Falling into Place?
As Russia’s protest movement gathers momentum, the name of Mikhail Khodorkovsky is again on everyone’s lips. The organisers of the February 4th demonstration in Moscow are finalising a list of forty political prisoners, no doubt benefiting from public interest in his plight, whose release are their foremost demand, presidential candidates who once lauded his sentencesContinue reading ““Khodorkovsky” – Jigsaw Falling into Place?”
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