Democratic Developments in the Arab World

Rule of Law
Israel Refuses to Bring Settlers to Justice

Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Yesh Din requested that the Israeli authorities investigate recent incidents of toxic chemicals detrimental to both crops and livestock found in Palestinian fields in several West Bank villages including Tuwani, Umm Faggara, Kharruba and Youssouf. The farmers filed complaint that this was the work of Israeli settlers, but until now the Israeli authorities have ignored the allegations leaving it up to the Palestinian farmers and international and local activists to deal with the problem. This Israeli attitude is in line with its policy of disregarding complaints by Palestinian farmers from frequent settlers' aggressions that included destroying trees and threatening the local farmers with violence.

Syria Withdraws from Lebanon

On April 26th 2005, Syria finally abided by UN Security Council Resolution 1559 and withdrew its last troops from Lebanon following increased domestic and international pressures in the wake of former Prime Minister Hariri’s assassination. The withdrawal put an end to the 29 year presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon, since1976 when Syria entered Lebanon to serve as a buffer force between the contending forces in the Lebanese civil war, which broke out in 1975. The Syrian exodus opens a new chapter in Lebanese history, where Lebanese leaders must now struggle to revive a debt-ridden economy, ensure the holding of peaceful elections in May, and redefine their relationship with Syria and Israel. Several political observers, however, are doubtful that the withdrawal of Syrian troops will bring to an end Syrian influence in Lebanese affairs.

Freedom of Expression

If Passed Draft Law Will Endanger Civil Society in Jordan

The Jordanian parliament is due to vote on a proposed bill dealing with professional associations. The draft law is highly restrictive as it requires that professional associations obtain prior written approval from the Interior Ministry to hold a public gathering or meeting and prohibits them from discussing topics outside of “professional matters.”  The new law allows the government to suspend any member of professional associations from practice for vaguely phrased infractions such as “directing an association out of its professional mandate” and “harming the honor of a profession.”  In effect, this law allows the government to penalize anyone who criticizes the government. This new bill comes as a reaction to loud criticisms by syndicate leaders of governmental policies and in particular Jordan’s tacit condoning of US (a close Jordanian ally) tactics in Iraq. Clearly, this step stands in sharp contrast to the Jordanian government’s self-declared commitment to democracy and the freedom of expression and association.

Harshest Penalty for Journalist in Moroccan History

On April 12th, a Rabat lower court sentenced Ali Lmrabet to a ten-year ban on working as a journalist and a fine of 50,000 dirhams over a defamation suit brought by Ahmed El Kher, spokesperson of the Association of Families of Sahrawis Victims of Repression in Tindouf Camps. Lmbaret stirred controversy when he opposed the official notion that the Sahrawis in Western Algeria were “held”, instead calling them refugees. Human rights groups claim that Mr. Lmrabet was given an unfair trial characterized by numerous irregularities. For example testimony by several defense witnesses was rejected and Mr. Lmrabet’s lawyer was prevented from making a closing speech. Political observers speculate that Mr. Lmrabet received such a harsh sentence in order to prevent him from launching his weekly newspaper—which he was expected to initiate in late April/early May.

Electoral Rights

Women’s Suffrage in Kuwait

In the first round of voting in mid-April, the Kuwaiti parliament approved a law that would give women the right to vote in municipal elections. The vote was extremely close with 26 MPs favoring the changes, 20 opposing, and 3 abstaining. In order for the law to come into effect, it must undergo the second round of voting now scheduled for mid- May, as a result of the May 3rd session ending without a quorum since 29 MPs abstained. Even if women win the second round as Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah predicts, the time schedule will make it impossible for women to participate in the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for May. The Prime Minister also promised to appoint a female cabinet minister once women are enfranchised. Similar laws have been previously rejected by parliament dominated by conservative MPs, who argued that women’s participation in politics contradicts Islamic values and tribal customs. However, many including the Kuwaiti Energy Minister are hopeful that if women gain the right to vote, it would "break the psychological barrier for women to enter into politics”.

Saudis Go to the Polls

For the first time in 30 years, Saudi men went to the polls to elect half of the members of the country’s 178 municipal councils. The other half of the members remains government-appointed. Islamic candidates scored major victories in the commercial capital of Jeddah, the nearby resort of Taif, the capital Riyadh, Damman, and the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina. But the Islamists scored more modest victories in Qassim, Buraida, and Unaiza. Analysts explain the Islamists’ victories by the fact that they were vigorously endorsed by religious scholars, mosque sermons and the media, and by the fact that they present the only real identifiable cohesive opposition group to the status quo.

Human Rights

More Transparency in Tunisian Prisons?

On April 20th, Tunisian authorities granted the US-based Human Rights Watch(HRW) the right to visit Tunisian prisons. No independent human rights organization has been granted access to prisons in Tunisia since 1991, when the Tunisian League for Human Rights was permitted a single visit. Tunisian authorities have also pledged not to resort to prolonged periods of solitary confinement as punishment for political prisoners. Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at HRW welcomed the Tunisian government’s decision to eschew this brutal practice, adding that HRW employees “look forward to gaining access to Tunisian prisons to help ensure that the government fully implements its promises.”  

Algerian President Proposes Amnesty Law

On April 14th , as a step towards “national reconciliation” President Bouteflika proposed granting general amnesty for human rights abuses committed in the course of the country’s brutal internal conflict during the decade of the 1990s. According to official sources such a law would provide impunity from prosecution to any member of an armed group, state-armed militia and the security forces for crimes committed during the conflict, including serious human rights abuses such as rape and the murder of civilians.   Many human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Center for Transitional Justice, the International Commission of Jurists and the International Federation for Human Rights fear that such a law would permanently deprive victims and their families of their right to truth, justice and reparation, not to mention that such an amnesty would sent the message that the government tolerates serious crimes without even attempting to bring those responsible to justice.