This month’s Arabic issue focuses on political reform in Egypt, with discussion of the new judicial law and the ongoing controversy over the Press Law and the case of al-Dustour editor Ibrahim Eissa. In addition, Dr. Saad comments on the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and discusses religious reform.

Articles on the region deal with the latest developments in the DarFur crisis, the implications of the death of al-Zarqawi for the security of Iraq, the secularism movement in Egypt, and an inquiry into the Yemeni “democratic experiment.” Regarding ICDS itself, topics include the weekly forum, a capacity-building training workshop that was hosted by the center on behalf of the International Republican Institute, and the annual conference.