Morsi Buried without Funeral Ceremony
Egypt’s former president Mohamed Morsi was buried without a funeral. The son of former Egyptian president Morsi confirmed on his Facebook page on 18 June 2019 that “his father was…
Egypt’s Former President Morsi Dies in Court
Ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi dies at the age of 67 in Cairo after collapsing in court on Monday. Several media sources reported that Morsi collapsed in a glass cage…
The State of Iraq
The years of internal conflict that followed the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and his regime in Iraq in 2003 have at last been succeeded by a degree of precarious stability.
Are Insurgencies Truly Over in Syria?
While the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) has lost control of its statelet in Iraq and Syria, the war against the remnants of the organization is not over, despite President Trump’s…
Clerics and Entertainment seek to bolster MbS’s Grip on Power
A public apology by a prominent Salafi scholar sheds a light on Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s version of ‘moderate Islam,’ his effort to shape the Middle East and…
Trump versus Iran – the State of Play
May 2019 has seen a marked deterioration in the long-running US-Iran standoff. Back on 8 May Washington announced it had acquired credible intelligence suggesting a possible Iranian attack on US troops on…
A Survey of Arab Youth highlights Gaps between Policies and Aspirations
Results of a recent annual survey of Arab youth concerns about their future suggest that Arab autocracies have yet to deliver expected public services and goods, explain autocratic efforts to…
The Deal of the Century – Straws in the Wind
Following Israel’s general election and the confirmation of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister for the fourth time, Washington announced that the Trump peace plan – dubbed by the President as…
Arab Power Struggles: “The King Is Dead, Long Live the King”
Political transition in the Middle East and North Africa operates so far on the principle of ‘The King is dead, long live the King.’
The Virtual Islamic State
Just a few years ago the Islamic State (IS) was only too real. Spread across Syria and Iraq, It covered more than 34,000 square miles and controlled millions of people.…