Politics

Military parade attack in Ahwaz, Iran

The Islamic Republic reels

Following this weekendʹs attack on a military parade in the southern Iranian city of Ahwaz, fears that the United States, Saudi Arabia and others may seek to destabilise the country by instigating ethnic unrest are rife, writes James M. Dorsey, raising the likelihood of a clampdown against opposition groups at home and abroad
By James M. Dorsey
From Basra to Baghdad

Young Iraqis rise up for a life worth living

Major rallies against the nation's political elite have been raging in Iraq for months, so far resulting in 15 deaths and 120 injuries. Birgit Svensson reports from Basra, where the protests first flared up and quickly spread through the entire southern half of the country to Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Oslo I 25 years on

Israelis and Palestinians lament the deadlock

There was hope that resolution of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians was imminent when the first Oslo Accord was signed in 1993. But the promise of a two-state solution any time soon has been all but dashed. By Tessa Fox
By Tessa Fox
USA cancels aid to Palestinian aid agency UNRWA

Washington's penchant for moving the goalposts

At the beginning of September the USA announced it would pull its entire aid to the Palestinian refugees owing to UNRWAʹs inefficiency. But Washington's attack on the UNRWA serves a much broader plan, says Peter Philipp in his commentary
By Peter Philipp
The Idlib offensive

Nourishing Syria's terrorist tree

Tahrir al-Sham will not be subdued by the destruction of Idlib over the heads of its inhabitants, or by the sacrifice of millions of civilians. As Russia and Assad tighten the noose, we need to realise that the war on terror cannot be won by outdoing terrorists in the slaughter of civilians, argues Burhan Ghalioun, former SNC chairman
By Burhan Ghalioun
Pakistanʹs premier Imran Khan

Playboy turned politician

Clad in traditional shalwar kameez and rolling rosary beads in his right hand, Pakistanʹs new prime minister, Imran Khan, recently took office. He promises change, yet what form will such change take? Afshan Subohi has the details
By Afshan Subohi
Interview with novelist and activist Arundhati Roy

"We're up against a fascist regime in India"

In interview with Murali Krishnan, renowned novelist and social activist Arundhati Roy talks about the recent arrests of leftist intellectuals in India and accuses PM Modi's government of "overturning" the country's constitution
By Murali Krishnan
Torture under the Assad regime

Syrian detainee No. 72

The Syrian government has acknowledged that hundreds of detainees were killed in state custody. Anchal Vohra met one of the prisoners who, along with many others, was tortured in Bashar Assad's jails. This is his story
By Anchal Vohra
Interview with Thomas Ruttig

Afghanistan's democracy in reverse gear

Afghanistan expert Thomas Ruttig says that in the West's battle with the Taliban, too much focus has been placed for too long on political allies with problematic credentials: many warlords are still armed and have never faced prosecution for past offences. Despite being non-democrats, they control democratic institutions to this day. Interview by Hans Spross
By Hans Spross
A new quality of civil unrest

Is Iraq steering towards post-sectarianism?

In the absence of civil war, the people of Iraq have found an opportunity to demand that the political elite deliver on their election campaign promises. Chanting slogans demanding services and jobs, the protesters are keeping clear of sectarian rhetoric. By Seyed Ali Alavi
By Seyed Ali Alavi
State repression in Turkey

Tear gas for grieving Saturday Mothers

The Saturday Mothers gather weekly in Turkey to demand information on loved ones subjected to enforced disappearance or state violence. But in the country’s repressive political environment even their vigils are coming under attack. Tom Stevenson and Murat Bayram report from Istanbul
By Tom Stevenson, Murat Bayram
Assad and the future of northern Syria

Syriaʹs Kurds hold the cards

International politics are subject to strange twists and turns. As Middle East expert Neville Teller writes, with a shared enemy and perceived advantages from co-operation, the outcome of current negotiations between the Syrian Democractic Council and Damascus could well be a continued Assad presidency, sustained by Kurdish support
By Neville Teller