Despite their promises, the Taliban have failed to honour their word on a number of commitments. There are still ongoing violations of basic human rights (such as the right of women to study and work, and freedom of the media). The amnesty offered to political opponents turned out to be mere lip service. The situation … Continue reading “Peacemaking” Hypocrisy: Human Rights Violations are Turning into a Norm Under the Taliban Regime
Biden’s Foreign Policy and his Afghanistan Decision
President Biden won the 2020 Presidential elections with a campaign strategy that promised a more compassionate foreign affairs policy. His decision to remove all American troops from Afghanistan’s territory, leaving the country completely vulnerable to Taliban intervention, gave a very different impression. The humanitarian catastrophe currently unfolding in Afghanistan suggest that Biden’s concern was directly … Continue reading Biden’s Foreign Policy and his Afghanistan Decision
Biometrics Beware: an Advancement in Modern Warfare
The world seems to be confronting the same news articles that surfaced around 20 years ago. “USA enters the Middle East” “Is the US military pulling out of the Middle East?” The newsstands, internet, and entire world seemed to become consumed by the political affairs between the US and the Middle East. Today, more than … Continue reading Biometrics Beware: an Advancement in Modern Warfare
The Spread of Atheism and Irreligiosity in the Middle East
The Middle East, in the collective imagination, represents an area of the world characterized by great religious fervor. It does not only govern the individual, but influences every aspect of public life. The Muslim countries of the MENA region are characterized mostly by religiously repressive states and secularly repressive states in comparison to other parts … Continue reading The Spread of Atheism and Irreligiosity in the Middle East
Erdogan and His Grand Vision – Increasing Internal Crisis in Turkey
Turkish President Erdogan's grand vision of becoming a leader of the Muslim world is taking a more radicalised form in domestic politics as well. First conversion of two former Byzantine churches, namely the Church of St. Saviour in Chora and Hagia Sophia, into Mosques. And now annulation of Turkey's ratification of Istanbul Convention. This convention was established by The … Continue reading Erdogan and His Grand Vision – Increasing Internal Crisis in Turkey
About Water Security and the Construction of the GERD
Water is of critical importance to human survival. However, access to water for various uses can create contention between countries and is a "matter of life and death", especially when such access affects by transboundary factors. A contemporary example is the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project running since 2011. The GERD is a source of interstate … Continue reading About Water Security and the Construction of the GERD
Wahhabism and Saudi Kingdom: A Dangerous Alliance?
Saudi Arabia is frequently mentioned today, not only because of the wealth shown by the ruling family, but also and above all because of its investments scattered around the world. As a rentier state, Saudi Arabia has enjoyed a flourishing economy based on oil and gas exports for almost 70 years now. This enormous wealth … Continue reading Wahhabism and Saudi Kingdom: A Dangerous Alliance?
Hope for Separated Palestinean Families
The Israeli government recently failed to renew the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, giving thousands of torn Palestinean-Israeli families new found hope after years of forced separation. The law, which requires yearly approval, hinders Palestinean spouses from living together in Israel if one of the partners is from the West Bank and the other … Continue reading Hope for Separated Palestinean Families
Nagorno-Karabakh: A Perennial Dispute
When an armed conflict broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh between Artsakh Armenian forces and Azerbaijani forces on 27 September, few expected that this conflict, which concerns a small area of the Caucasus, would become the first war scenario to be decided by drones rather than directly by humans within 44 days. It is not known how … Continue reading Nagorno-Karabakh: A Perennial Dispute
Iraq Water Shortage: a ‘Hydro-Political’ Disaster
Water is the basis of life on earth, and without it nothing would exist, including the economic activities on which humanity relies, such as agriculture, industry or any other human endeavour. Civilisation as we now know it has developed around the great rivers, and among these, the Tigris and Euphrates have played a major role, … Continue reading Iraq Water Shortage: a ‘Hydro-Political’ Disaster