Keeping Pace With The Revolutions In The Middle East

So much has happened in the Middle East over the last few months that it’s been hard to keep up. Freedom is addictive and the domino effect in the Middle East is strong. People have paid dearly for freedom and dictators have been toppled. But who fills the vacuum created when these dictators fall?

Here’s a brief review of the changes taking place.

It’s been 2 months since the revolution in Egypt toppled Mubarak’s regime. With Mubarak gone and his whereabouts unknown, Egypt is ruled by its army. For years Mubarak’s regime has banned Islamic groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. Now thousands of Islamic leaders are planning to return to Egypt and take their place. In another sign of growing self confidence, Muslim Brotherhood officials have called for the establishment of a Saudi-style modesty police to combat “immoral” behavior in public areas. Mean while Mohamed ElBarade, presidential candidate in Egypt’s upcoming election on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood, has said that if Israel attacked Hamas in Gaza, Egypt will counterattack Israel. Egyptian Foreign Minister further claimed Iran is no longer an enemy of Egypt and demanded Israel pay higher price retroactively for gas transfers from Egypt. Will Egypt hold its peace treaty with Israel? or use the first excuse to break all past commitments? It’s hard to tell which way Egypt will follow – we can try guessing but then no one guessed Mubarak will be toppled right?

Syria has seen some violent demonstrations as well. While bodies are piling up in Syria’s cities where protesters demand reforms, Hamas issued a statement declaring the events in Syria are an internal Syrian affair and that the movement is standing by the Syrian leadership and the Syrian people alike. Assad was quick to blame Israel for the riots but refused to improve human rights and initiate reforms. Syria’s human rights abuse track record doesn’t stop it from applying for a seat on the UN’s human rights council.

The Syrian human rights pledge says: “Promotion and protection of human rights are of highest importance to Syria…Syria’s candidature to the Human Rights Council signifies its commitment to respect and to support the inalienable and indivisible nature of all human rights.” Philippe Bolopion of Human Rights Watch said in response to that move “Syria’s bid and empty promises are an affront to Syrian protesters whose demands for less repressive laws and practices have been met with bullets, killing dozens over the last few days”.

In any rate, the West is currently turning a blind eye to what’s going on in Syria as opposed to the fighting in Libya where the US and Europe support the rebels fighting those loyal to Qaddafi. But little is known about these rebels and the forces behind them. Concerns that Al-Qaeda might be influencing the rebels’ forces have US officials worried. Is supplying these rebels with weapons in the best interest of the US and the west?

Israel is standing strong and is so far unaffected by the turmoil around us. While the Arab world struggles to find its balance, all of us in Giyus.org hope that democracy and freedom will prevail.