Democracy

Veteran Iraqi Kurdish politician announces new party

Baghdad - Muslimchronicle

After four decades with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), veteran politician Barham Salih announced the formation of a new party to participate in parliamentary elections in Iraqi Kurdistan, scheduled for Nov. 1. “Today, crises weigh heavily on our people in Kurdistan, as a result of the dominance of a group of stakeholders over its capabilities,” said Salih, who servedRead more

Catalonia vote poses big problems for Spain and aspiring new state

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Millions of Catalans hope to go to the polls on Sunday to vote on whether the region should become independent from Spain, in a referendum fiercely opposed by the central government and which threatens to expose ruptures in the country’s 39-year democracy. Catalonia, which has its own language and is a semi-autonomous region in Spain’s northeast, has long felt distinctRead more

Turkey becomes world’s biggest prison for journalists

Ankara - Galal Fawaz

Since he was sworn in as Turkey's president in 2014, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has slowly tightened his grip on freedom of expression, turning Turkey, once held up as an exemplar of secular democracy in the Muslim world, to the world’s biggest prison for journalists. Editors of national newspapers now face life sentences for working “against the state”. People have beenRead more

Is there Hope for Democracy in the Middle East?

Rabat - Arab Today

The Arab Spring uprisings of 2011 have touched all corners of the Middle East and have affected all countries in different ways, resulting in anything from small scale protests against the government to full blown revolutions to overthrow dictators. Most protestors’ calls were for an end to the dictatorships that had ruled over them for years and for them toRead more

Palace allays fears over Duterte’s health condition

Manila - ArabToday

“It’s nothing serious,” Ernesto Abella, the president’s spokesman said on Tuesday after President Duterte on Monday admitted during a forum that a medical condition concerning his spine had been troubling him. The president said the pain he had been experiencing was the reason why he appeared to be always in a melancholic mood these past few days. “I had aRead more

Dutch PM Confirms Support of Democracy in Turkey

Ankara - Arab Today

In a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed his country's support of democracy in Turkey. Sources in the Turkish presidency said that Rutte emphasised during the call on Saturday night the importance of the return of Turkey's relations with the European Union to its previous pace. For his part, Erdogan stressed theRead more

Merkel to raise concerns over Turkey's democracy with Erdoğan

Berlin - Arab Today

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will raise concerns over democracy in Turkey when she meets President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan next week, her spokesman said Friday, as Ankara began a final vote on a contentious bill lifting parliamentary immunity. "For the domestic stability of every democracy, it is important for every relevant group in society to be also represented in parliament. TheRead more

Obama voices concern about Turkey's oppressive policies

Washington - MENA

US President Barack Obama slammed Turkish authorities' repressive policies against press freedom and democracy. Despite terming Turkey as a partner in fighting terrorism, Obama voiced worries about some disturbing issues in Turkey like freedom of press, religion and democracy. Read more