Middle East

Maverick Muslim ‘televangelist’ Yusuf Qaradawi has provoked fury in many quarters of Egypt with his recent fatwas and statements on that country. Qaradawi is an Egyptian member of the Muslim Brotherhood who took refuge in Qatar and became a Qatari citizen during the period when the Brotherhood was banned in his country of birth. He […]

Libya

All Hell Breaks Loose in Libya

Juan Cole

Over the weekend, all hell broke loose in Libya, in worrying ways that suggest that the government is entering new depths of paralysis and incompetence, and the terrorist cells based in Benghazi are making a play for genuine power. The assassination of a militant secularist nationalist in Benghazi just after the assassination of of a […]

Egypt

Egypt: Elbaradei, al-Azhar, Leftist Youth Condemn Excessive Force

Juan Cole

Egypt reacted with shock and grief to the massacre of Muslim Brothers early Sunday morning. Even figures who supported the July 3 coup such as Vice President for Foreign Affairs Muhammad Elbaradei and the Rector of the Al-Azhar Seminary criticized the military for using excessive force. It seems clear that Brotherhood members were attempting to […]

Tunisia

Tunisia: Government Teeters on Brink after Slain Leftist’s Funeral.

Juan Cole

An estimated 50,000 came out in Tunis for the funeral of the assassinated leftist opposition member of parliament Mohamed Brahmi, leader of the pro-worker Popular Front. [Estimate here). Brahmi was shot 14 times outside his home on Thursday by an unknown assailant. A major suspect is extremist Boubakr al-Hakim, a former recruiter of fighters for […]

Egypt

Egyptian authorities release CCTV Footage of Muslim Brotherhood Attack on 6 October Bridge

Juan Cole

The Egyptian authorities have released CCTV video of the Muslim Brotherhood attempt to take over 6 October bridge, showing vanguards engaged in stone-throwing and appearing to cause fires (molotov cocktails?). h/t EAworldview Journalist @Beltrew also reported seeing the same events unfold. The Egyptian military allege that they simply repelled this attempt to take a key […]

Egypt

Egypt: Midnight Massacre of Muslim Brothers at 6 October Bridge (NBC Video)

Juan Cole

NBC news reports on the massacre at October 6 Bridge last night in Cairo. The Egyptian health ministry is now saying 66 are dead, the Muslim Brotherhood estimates twice that. NBC to its credit suggests a rational reason for the discrepancy. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Egypt

Egypt’s Revocouption Part Deux: Dueling Crowds leave 30 Dead

Juan Cole

Egypt’s combination of popular street power and military power continued to dominate the unfolding events in that country on Friday. On Wednesday, Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on the Egyptian masses to gather on Friday to “delegate” to the army the authority necessary to root out terrorism. Al-Sisi got his wish, as enormous crowds […]

Tunisia

Tunisia: Demos, Parliament Resignations and the Republic of Sidi Bouzid Secedes

Juan Cole

The assassination on Thursday of the leftist leader of the Popular Front, Mohamed Brahmi, provoked no end of trouble in Tunisia on Friday. The left and the middle and upper class secularists tended to blame it on the ruling Renaissance (Ennahda) Party, a party of the religious Right. Some outright accused Renaissance of being behind […]

Egypt

Egypt: Military announces ‘War on Terror,’ Calls for Massive Demos Against Muslim Brotherhood

Juan Cole

Here are two videos from AFP that help explain all those people milling in the street today in Egypt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Minister of Defense, called for big demonstrations on Friday so that that people can “delegate” to the military the ability to wage a “war on terror.” The use of that language […]