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Who Gets to be the Caliph?

Who gets to be the caliph? After all, if you want to have a caliphate , as revolutionary Islamists do with much popular support among Muslims… Continue reading

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Iran: Discourse on Shari’ah Aspects of Nuclear Weapons Development Continues

Why Islamic religious law prohibits the development of nuclear weapons… Continue reading

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The New Middle East: Arab versus non-Arab Muslims; Sunni versus Shia

The new Middle East strategic battle is heating up and this is only the start… Continue reading

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The Pragmatics of Lebanon’s Politics

Lebanese society has had a remarkable ability to overcome deep-rooted sectarian and religious divides that could readily have imploded less problematic countries… Continue reading

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Ankara and Baghdad: A Parting of Ways?

Until now, Turkey’s presence in Iraq has generally been encouraged by all major Iraqi groups… Continue reading

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Sunni versus Shia: The Middle East’s New Strategic Conflict

Conflicts between Sunni and Shia Muslims are not at all new, but… Continue reading

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Iranian speculations on Egypt’s Islamists: Shi’ite-style revolutionaries or Turkish-style democrats?

There have been various speculations in Iranian press on the significance of the Islamists’ victory and the nature of the Islamist faction in Egypt… Continue reading

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Overviewing Shi’a-Sunni Conflicts

As we approach the end of the first year of what has been called the Arab Spring… Continue reading

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Iranian terrorist cell exposed in Bahrain

A terrorist cell was recently exposed in Bahrain, which according to the Bahraini and… Continue reading

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Iran: Next Target of Islamic Law Enforcement Campaign: Internet Cafés and Photography Shops

Tehran police recently launched an operation to shut down illegal photography shops and internet cafés… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Lebanese PM Mikati described Hezbollah as ‘tumor’

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati described Shi’a Muslim terrorist group Hizballah as a “tumor”… Continue reading

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The Big Split in the Revolutionary Islamist Movement: Sunni and Shia Blocs Emerge

A development of huge importance is happening in the Middle East, equivalent perhaps to the… Continue reading

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Look Who Wants to lead the Middle East!

In the absence of U.S. leadership, others want to direct the Middle East… Continue reading

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The Emptying of Yemen

For the first time in its exceedingly long history, Yemen now threatens the outside world… Continue reading

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Is the Battle of Jisr a-Shughour the tipping-point of the uprising against Bashar Assad?

It took Syrian president six days to send troops and tanks to punish the small northern town of Jisr a-Shughour near the Turkish border… Continue reading

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Iran Intensifies Fight against its Bahai Minority

At least 14 citizens belonging to the Bahai faith who took part in a higher education program for Bahai youth were arrested… Continue reading

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Iran’s Media Steps Up Criticism of Azerbaijan

In recent weeks Iranian media have taken an increasingly critical stance towards Azerbaijan. Most of the criticism against… Continue reading

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Iran: Tougher Measures to Enforce the Islamic Dress Code

This week, the morality police chief has announced tougher measures to enforce the Islamic dress code in Iran… Continue reading

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Eye on Europe: Supreme Leader’s remark on spread of “Islamic Awakening” to Europe makes waves

Speaking at a meeting with thousands of teachers held on the occasion of Teacher Day, marked in Iran last week, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Yemen – Who Are The Houthis?

Given the Houthis’ opacity and the government’s exaggerated claims about their goals, it is difficult to know what exactly… Continue reading

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Ansar-e Hezbollah: Recruiting Volunteers for Suicide Missions in Bahrain

From recruitment of suicide bombers to increased online presence: Iran’s radical right-wing government supporters step up activities… Continue reading

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Iranian Press Criticizes Persian Gulf Rulers

The tensions between Iran and the Persian Gulf states have escalated in recent days on the backdrop of the ongoing political crisis in Bahrain… Continue reading

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How And Why Most Middle East Regimes Will Survive the Current Turmoil

In discussing recent developments in the Middle East the framework seems to be: this is the era of uprisings so now every Arab regime… Continue reading

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The Alawi Capture of Power in Syria

For many centuries, the ‘Alawis were the weakest, poorest, most rural, most despised, and most backward people of Syria… Continue reading

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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates Urges Syria Regime Overthrow Against White House Policy

As I’ve reported, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is horrified by White House policies in the Middle East. Indeed, he has an extra reason for… Continue reading

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Iran: Are the Events in the Arab World a Sign of the Mehdi’s Coming Return?

A documentary shown in Iran in the past several months has provoked a heated religious-legal debate… Continue reading

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Deadly Crackdown on Bahrain Protesters, Iran Rattled by Saudi Military Intervention

The contest between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the Sunni-Shiite split in the Arab world were ramped up to a dangerous level… Continue reading

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Bahrain Opposition Cleric: We Want Sharia Law State

Not everyone in the opposition movements in Arab countries are Islamists, of course, but at least outside of… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Saudis fear ‘Shia triangle’ of Iran, Iraq and Pakistan

America is often portrayed as the big dog in Pakistan’s yard: a swaggering power that makes rules, barks orders and throws its weight around… Continue reading

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Iran: Rafsanjani Loses Key Post, Mahdavi Kani New Assembly of Experts Chairman

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been replaced as head of the Assembly of Experts committee constitutionally tasked with… Continue reading

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Iran to Ban Keeping Pet Dogs, Considered a “Blind Imitation” of Western Culture

Keeping pet dogs, considered to be unclean (Najes) in Shi’ite law, is viewed as an expression of the corrupting influence of the West… Continue reading

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Tehran’s hands-off Threat to Riyadh Incites Saudi Shiites to Revolt

Ahead of the first Day of Anger planned in Saudi Arabia for March 11, a senior Iranian figure close to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned… Continue reading

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Kerry Plays With Fire by Backing an Uprising in Bahrain

U.S. senator John Kerry, who when I worked in the Senate was regarded as…let’s just say as not a great genius, is now chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee… Continue reading

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Deadly Crackdown on Bahrain Protesters

Tanks rolled into Pearl Square, Manama, early Thursday, Feb. 17, personally commanded by King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in full military regalia, hours after… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: No Evidence of Iran’s Hand in Bahrain Simmering Unrest

The United States has repeatedly dismissed claims by the Bahraini government that Shia Muslim unrest in the Gulf island state is backed by Iran… Continue reading

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