SYRIAN ELECTIONS: INTIMIDATION ON ALL FRONTS
As elections in Syria approach, rumors abound about Assad allies intimidating Syrian refugees spread throughout camps. They report being fearful of harassment by Hezbollah agents and failing to vote for Assad would mean not being allowed to return to the country in the future. A member of the Baath Party denied the allegations. Meanwhile, an anti-Assad Lebanese activist has called for people to take down the names of neighbors who travel to Syria to vote for Assad so their names can be published and they can be punished. (Reuters May 27, 2014)
PRIME MINISTER ATTACKED IN LATEST VIOLENCE IN LIBYA
Ahmed Maiteg was appointed Libya’s new prime minister after a contested parliamentary vote on May 26 and his estate came under fire just a day later when four armed attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades at his house. One of the assailants was killed, one was arrested, and the remaining two managed to flee the scene. Rebel General Khalifa Haftar has launched an armed campaign against the Islamists in government and earlier this month staged what many in government are calling a coup. Thousands of Libyans who support General Haftar have taken to the streets to protest the government funding armed militias. It is the worst violence Libya has seen since 2011. (Al Jazeera May 27, 2014)
TURKISH-ISRAELI RECONCILATION AT RISK
A Turkish special prosecutor has initiated criminal charges against four retired Israeli generals who were in senior command positions during an Israeli commando raid four years ago on the Turkish-flagged civilian ship, the Mavi Marmara, as it tried to break through Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Ten passengers died. Only recently, have diplomatic relations between the two countries lurched forward, but a final reconciliation awaiting two final demands: Turkey insists that Israel lift their blockade of the Gaza strip and Israel demands that the Turkish parliament pass legislation that will prevent the prosecution of the Israeli officials involved in the Marmara incident. The arrest warrants appear to put that reconciliation deal out of reach, particularly if Interpol accepts the prosecution’s request for a Red Notice, which would put the four retired generals in danger of being arrested in much of the world. (+972 Magazine May 26, 2014)
SYRIAN REFUGEES ENTER MOROCCO
Hundreds of Syrian refugees have been flooding into Morocco across the Algerian border. Though the border has been closed since 1994 it is not well patrolled and Syrian refugees can cross with the help of human traffickers. The lack of border control coupled with the fact that Syrians are currently exempt from deportation laws in Morocco, even if they enter the country illegally, has made Morocco a safe haven for Syrian refugees. However, for many, Morocco is not the destination in their long journey, but rather a springboard into Europe. The EU has been criticized by human rights organizations for its failure to grant asylum to refugees, as only 2.4% of the total number of Syrians who have fled Syria have legally claimed asylum in the EU. (Al Jazeera May 30, 2014
SISI WINS IN A LANDSLIDE BUT LOW VOTER TURNOUT
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt’s former army chief, won the Egyptian presidential election in a landslide with more than 93% of the vote. However, even incentives offered by the government such as adding an extra day to the voting period and declaring the second day of the voting a national holiday were unable to draw large numbers to the voting booths. The voter turnout was reported at between 38% and 46%, which is significantly less than the 52% voter turnout for the previous election that secured the presidency for ousted Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi in 2012. The Muslim Brotherhood boycotted this election, which played a large role in the low turnout. Though a European Union team stated that the election was “in line with the law,” the U.S.-based group Democracy International has voiced concerns over “the independence of the election commission, the impartiality of the government, and the integrity of Egypt's electoral process." (Al Jazeera May 30, 2014. CBC May 28, 2014)