UK £2 Issue 218, Year 5 August 18, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com Developments The Muslim Success of Brotherhood drives in wedge between haj season and Tripoli Pages 6,8 Page 5 Pages 6, 20 US- ‘safe zone’ augurs fracturing of Syria into foreign areas of influence ► Despite lingering disagreements, the move demonstrates how foreign powers are establishing separate zones in Syria while the Damascus government cannot do much.

Thomas Seibert “Syria is unlikely to be unified for a long time,” said Joshua Lan- dis, director of the Centre for Mid- Istanbul dle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. he debate between Tur- “Turkey has territorial ambitions key and the United States in Syria. Many influential groups in about setting up a “secu- US foreign policy circles are also T rity zone” in north-eastern saying that the US should remain Syria is the latest example of for- in north Syria for the long haul, eign and regional power politics which is not promising,” Landis deepening divisions in the war- said via e-mail. torn country. Turkey denies that it has terri- Ankara and Washington have be- torial aspirations in Syria. Ankara gun preparations to set up a joint argues that plans for a “security operations centre to manage a “se- zone” in north-eastern Syria were curity zone” along Syria’s north- triggered by the same reason that eastern border with Turkey. led to military interventions by Even though the two NATO part- Turkey west of the Euphrates Riv- ners have been unable to agree on er in 2016 and 2018: Turkey says the size of the zone and on who its national security is threatened would patrol the area, the move by the ’ region of self-rule, demonstrates how foreign powers described as a “terror corridor” by are establishing separate zones of Turkish politicians. Critics, point- influence and pursuing their own ing to the extension of Turkish goals in Syria while the Damascus power lines and postal services government cannot do more than into the Syrian city of Jarabulus, Pointing the finger. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar (L) and the Supreme Allied Commander register its protest. say that Ankara is likely to be in Europe, US Air Force General Tod Wolters, speak at a NATO meeting in Brussels, last June. (Reuters) Turkey wants the “security Syria for the long haul. zone” to make sure that Syrian- Under an agreement with Rus- and exhausted. It is also very de- Idlib because it is concerned to Syria being fractured as a state, Kurdish fighters do not use the sia, Turkey has deployed a small pendent on Russia, which means about a possible new inflow of Wimmen added by telephone. He border region to stir up trouble in number of soldiers in 12 observa- that Assad’s ambitions to get back refugees. pointed to the emergence of de Turkey itself. The United States, tion posts around the Idlib prov- territory in both Aleppo and Idlib Winning back Kurdish-ruled re- facto zones of influence along the which has about 2,000 soldiers ince in north-western Syria to provinces are linked to Turco- gions in eastern Syria will be an- river Euphrates, with the Russian deployed in eastern Syria, wants monitor a ceasefire in the area. Russian relations,” he said. other challenge for Assad’s forces. Air Force becoming dominant to protect its Kurdish partners Iranian and pro-Iranian forces are Moscow’s intervention in Syr- “The longer Damascus is ex- west of the river while the United from the Turkish armed forces. also active in Syria. ia’s war in 2015 saved Assad’s cluded from certain areas of the States rules the skies east of it. Despite Turkey’s warnings, Kurds The government of Syrian Pres- forces from defeat and has helped country, the more facts are being This could end up making the Eu- want to keep the regional auton- ident Bashar Assad has vowed to the government regain control in created on the ground,” said Hei- phrates a dividing line inside Syr- omy they have built since Syrian win back every part of the coun- several parts of the country. ko Wimmen, project director for ia but that did not mean that the forces withdrew from their area try, which would include the re- Syrian government forces and , Syria and at the In- country would break apart along years ago to fight elsewhere in the gion of Kurdish self-rule and ar- Russian warplanes have been ternational Crisis Group. “Damas- that line, Wimmen said. country. eas occupied by Turkish troops, gaining ground in Idlib but have cus has a lot of work to do in that Some observers said the devel- but has been unable to act upon not driven out rebel forces from respect, it could take a long time.” Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly opment could lead to grave conse- its goal, Landis said. the province. Turkey wants to However, it was far from certain correspondent. quences. “The Syrian military is weak prevent an all-out offensive in that this development would lead P2-3 Variegated election landscape reflects changed face of Tunisian politics Lamine Ghanmi nahda Vice-President Abdelfattah for more orthodox candidates such gramme in five pledges that position and disclose the truth about the Mourou, is the formal candidate of as Zbidi, who is basking in the pres- him as a loyal heir to Caid Essebsi cases of assassinations, recruitment the Islamist party. tige of the military as the most trust- and the main adversary of the Islam- of jihadists and the secret organisa- Political scientist Sahbi Khal- ed state institution in Tunisia. Opin- ists and their allies in the elections. tion, without any political calcula- faoui said the situation represents ion polls indicate the army is deeply Despite the splintering, the sec- tions.” n a country that prides itself a change of paradigm. “Each move- respected by Tunisians because of ond round of voting, to take place A leftist lawsuit alleged the as- for having the world’s largest ment has its own candidate. Ennah- its role in fighting terrorism and in by early November unless a candi- sassinations of political leaders Mo- collection of Roman mosaics, da, for instance, has fielded a bid by shielding the democratic transition date wins more than 50% of the vote hamed Brahmi and Chokri Belaid in I Tunisia’s political scene ahead one of its leaders. This will make it over the last eight years. The recent September 15, could see a more po- 2013 were plotted by an Islamist “se- of presidential elections September possible to know the level of sup- successful management of Tunisian larised landscape with modernists cret security apparatus.” A separate 15 looks a lot like a colourful mosaic. port enjoyed by the party,” he told President Beji Caid Essebsi’s funeral opposed to Islamists. lawsuit claimed Ennahda leaders The 26 candidates whose bids ’s Le Monde newspaper. enhanced the prestige of the army. Zbidi, in his campaign pledges, facilitated recruitment and travel to were approved by Tunisia’s Inde- Slow economic growth, high un- Zbidi, 69, summed up his pro- vowed to “strictly enforce the law Syria of hundreds of jihadists. The pendent Election Authority are of- employment and a deteriorating accusations have been vehemently fering voters diverse views on why standard of living have fuelled dis- denied by Ennahda. they are the most competent to be trust of politicians and led candi- Chahed is likely also to stress his president and why their rivals are dates to distance themselves from secularist credentials and his role in not. the ruling establishment. the investigation of accusations to This is a far cry from Tunisia’s This explains the strong appeal Ennahda about its alleged involve- 2014 presidential election. There is of populist views to voters, as illus- ment in the “secret organisation.” more than one candidate claiming trated by positive reactions to the The election campaign doesn’t be- to represent any of the three main relentless drive by Heart of Tunisia gin until September 2 but the focus political camps — the secularists, leader Nabil Karoui targeting the of candidates seems to be more on the leftists and the Islamists. This poor and the marginalised, the an- enhancing their profile than in ex- has created a free-for-all battle roy- ti-corruption message of Kais Said plaining campaign platform. ale in each camp. who is courting Islamists and young Political debates during the cam- The secularist field is crowded radicals or the call for a “Third Re- paign could change that but, for the with contenders. Tunisian Prime public” by Free Destourian Party time being, social media wars are Minister Youssef Chahed, 43, faces leader Abir Moussi. getting more attention than discus- stiff competition from former De- Often, however, the voters’ choic- sion of ideas that Tunisia’s plural- fence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi, es seem based less on programmes, istic landscape could offer to the former Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa especially dealing with complex public. and at least ten other modernist economic challenges, than on the candidates. personal draw of the politicians. Working the crowd. Supporters of the Tahya Tounes party Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly Among the four or five candidates This is the key consideration for the celebrate after Prime Minister Youssef Chahed submitted his correspondent in Tunis. competing for the Islamist vote, En- so-called populist figures but also candidacy for the presidential elections in Tunisia, August 9. (afp) P4 2 August 18, 2019 Cover Story Turkey presses Syria intervention against Kurdish forces despite agreement with US

Thomas Seibert ance of groups supported by Wash- ington to fight the Islamic State. While Washington has been arm- Istanbul ing the SDF, Ankara says the YPG is the Syrian arm of the Kurdistan urkish officials said an Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant agreement with the Unit- organisation regarded as a terrorist ed States about a “secu- outfit by both countries and much T rity zone” in northern of the international community. Syria does not prevent it from uni- Turkey said a system of regional lateral action to send troops into Kurdish autonomy run by the YPG the neighbouring country to drive and its political mother organisa- Kurdish fighters away from the bor- tion, the Democratic Union Party, is der. a threat to its national security. An- Turkish President Recep Tayyip kara sent troops into Syrian regions Erdogan, speaking after Turkish west of the Euphrates River in and US officials agreed on a deal for 2016 and in 2018 to break up what northern Syria, indicated interven- it calls the YPG “terror corridor.” tion by Turkish troops could start The planned new incursion would before the end of August despite target areas east of the Euphrates the arrangement with Washington. and could see Turkish troops push In a message to the nation to 40km into Syrian territory, Turkish mark Eid al-Adha, Erdogan said news reports said. a military operation by Ankara in Erdogan, whose country has Syria in 2016 started August 1 of taken in 3.6 million refugees from that year. “This August, God will- Syria, is under domestic pressure ing, we will add another victory to because of a rising anti-Syrian sen- the ones in our history,” Erdogan timent among Turks. He argues said. that a “security zone” in Syria could be used to resettle refugees. The agreement between Turkish The planned incursion and US officials, reached August 7, would target areas east of envisions a joint operations centre the Euphrates and could see for northern Syria aimed at creat- Turkish troops push 40km ing a “security zone.” The three- into Syrian territory, point accord described the zone as Turkish news reports said. a “peace corridor” to ensure the re- Syrian cake. A Turkish military truck patrols at the border with Syria in Akcakale in south-eastern turn of Syrians to their country but Turkey, August 14. (AFP) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut it said nothing about the size and Cavusoglu said Turkey would not nature of the zone or who should may not be solvable anyway,” he ted to working through differences Joshua Landis, director of the let plans for a “security zone” in patrol it. Turkey wants its soldiers said by telephone. “However, it’s over the proposed safe zone,” Stein Centre of Studies at the north-eastern Syria stall over nego- to be in control but the United not necessarily bad to buy time. wrote. University of Oklahoma, said by e- tiations with the United States. States reportedly suggested joint As long as the parties keep talking, “For Turkey, the proposed opera- mail that the United States was un- Both statements reflected the US-Turkish patrols. Turkey will not invade.” tions room needs to demonstrate likely to grant Turkey “real power” deep mistrust felt by Turkish The US Department of Defence Middle East expert Aaron Stein American intent and commitment to move against the YPG. policymakers towards the United said the agreement would be im- said there were no indications that to set up the poorly named ‘peace “The US is looking on this new States. plemented gradually. A six-person Ankara would compromise and corridor’ that Ankara has pledged deal with Turkey as a stop-gap Turkey’s government accuses US delegation travelled to the Turk- recognise the SDF as a legitimate to establish along the Turkish-Syr- measure to allow for further nego- Washington of trying to gain time ish province of Sanliurfa to work actor. ian border.” tiations and stalling,” he said. “It to protect America’s Kurdish allies on the establishing the operations Stein, director of the Middle East Turkish journalist Fikret Bila was designed to avert a Turkish in- in Syria and Turkish drones recent- centre. Programme at the Foreign Policy pointed out that the agreement was vasion and not to provide a mecha- ly started operating over northern Observers said the agreement Research Institute in Philadelphia, “far away from the model proposed nism for Turkish military penetra- Syria. leaves many questions unan- said on the institute’s website that by Turkey.” tion of Syrian territory.” The comments by Erdogan and swered. the United States and Turkey had Writing in an analysis for the T24 The US-Turkish talks came at a Cavusoglu also suggested that the Turkey and the United States different views of the planned joint news website, Bila said priorities of delicate moment between NATO Turkish leadership is sticking to its continued to pursue conflicting operations centre. Ankara and Washington in north- partners Turkey and the United plan to push the People’s Protec- priorities in Syria, said Heiko Wim- “The United States could use the ern Syria remained “180 degrees States, which have grown increas- tion Units (YPG) away from Tur- men, project director for Iraq, Syria operations room to buy more time apart.” While Turkey’s main aim ingly estranged over several issues, key’s southern border. The YPG is and Lebanon at the International and prevent a unilateral Turkish was to break the YPG’s power, the including Turkey’s decision to buy the strongest member of the Syrian Crisis Group. ”The fundamental intervention, while also signalling United States wanted to keep the a Russian S-400 missile defence Democratic Forces (SDF), an alli- dilemma has not been solved and to Ankara that it remains commit- Kurdish militia strong, he said. system.

Viewpoint Ankara-Washington agreement flaunts Syrian sovereignty

he US-Turkish agree- fighting in Syria, the same ones against dark and criminal forces. betrayed many times before. For ment to establish a indoctrinated and pushed to join Erdogan’s manoeuvres and his the Americans, an agreement with so-called buffer zone in extremist and terrorist groups and Islamist approaches to the situation Erdogan means granting safety to the Adli Sadeq northern Syria is whom Ankara has deemed of no use in Syria contributed, along with Kurds in return for their submission. shameful for Ankara, to it now and wants to send back to Russian and Iranian actions, to the The US-Turkish alliance, which revealing the falsehood their families inside Syria. survival of the blood-soaked regime seeks to carve out and dominate a Tof its objecting to US policy For large numbers of Syrian refu- in Syria. part of Syria, has hidden and more towards and confirming gees, what prevents them from go- That regime will not accept less sinister goals related to gas resources and stressing the United States’ ing to Syria is that their homes have than nominal control over all terri- discovered in northern Syria, along a hostility towards the Arab world. been reduced to rubble and that tory of “its” country. If any part of transverse line from its coast and sea The agreement is a treacherous act they have no prospects for a decent Syria remains under a foreign oc- borders to its desert on the eastern that violates the borders of an Arab livelihood in their old towns and cupier, that is not acceptable to the border. country under the false pretext of villages. The geographic strip that regime and there will be no end to For all parties involved in the war promoting peace in some geographi- the Turks and Americans agreed to the war in Syria until the undesirable on its territory, Syria has become cal corridors and giving hope to make safe is not exactly a develop- body is ejected. Only the Russian a cake of which everyone wants a millions of refugees. ment zone for those looking to work invader will be welcomed and even piece. The regime in Damascus must Most of the refugees do not con- and settle. the Iranians will eventually be kicked be content with playing the role of ceive of returning to Syria as a form The Syrian refugees do not need out to please the Israelis. the generous host, who smiles at of forced settlement in an arbitrary buffer zones or isolated areas, co- The Syrian regime is in favour of those who have agreed to sharing geographical strip. They see it as guarded by Americans, the same that formula and sees in it a guar- of the Syrian cake. This regime has returning safely to the villages and Americans who have been standing antee of the minimum conditions done everything it can to make cities where they used to live. The in the way of peace in the region. for its survival, just as Erdogan says the Syrians who remained in their refugees subject to this agreement The issue is not merely the expec- that the buffer zone formula, in homeland favour the Russians over are not the ones who have become tation that this heinous act by the agreement with the Americans, can the Iranians and the Turks. immigrants in many other places but Americans and the Turks will per- achieve the minimum level of the In historical and legal terms, the It wouldn’t have been rather those who ended up being petuate the armed conflict in Syria interests and goals that once filled world will view the US-Turkish possible for the useless to Turkish President Recep and whose first victims are going to his dreams without actually rubbing agreement as violating the sov- Tayyip Erdogan’s strategy, the ones be more refugees. the Israeli neighbour the wrong way. ereignty of an Arab country and agreement with who are of no use to Turkey after From the very beginning, Ankara It wouldn’t have been possible for transgressing its territory, whether Washington to it had encouraged thousands of betrayed the Syrian people’s uprising the agreement with Washington through the strange foreign pres- emerge if it didn’t Syrian refugees to take into Turkey against dictatorship by pumping to emerge if it didn’t fully conform ence on Syrian territory or through their skills, tools and savings and terrorists into Syria. It injected a flow with Tel Aviv’s requirements and continuous Israeli bombardments or fully conform with even granted many of them Turkish of individuals who turned out to agendas. through establishing alien corridors Tel Aviv’s citizenship. be even more bloodthirsty than the The Americans went to Syria and enclaves within the territory. Among the refugees who have Syrian regime. The democratic and through the false pretence of claim- requirements and served their purpose are individu- social demands of the Syrian revolu- ing to protect their vassals among Adli Sadeq is a Palestinian writer and agendas. als who have been involved in the tion became a battle for survival Kurdish nationalists whom they had political analyst. August 18, 2019 3 Cover Story Syria Syria has long lost its sovereignty to occupying powers

lost his right to be president. Every time Damascus declares its refusal, something happens and Baha al-Awam the situation worsens for Syrians, so much so that any official refusal can be taken as a sign that one urkey and the United more calamity is going to befall States have agreed on the country. a secure zone project When the “Syrian state” rejected in northern Syria but, the entry of the Turkish Army in before it became a real- Syrian land west of the Euphrates, ity, Damascus jumped Turkey created its own governo- Tto condemn and reject it. Damas- rate there. The same state rejected cus doesn’t even know the point the US presence in the north and behind the project and it makes the United States occupied one- one wonder when Bashar Assad’s third of Syrian territory. regime will wake up from the illu- The Syrian state vehemently sion of sovereignty while it is living condemned and rejected Israeli under the flags of five countries military intervention, so Tel Aviv that have occupied Syria for years. sent its warplanes on almost The Damascus government weekly strikes in Syrian territory. does not dare reveal the name and Finally, the Syrian state rejected position of the Ministry of Foreign what it called Arab intervention in Affairs officials to whom angry its internal affairs but surren- statements of rejection could dered the keys to Damascus to be attributed but that does the Iranians and the country’s not appear strange con- coasts to the Russians. sidering that the head The Syrian state of the regime was Damascus’s must realise that it no willing to sit in on rejection of what longer has the right an official meeting the five occupying to refuse or reject with the Iranian powers are doing is like anything related to leader without a dwarf resenting its foreign affairs or having his coun- assault by a giant even to its internal try’s flag present affairs. The only in the meeting that has him in rejection that Assad hall and rushes off a chokehold. continues to exercise to Moscow when- without fear of or Many flags. A Russian soldier places the national flag at the Abu Duhur crossing on the eastern edge ever Russian President Russia is the rejection of Idlib. (AFP) Vladimir Putin calls. of the voices opposed to What does it mean that him and his regime. He con- Damascus rejects the Turkish- venes treason trials in absentia for For the exercise of their power hides or just an echo of a Russian Damascus’s rejection of what the US plans in northern Syria? Does opposition figures living outside internally and externally, these or Iranian position that the Syrian five occupying powers are doing Damascus have the power to reject Syria and persecutes the opposi- two states rely on Popular Mobi- state is forced to agree with. This is is like a dwarf resenting assault by anything, except perhaps to issue tion inside Syria for lowering the lisation Forces’ militias, bought not an exaggeration of the diag- a giant that has him in a choke- anonymous statements? country’s morale. political and religious figures and nosis. hold. Damascus has nothing but When Damascus refused to An accurate diagnosis of the on military leaders in the ranks of In truth, the Syrian regime patience to resort to, hoping that listen to the demands of the revo- condition of the Syrian state is that the army, intelligence services and lost control of its sovereignty a miracle might bring back the old lution to change the political situ- the position of president is an hon- even in the presidential palace. the minute Hezbollah Secretary- glory days to Assad, the days when ation — not the president — during orary one and that the zones of the Under the two deep states con- General Hassan Nasrallah’s militias he used to be Syria’s first and ulti- the peaceful beginnings of the 2011 regime are divided between two trolling Syria, Damascus’s refusal stepped onto Syrian territory, mate decision maker. revolution, the “state” lost its right deep states, one working for Iran has turned into a sort of a small allegedly to fight terrorism, and to reject anything just as Assad has and the other working for Russia. fig leaf behind which the regime began killing Syrian citizens. Baha al-Awam is a Syrian writer. Syrians face deportation even though war is far from over

returns,” which 170,000 Syrians the regime continuing its aerial have done in the past two years. campaign and advancing on the Official sanction is the standard ground into Idlib province. James Snell for hospitality and the new bar to Hundreds of fighters are killed clear. Lebanese authorities began each week and civilians are to demolish refugee settlements frequently targets not only of yria’s war has not con- made of permanent materials last straightened circumstances and cluded but for many it month. They did this because of privation but also of direct attack. is convenient to pretend the implication allowing the struc- Civilians also are threatened by that it has. To those in tures to stand would have on how the presence of terrorist groups, the regime of Bashar As- long refugees felt they could stay. such as the Islamic State, and sad, it is necessary to pre- In June, refugees were told they violence in areas occupied by the Ssent the government’s campaign must, on their own initiative, de- Kurdish-dominated Syrian Demo- of pacification as having produced molish structures built in contra- cratic Forces and the regime. More peace. For foreign countries that vention of the order and many did. visibly, civilians are targeted by wish to cease their programmes In a show of firmness, concrete bombing from regime and Russian assisting the Syrian people, any buildings in Arsal that were not airpower in rebel-held portions of opportunity to have their wish taken down were bulldozed at the the country. fulfilled is seized. beginning of July. Non-military targets such as Countries that border Syria and More significant than forcing hospitals and clinics have been host millions of displaced Syrians refugees into homes built less repeatedly bombed, as well as — and where refugees are unpopu- durably is making them poorer, residential and commercial areas lar — gladly used intervals in fight- notably by preventing them from of Idlib, Aleppo and Hama. ing to justify sending thousands working. Those who have regis- The threat of regime dominance back to live in a war zone under tered as refugees with the United is a prospect that unnerves refu- the pretence that it has become Nations are prohibited from do- gees who may soon be impelled to safe. ing paid work but they must live return to a Syria under the control Lebanon has hosted 1.5 and support their families of a hostile state. million Syrians refu- so many do anyway, tak- Many refugees took part in the gees for more than The threat ing technically illegal political opposition during the five years. It borders work. beginning stages of the Syrian war. of regime dominance Syria and stories of More than 90% of They face imprisonment and pos- the two coun- is a prospect that Syrians who work, sibly torture and death in regime unnerves refugees who tries’ supposed the International Unknown fate. A Syrian refugee gestures near the rubble of her prisons or summary violence from brotherhood have may soon be impelled Labour Organisa- dismantled concrete hut at a makeshift Syrian refugee camp in jihadist fighters who fear legiti- widely circulated. to return to a Syria tion said, do so the Lebanese border town of Arsal, July 4. (Reuters) mate political opposition and who Brotherhood and under the control of a without a legal have killed activists in Idlib in hospitality have hostile state. contract. Raids by recent months. their limits, how- Lebanese authorities Lebanon to Syria since May. Many, however, meet neither Most Syrian refugees abroad do ever. have sanctioned firms In Turkey, similar rhetorical specification. not seek permanent residence. Lebanese authori- that employ Syrians pressure has built against the Most Syrians in Turkey and Leb- They want only safe harbour until ties have stated that Syrians without adequate documenta- Syrians resident in the country. anon wish to return to the country the civil conflict in their native who enter the country without tion and closed businesses that Representatives of the opposition of their birth but they know Syria land ends. official documentation will Syrians own. Republican People’s Party and the is not safe. There is still war in However, peace in Syria seems be deported. Syrians who have The idea of Syrians decreasing governing Justice and Develop- the north, with various ceasefires far away and safety an illusion, arrived since then were met with the median wage in Lebanon or ment Party have called Syrians a around Idlib, Hama and Aleppo even as Syrian refugees are deport- thorough enforcement of that taking jobs from Lebanese work- drain and a “trauma.” provinces failing to last. ed from neighbouring countries declaration, with many returned ers is a potent one and forms the More than 1,000 Syrian men re- The most recent attempt at a under the false promise that they from airport two days after basis of much political hostility cently received deportation orders ceasefire failed this month, with will be safe in a homeland that is the announcement last April. that Syrians face. Amid a tide of from Turkey, with the justification Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a power- still very much at war. The Lebanese state has insti- anti-refugee rhetoric, hundreds of that those deported are criminals ful jihadist militia, declining to tuted what it terms “voluntary Syrians have been deported from or lack proper documentation. enforce its specifications and James Snell is a British journalist. 4 August 18, 2019 News & Analysis Maghreb Tunisia’s presidential elections too splintered to call

Lamine Ghanmi interim president until October 23, as stated in the constitution. At least four candidates, includ- Tunis ing Ennahda Vice-President Ab- delfattah Mourou, will try to draw total of 26 presidential the Islamist vote. No fewer than 12 hopefuls have had their aspirants will be seeking the anti- bids endorsed by Tuni- Islamist vote but experts said that A sia’s elections watchdog. the divided ranks could lead to the The formalisation of the candida- secularists scoring poorly in both cies sets off a crowded but splin- elections. tered presidential race. The increased number of regis- If no candidate wins a majority tered voters and the growing at- of the vote September 15, the top traction of populist trends after two vote-getters would advance eight years of economic crisis and to a second-round by November 3. social depression make the out- In between are parliamentary elec- come of the vote unpredictable. tions October 6. “The upcoming parliamentary While the number of presiden- and presidential elections will de- tial contenders is similar to the 27 cide the political future of Tunisia who ran in 2014, the September for up to the next 30 years,” said 2-13 election campaign takes place Ennaceur. on a political landscape very dif- Nearly 100 people submitted ferent than five years ago, which presidential candidacies but that marked Tunisia’s first free pluralis- list included aspirants who did not tic presidential vote. fulfil legally mandated conditions and Tunisia’s Independent High Tunisian Interim Authority for Elections endorsed President the bids of only 26 candidates. Mohamed The confirmed candidacies rep- Ennaceur resented all the country’s politi- Crowded race. The head of Tunisia’s Independent High Authority for Elections Nabil Baffoun (C) speaks cal and ideological views, ranging “The upcoming parliamentary during a news conference to announce the approved candidacies for the upcoming presidential election, from Islamists, radical Islamic fun- August 14. (DPA) and presidential elections will damentalists to centrist secularists decide the political future and communists and other leftists. of Tunisia for up to the next Most political parties insisted on spread discontent about the per- called ahead of the legislative and Abid Briki — are competing for 30 years.” being represented in the presiden- formance of previous governments polls. It chose Mourou, the number a shallow pool of supporters. tial elections at least to gain vis- that have been unable to address two figure of the Islamist party and The Islamists are divided into at In those elections, the charis- ibility ahead of the parliamentary the country’s problems, including the interim speaker of parliament. least four camps represented by matic Beji Caid Essebsi unified dis- vote. high inflation, unemployment and It is not clear how Mourou will Mourou; former Prime Minister parate components of the secular- Tunisia boasts more than 220 regional disparities. do in the first round. Some Ennah- Hammadi Jebali, a former Ennahda ist camp, including a majority of parties, most of which are fielding Such frustrations were under- da leaders expressed wariness over leader who broke with the party; women voters, to beat the Islamist candidates or backing independ- lined by the shortage of running the risk of polarisation with secu- Hachemi al-Hamdi, a former En- Ennahda Movement’s and Islam- ent slates in the parliamentary water during Eid al-Adha, prompt- larists who could unify to beat the nahda leading figure based in Lon- ist-supported candidates, first in elections. ing protesters to blockade roads. Islamists in both elections. don; and Kais Said, an academic parliamentary elections and then The crowded landscape could Voter turnout has dropped The elections fight in the secular- whose ideas appeal to Islamist and in presidential polls where the Is- make it difficult for any political sharply in each of the three elec- ist camp could develop into a bit- ultraconservative constituencies. lamist vote went mostly to Moncef group, including more influential tions since 2012 with Ennahda and ter battle between Tunisian Prime “With multiple candidates in Marzouki, a historic figure of the parties such as Heart of Tunisia, main secularist allies in govern- Minister Youssef Chahed and De- each camp, the criteria of the ideo- country’s human rights movement. Ennahda, Tahya Tounes or the Free ment losing popular support. fence Minister Abdelkrim Zbidi. logical vote are not relevant. This In 2019, Ennahda is fielding its Destourian Party to win more than Ennahda pulled in 1 million fewer Liberal and modernist figures in blurs further the issues and mud- own presidential candidate in a 20% of the vote. As a result, lead- votes in last year’s municipal elec- the secularist camp urged other dies the waters with the scattering fierce competition that is expected ing parties look at the presidential tions compared to its general elec- contenders to withdraw and back of the voters in each camp,” said to set the tone for the subsequent elections as a springboard for the tions showing in 2012. The secular- Zbidi, whose popularity rose after political writer Marouen Achour. parliamentary elections. following parliamentary polls. ist Nidaa Tounes, a party founded he supervised Caid Essebsi’s fu- “This makes the elections too Tunisia’s presidential elections The presidential race losers, by Caid Essebsi, shed two-thirds of neral. Zbidi’s reputation has ben- close to call and all the scenarios were scheduled for November 17 however, could face problems in its votes in the same period. efited from the high level of public are possible, especially with the but the death July 25 of Caid Esseb- reversing negative perceptions Ennahda, whose leaders con- trust in the military. impact of the outcome in the fol- si while in office triggered a consti- in the short period between elec- sidered skirting the presidential Analysts said the leftist camp is lowing parliamentary elections. tutionally mandated change in the tions. elections to avoid being punished the most threatened by divisive- The only certainty is that Tunisia election date. Parliament Speaker Tunisia’s electoral outcome is by voters, changed strategy after ness. Three leftist candidates — will enter a decisive moment in its Mohamed Ennaceur will serve as likely to be affected by the wide- early presidential elections were Hamma Hammami, Mongi Rahoui history on September 15.” Belgian volunteers in shorts spark controversy about radicalisation in Morocco

Saad Guerraoui as “secular terrorism” before delet- the founders of the unity road were ing it. wearing it, including King Hassan II The incident showed the resil- and Mehdi Benbarka, in the pres- Casablanca ience of a mindset among segments ence of King Mohammed V and of the Moroccan public while Mo- that the latter received women with he story of young Belgian rocco was still reeling from the kill- the same dress and took pictures women wearing shorts ing of Danish tourist Louisa Vester- with them,” said Ouadie, backing while carrying out volun- ager Jespersen, 24, and Norwegian his claim with pictures of both late kings. T teer work in a remote vil- Maren Ueland, 28, by three Islamic A show of solidarity. Moroccan activists gather during Ouadie lashed out at Asri for be- lage in southern Morocco moved State supporters while hiking near a demonstration in Casablanca against threats to a group of ing unimpressed by neither the Moroccans to protest Islamists who Imlil. teenage Belgian volunteers who wore shorts while working at volunteers’ extended hand to Mo- criticised the outfits. The three men charged in the a construction site in the south of the country. (AFP) Pictures of casually dressed Bel- case were sentenced to death over roccans nor their passion for noble gian volunteers working in the the beheadings of the two tourists. deeds. scorching sun on the construction Activists denounced Asri’s “per- “What drew the attention of our in the House of Councillors, pre- the situation and give another im- of a road near Taroudant sparked verted” thoughts, reminding him esteemed MP is the bottom part ferred to stop at their outfit,” wrote age of the Moroccan people.” scathing messages from Islamists that Morocco was a country of tol- of the women’s bodies rather than Ibnouzahir on le360.ma. Despite assurances and support on social media. erance and co-existence. There was their upper part, their hidden ‘na- Dozens of protesters, many wear- from Moroccan civil society, Bel- A 26-year-old teacher, who called also the realisation that the country kedness’ but not the spirit that led ing shorts, gathered August 10 in gium repatriated the volunteers for the women’s decapitation in a still had a long way to go to rid itself them to give up a comfortable holi- Casablanca to show solidarity with and the Flemish NGO Boword message on Facebook, echoing the of anachronistic ideas that can radi- day,” he said. the Belgian volunteers and de- stopped sending volunteers to the killing of two female Scandinavian calise its youth as well as harm its Zineb Ibnouzahir, founder of nounce radicalisation in Morocco. North African country. tourists last December by Moroccan image in the West. LeMarocDesFemmes.com, criti- Holding banners that read “No to Abdelhak Khiame, director of extremists in the High Atlas Moun- “A teacher affects a limited num- cised Asri’s use of the religious card Obscurantism,” “No to the radi- Central Bureau of Judicial Investi- tains, was arrested August 6 in Ksar ber of his pupils and it is a disaster. and that of customs to divert peo- calisation of Moroccan society,” gations, said in July that security el-Kebir. Although the number of pupils ple’s attention from the elected of- “Morocco is a country of lights” alone was not enough to protect Ali el-Asri, a member of parlia- involved is limited, the real disas- ficials’ own shortcomings. and “Yes, we short.” protesters young people against the risk of ment with the ruling Islamist Jus- ter lies in the deputy’s stance in a “Rather than welcome the atti- slammed the radicalised attitudes radicalisation. tice and Development Party (PJD), post on the social network,” Salah tude of self-denial, love of the oth- gripping Moroccan society. “It is necessary to fight the fac- slammed the women’s attire on Fa- el-Ouadie, a human rights activist, er, courage and determination of “This obscurantist and extremist tors that lead to their radicalisa- cebook, drawing rebuke for ignor- wrote on Facebook. these young women who had abso- speech has no place in our country,” tion,” said Khiame. ing their volunteer work. “Perhaps the MP should undergo lutely nothing to gain by coming to said protest organiser Mourad Ela- “Since when do Europeans work a continuous training reminding build a road breaking the isolation jouti. “Morocco’s image has greatly Saad Guerraoui is a contributor in swimming suits?” wrote Asri. He him that shorts have been known of a village in southern Morocco, Ali suffered from the Belgian volun- to The Arab Weekly on Maghreb reacted to criticism of his statement in Morocco for a long time and that el-Asri, elected PJD [representative] teers’ affair. We had tried to reverse issues. August 18, 2019 5 News & Analysis Libya

Viewpoint Muslim Brotherhood factor widens rift between Tripoli and Cairo

phone conversation August 4 with work for technical legal reasons. French President Emmanuel Ma- The order to the companies was cron, Egyptian President Abdel Fat- quickly watered down and security Michel Cousins tah al-Sisi emphasised his rejection cooperation with France, which in- of all forms of foreign interference cluded training of the Presidential in Libyan affairs. Guard, officially resumed in June — n politics, the same phrase Nor was there anything new in at least on paper. The GNA realised can mean very different the State Council’s accusation that that it could not afford to stay on things to different people has been backing Haftar. It bad terms with Paris. and Libya is no exception. did so in July, accusing the United However, in the case of Egypt, End of truce. A file picture shows a fighter with Libyan forces loyal On the last day of the Eid Arab Emirates and France as well. Sarraj has his hands tied. The rift to Sarraj government using a drone. (Reuters) al-Adha holiday, Egypt called The difference this time is that with Cairo is ideologically driven Ifor an end to foreign interference the GNA went along with the State by the Muslim Brotherhood, both in Libya. Council without reservation. through the State Council and some Cairo welcomed the Libyan It was the sharpest attack on of the forces fighting for the GNA. LNA targets Turkish drones National Army (LNA) and the forces Egypt by authorities in Tripoli since Cairo is unlikely to give up on supporting the internationally the Qaddafi era. Until now, while trying to achieve a ceasefire and as Tripoli fighting rages anew recognised Government of National the GNA has had no illusions about political compromise but the rift Accord (GNA) agreeing at the last the level of military support pro- is likely to stiffen its support for minute to an Eid ceasefire. It called vided to Haftar by the Egyptians, it Haftar. on the UN Support Mission in Libya diplomatically ignored it. GNA and The military stalemate in south- Lamine Ghanmi Turkey has sold weapons and (UNSMIL) to work more with the Presidential Council head Fayez al- ern Tripoli continues. What little equipment to the UN-backed GNA. House of Representatives (HoR) Sarraj has met with Sisi on several that was observed of the Eid cease- Islamist militias are the military arm to develop a way to end the crisis. occasions, although he was last in fire ended rapidly as soon as the Tunis of the GNA, which has no military of The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Egypt in February. holiday was over. There were air its own. eliminating terrorism and extrem- Cairo has acted entirely diplo- strikes on Mitiga, the capital’s only ibyan National Army jet “We have a military cooperation ism and ending support for armed matically. While backing Haftar, it functioning airport, in which one fighters destroyed facilities agreement with Libya. We are pro- militias were part of the way to end recognised the GNA as the govern- worker was reportedly killed, and, at the airport in Zouara, near viding to them if they come up with the Libyan crisis. ment of Libya and tried to mediate for the first time, on the airport at L the border with Tunisia, af- a request and if they pay for it. They The HoR welcomed the Egyptian peace between the two sides. There Zuwara, near the Tunisian border, ter Turkey began using the area to really had a problem in terms of de- statement but the GNA, as well as was, in February 2017, the abortive where Turkey-supplied drones fly drones in its intensified assis- fence needs, equipment,” Erdogan the Tripoli-based State Council, effort to bring about direct nego- were allegedly stored. tance to Islamist militias on the out- said. took very different views. tiation between Haftar and Sarraj The LNA claimed responsibility skirts of Tripoli. He said he deplored that the GNA They, too, said there had to be an while they were in Cairo. for the latter attack and was widely Libyan National Army (LNA) failed to win military support from end to foreign interference but the Egyptian officials have mentored accused of the former. spokesman Colonel Ahmed al- any other country. demand was directed at Egypt. The talks to try to reunite the Libyan The result has been a particularly Mismari issued a statement saying The battle for control of Tripoli Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Army. There has been a series of critical report from UN Envoy Ghas- unmanned aerial vehicle “facilities threatens to become bloodier after State Council condemned the meetings during which progress san Salame. The short Eid ceasefire were flattened to the ground but rival sides vowed to intensify the Egyptian statement as a form of in- by officers from east and west was resulted in a reduction of violence the runway for civil aviation and the fight that claimed the lives of more terference in Libyan affairs, accus- made but the devil has always been in Tripoli, an August 14 UNSMIL passengers waiting hall were spared than 1,000 people since April 4. ing Cairo of providing arms to the in the details, the ultimate one be- statement read, but there had been by the air strikes.” LNA General Khaled Mahjoub LNA. It took particular exception ing who would be named as head of breaches. “The air strikes were a warning said: “We are determined to enter to the Egyptian call for UNSMIL to the united armed forces — Haftar or The statement repeated Salame’s that any threat from anywhere in the centre of Tripoli. Our forces are work with the HoR. It was also part someone else. pre-Eid call for a lasting truce dur- Libya to LNA’s units will face the positioned 5km from the city cen- of the Libyan political framework Since the start of the LNA’s offen- ing which a meeting of concerned same forceful response,” he added. tre. Our operations are laying the under the 2015 Skhirat Agreement, sive to take Tripoli at the beginning countries could take place to He said the air strikes targeted a grounds for our forces to enter the it said. of April, though, Egypt has been ensure that neither side has the runway and control tower at Zouara capital.” largely supportive. Shortly after means to continue the fighting and airport used to fly Turkish drones. Mahjoub and other commanders the offensive started, Sisi’s office then a return to the UN-led political LNA forces claimed to have downed said the LNA had pushed militias Criticism of Cairo by said he “affirmed Egypt’s support process to end the conflict. at least six Turkish drones in July as back at key fighting lines of Kassarat in efforts to fight terrorism and ex- In a statement at the beginning Turkey increased its military sup- and Laziziya. the GNA and the State tremist militias to achieve security of Eid, France, Italy, the United port for the Islamists. Militia spokesmen said they “will Council was the and stability for Libyan citizens,” Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom Libyan media quoted intelli- get new weaponry to change the sharpest attack on which is what Haftar says he is and the United States called for a gence reports as saying that Turkey balance of the battle in Tripoli” fighting. Egypt has nonetheless permanent ceasefire and a return stepped up its assistance to militias while the spiritual leader of the Is- Egypt by authorities continued to call for political dia- to dialogue led by Salame. Russia linked to the Muslim Brotherhood lamists, Sadiq al-Ghariani, assailed in Tripoli since the logue and a ceasefire. Sisi stressed has also thrown its weight behind a affiliate in Libya by building four the UN peace mission in Libya as the need of one in his phone call new ceasefire. aircraft hangars at an airbase in Mis- “siding with the enemy.” Qaddafi era. with Macron. Given the animosity on the rata, the stronghold of the Islamist “The United Nations and its en- It is possible that Sarraj may try ground, the ideological commit- Misrata militia. voy in Libya are aligned behind The GNA’s Foreign Ministry to heal the breach with Egypt. He ment to continuing the fight, the The Misrata militia linked with an [LNA leader Field-Marshall Khalifa] likewise condemned its Egyptian moved to heal the one with France belief on both sides that they can array of Islamist militias and other Haftar and his forces and what was counterpart as interfering in Libyan that occurred when, following his win and the willingness of outside factions in Tripoli to fight the LNA. undertaken by the United Nations affairs and accused it of supporting failure to secure French political players to continue backing their The militias are aligned with the in- was a ruse, a trick. The hostility of Libyan Field-Marshal Khalifa Haf- support against Haftar during his chosen side, the chances of a per- ternationally backed Government the United Nations and its Security tar, leader of the LNA. visit to Paris in May, he responded manent ceasefire look remote. of National Accord (GNA). Council against Libya is clear,” Gha- There was nothing new in the by ending security cooperation The LNA began its offensive riani said. Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s call with France and ordered European Michel Cousins is a contributor to on Tripoli April 4 after sweeping for non-interference in Libya. In a companies, mainly French, to stop The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. through southern Libya and tak- The battle for control of ing control of main oilfields and air bases. Tripoli threatens to The Misrata militia, with signifi- become bloodier after cant manpower and sophisticated rival sides vowed to equipment, presented the LNA with intensify the fight that its greatest military threat. Militia claimed the lives of more forces include fighters who battled than 1,000 people since Muammar Qaddafi’s troops in 2011 April 4. and routed Islamic State fighters from Sirte, with the support of the The UN Support Mission in Libya United States, Britain and Italy. brokered the Eid ceasefire in Tripoli. Rival forces battling for control of In LNA-controlled Benghazi, a Tripoli observed a truce during Eid car bombing August 10 killed three al-Adha but fighting resumed after UN staff members as their convoy the holiday with Islamist militias passed through an area where peo- targeting Mitiga airport August 15. ple were shopping for the Muslim Libyan media reported that Tur- festival. key has continuously flown a modi- No group claimed responsibility fied Boeing 737, equipped with an for the attack but Mismari blamed airborne warning and control sys- Ghariani for “giving orders to carry tem with a mobile radar surveil- out the bombing.” lance, off the Libyan coast to collect Libyan political writer Mohamed information on the LNA’s move- Alamine said he was alarmed by ments. the “rapidness” of the resumption Turkish President Recep Tayyip of the fierce fighting at the end the Erdogan is the only world leader to truce. publicly voice his country’s military “The truce was an opportunity support for the Islamists in Libya to whet the hatred and hone the despite a UN Security Council arms knives of animosity between the embargo imposed on the country Libyans. The fighting erupted at the since 2011. end of the truce as if the two sides Libya is awash with guns power- were counting the hours and the ing a patchwork of an estimated minutes to resume killing one an- 200,000 militiamen to fuel the cha- other,” he said. os. The United Nations estimates “Why do we expect peace media- there are 15 million-18 million tion from the outside world when Continuing offensive. A file picture shows LNA fighters advancing on a road south of Tripoli. (AFP) weapons in Libya. we do not want peace intently?” 6 August 18, 2019 Opinion

Editorial Developments in Yemen here was nothing surprising in Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khame- nei’s pledge of continued support to Yemen’s Houthi militias. “I declare my support for the resist- ance of Yemen’s believing men and Twomen… Yemen’s people… will establish a strong government,” Khamenei told the visiting chief negotiator of the Houthi movement Mohammed Abdul Salam. The Houthis have been among Iran’s most loyal proxies in the region. That has meant fuelling a devastating war in Yemen since 2014 against the country’s internationally recognised govern- ment, causing thousands of casualties and putting millions of Yemeni civilians in harm’s way and at risk of starvation. Although Iran has been a key driver of sectarian strife in Yemen, Khamenei tried to posture as a defender of Yemen’s unity and territorial integ- rity. Khamenei’s message hardly carries any credibility since Iran and its Houthi proxies are at the core of Yemen’s civil strife. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said the Houthi delegation handed a letter to Khamenei from the movement’s leader, Abdelmalik al-Houthi. It is unlikely the letter contained a message of peace. The Houthis’ task has been facilitated by the seeming complacency of the Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi government in the campaign to stop the © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly Houthis. A “legitimate” government is as legiti- mate as the tangible actions it undertakes to buttress its international recognition. That wasn’t the case in Yemen despite the support the Hadi When some foreign interventions government received from the Arab coalition. Recent moves by the Southern Transitional Council in Aden were in great part triggered by are more halal than others the determination to thwart the Houthis’ actions and their manifest alliance with al-Qaeda. The disruptive role of the Muslim Brotherhood-affili- ated al-Islah party, as an ally of the Hadi govern- Khairallah Khairallah ment, further wrinkled the effort to stand up to the Houthis. When foreign forces are in the region to help curb Iranian aggression, they With mounting tensions in the Gulf, especially become a foreign intervention that must be stopped and, therefore, are haram. after the United States imposed sanctions on Iran, the Houthis have been suspected of playing the role of an Iranian surrogate in carrying out here is a constant the US and Russian flags. Iran useless Iranian game instead destabilising activities, including attacks on need in the Arab could do nothing but watch of sticking to defending its Saudi oil installations and airports, essentially world to accept the tankers go by. When power interests. Has Iraq become a through the use of drones. logic and reality, is displayed, Iran suddenly mere puppet of Iran, despite International experts said Iran’s support focused on the supply and operation of drones. especially in certain wises up and refrains from the near unanimity in popular This allowed Houthi drones to drop increasingly countries, such as adventures. circles, including among Shias, bigger bombs at more remote distances. Regional TIraq. It is possible to find other on the need to resist Iranian experts say Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard For example, Iraqi Foreign examples beyond the 1980-88 influence? Corps and Lebanon’s Hezbollah provided the Minister Mohamed Ali Alhakim war to ascertain the importance Obviously, is putting Houthis with expertise on the use of drones. recently said the presence of of having Western and foreign strong pressure on Iraq, which Video uplinks have been reportedly operated Western forces in the Gulf was forces in the Gulf. To regain will soon have to choose from Tehran and Beirut for that purpose. Much like their Iranian patrons, the Houthis increasing tension in the region. normalcy, Kuwait had no choice between Iran and the United share a propensity to blame foreign plots for their “Together, the Gulf countries but to use Western forces. An States. The greater the effects internal woes and misguided actions. are able to secure the passage international coalition, based of US sanctions on Iran become, While frustrating the efforts of the United of ships… Iraq is seeking to on the US military, led to the the closer Iraq will come to the Nations and the Arab coalition to provide Yemenis reduce tension in our region expulsion of the Iraqi occupier hour of truth. with food and humanitarian aid, they have through quiet negotiations, and from Kuwait. Will Iraq swing Iranian blamed corruption for the blocked food distribu- the presence of Western forces It is true that the Arab side, or American? Perhaps the tion. in the region will increase led by , played sounding of the alarm at the US The Houthis’ iron-fisted practices have faced stiff resistance and internal divisions even in tension,” said Alhakim. a pivotal role in supporting Embassy in recently areas under their control. After Ibrahim Badred- Well, what if the Gulf was Kuwait to restore its after bombshells fell in its din al-Houthi, a brother of Abdelmalik al-Houthi, left without Western forces to independence and sovereignty vicinity will serve as a wake-up was killed in Sana’a earlier this month the face Iran’s aggressive policy, the but it is also true that this call for Iraq that it is time to Houthis predictably blamed the assassination on same Iran that is daily trying would not have been possible make a choice. “the treacherous hands affiliated with the to show that it is the dominant had the United States not sent It is not known whether Iraq US-Israeli aggression and its tools.” power in the region? And who is 500,000 troops to liberate has the luxury of choosing. Their accusations reflected a Tehran-like conspiratorial mind and an indication of the type going to maintain the balance of Kuwait. What is certain is that most of regime the Houthis would impose with the help power in the region other than There were also soldiers and of those in power refuse to of Iran if they had their way in Yemen. the Western military presence, officers from several Western remember that it was an a presence that has been invited countries, including France and American tank — and nothing by Iran’s behaviour in the first Britain, who played their part in else but this tank — that Successful haj place? the liberation of Kuwait. There returned them to Baghdad. If the Iraqi foreign minister were even Arab forces in the What else can they do when season had a minimal sense of logic, international coalition but the this tank was serving Iran’s the first thing he would have pivotal role in liberating Kuwait expansionist project that ost of the credit for this year’s done was to call on Iran to was American. Interestingly, differentiates between halal smooth running of the haj must go review its policies and act like Iran did not say a word at the and haram Western and foreign to Saudi authorities for the effi- a normal state trying to have time. forces and considers Iraq part of cient management of the rites. normal relations with all its Each time the topic of its fateful battle with the Trump Their efficient organisation made neighbours. Western and foreign forces in administration? it possible to accommodate the Mneeds of nearly 2.5 million pilgrims. It is no secret that Alhakim the Gulf has been brought up, It seems the American tank An impressive performance in a mass event that cannot criticise Iran in any Iran has adopted a different has changed direction. This is exceptionally concentrated in time and space as way and his inability to do so position that served its change came at a time when pilgrims stayed in Mecca from August 9-13. requires him to avoid falling interests. Iran was a partner there is no indication that the More than 350,000 staff people, in addition to into the trap of openly adopting with the United States in the Iraqi foreign minister has room 35,000 volunteers, took part in the logistical Iranian political discourse that American-led war on Iraq for manoeuvring that allows operations and the many services provided. They has nothing to do with the in 2003. It was among the him to see things as they are included 120,000 security personnel and 30,000 truth. Most important, Alhakim countries of the region in that and reconcile himself with logic health workers. was ignoring Iraq’s role under war that ended with one victor, and reality. Such reconciliation Mohammed Salih Benten, Saudi minister of Haj and Umrah, said the haj administration was Saddam Hussein in causing Iran. seems to be forbidden by force managed fully electronically through an inte- Western military presence in So, it seems there are Western in Iraq. grated infrastructure. the Gulf region. and foreign forces that are Iraqis have no choice but Saudi authorities point to digital services and When talking about the halal and Western and foreign to join the Iranian choir in interactive apps that facilitated the rites. These importance of the presence of forces that are haram from an denouncing the presence of include “’Destination,” a system that helped Western and foreign forces in Iranian perspective. When the Western and foreign forces visitors move around within the mosques without the Gulf, we need to recall the forces serve Iran, there is no in the Gulf when they are not an internet connection. “Assist Me” allowed eight years of the Iraq-Iran war problem with them and they serving Iran. This seems to be pilgrims to seek help in case of medical emer- and the need to protect Kuwaiti become halal. When they are in the tragedy of Iraq, a tragedy gency. “Our Rituals” helped pilgrims locate the shortest routes from their locations. tankers from Iranian attacks. the region to help curb Iranian clearly summed up in the The haj proceeded without incident despite At the time, Kuwait was aggression, they become a statement by the Iraqi Foreign security concerns stemming from regional forced to seek help from the foreign intervention that must Affairs minister who obviously tensions and the usual attempts of some countries United States and the Soviet be stopped and, therefore, are cannot place Iraq’s interests to politicise the pilgrimage. Union to secure the safety of its haram. above those of Iran. The unhelpful attitude of certain governments, oil tankers in the Gulf. Thanks The puzzling question, such as those of Qatar and Iran, could not prevent to this smart move, the Kuwaiti however, is why Iraq insists on Khairallah Khairallah is a the success of haj operations. tankers were able to hoist both interfering in an obvious and Lebanese writer. August 18, 2019 7 Opinion

The white jihadist peril is with us Rashmee Roshan Lall Published by Al Arab Publishing House White nationalism is seen to be validated by the rhetoric of powerful politicians, not least the US president, Hungary’s prime minister and Italy’s deputy prime minister. Publisher and Group Executive Editor

fter the thwarted States and the wider world are Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD gun attack August faced with not one but two 10 on a mosque in destructive hatreds, each prem- Editor-in-Chief Norway, an Ameri- ised on its own perverted logic Oussama Romdhani can cartoon from of a cosmic war for dominance a few days earlier and survival. Both hatreds are seemsA acutely perceptive and converging in terms of toll, Managing Editor seriously unfunny. “Can you their ability to spread terror and Iman Zayat step to the side?” asks a man online recruiting. wearing a stars and stripes The convergence says some- Deputy Managing Editor hat to a gun-toting, heav- thing significant. Those who and Online Editor ily muscled giant in a red cap doubt the white nationalist far Mamoon Alabbasi emblazoned with a swastika. right is a mortal threat in and to “I’m trying to spot Muslim and the West or as great a danger as Senior Editor Mexican terrorists.” Islamist jihadists must at least The cartoon appeared in USA accept they are both equally John Hendel Today after the mass shooting violent. Chief Copy Editor in El Paso, Texas, where the Both rely on myth-making killer allegedly targeted visually and historical reinvention. Richard Pretorius distinct Hispanic people he Jihadists say they are fighting Copy Editors regarded invaders. to return to a glorious Islamic Stephen Quillen It captured the absurdity of past. White supremacists reach Grave danger. Members of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist the United States’ continuing back into an imagined idea group, perform a Nazi salute during a party outside Atkins, Arkansas, Kyle Arensdorf focus on jihadist terrorism of the Middle Ages, when last March. (Reuters) when it is white nationalism Europe was wholly white and East/West Section Editor that may be the more lethal Christian, had repulsed Muslim Mahmud el-Shafey (London) emerging threat, not just in the efforts to dominate and was ally operate in majority-white Italy’s deputy prime minister. United States but across other thereby a model for 21st-centu- countries. They use guns to Furthermore, fewer law Gulf Section Editor parts of the Western world. ry North America, Australia and kill those they consider the enforcement resources are Mohammed Alkhereiji From New Zealand to Norway New Zealand. enemy — Hispanics in El Paso; devoted to tracking, disrupt- to North America, white ex- Historian Kathleen Belew, Muslims in two Christchurch ing and investigating white Society and Travel tremism is on the rise. author of “Bring the War Home: mosques; a Jewish congrega- extremist cells and conspiracies. Sections Editor The seriousness of the threat The White Power Movement tion in Pittsburgh; and African- Punishment is not always easy Samar Kadi can be judged from the way it and Paramilitary America,” American worshippers in a either, especially in the United has been described by several recently noted that it was best Charleston church. The man States where federal prosecu- former high-ranking American not to divide white extremism who ploughed his car into tors are severely limited in Senior Correspondents counterterrorism officials. After “into anti-immigrant, racist, a crowd of protesters af- The United States how to deal with white Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) the mass shootings in Texas anti-Muslim or antisemitic ter a white supremacist and the wider world are nationalist terrorism. and Ohio, they issued a state- attacks. True, they are these rally in Charlottesville faced with not one but Such acts can, at best, Thomas Seibert (Istanbul) ment saying domestic terrorism things but they are also con- two years ago was a two destructive be tried as hate crimes Regular Columnists should be treated “as high a nected with one another bit of an aberration. hatreds, each premised because a US statute priority as countering interna- through a broader white power The white extremist’s defines domestic ter- Rashmee Roshan Lall tional terrorism has become ideology.” tool of choice is the on its own perverted rorism but carries no logic of a cosmic war for Claude Salhani since 9/11.” The jihadists and white gun. penalties. Yavuz Baydar That would make sense. Data extremists differ mainly in There is one other dominance and The white jihadism is a survival. compiled by the New America terms of area of operation and crucial way in which truly terrible force and it is Correspondents think-tank indicate that Is- standard operating procedures. white nationalism is with us. lamist terrorism claimed ap- Jihadists operate in locations distinct from jihadism. It may Nazli Tarzi (London) proximately 104 lives on US soil all over the world and vari- be the stronger of the two. It Rashmee Roshan Lall is a Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) since 2002. Far-right extremism ously employ suicide bombers, is seen to be validated by the columnist for The Arab Weekly. (London) was responsible for the death of improvised explosive devices, rhetoric of powerful politicians, Her blog can be found at Dunia El-Zobaidi 109 people in the same period. trucks, knives and guns. not least the US president, www.rashmee.com and she Roua Khlifi (Tunis) In other words, the United White extremists gener- Hungary’s prime minister and is on Twitter: @rashmeerl. Chief Designer Marwen el-Hmedi

Now, Anatolia’s natural resources are up for grabs Designers Ibrahim Ben Bechir Yavuz Baydar Hanen Jebali The problem with Turkey’s opposition in general is its disorder and lack of coherence in organising the public discontent. Contact editor at: [email protected] he Anatolian Penin- local politicians and party massive mobilisation in Canak- mid-Anatolia, concrete projects sula — extending to nomenklatura are eager to grab kale. have destroyed the textures, Thrace, bordering a piece of the cake by winning The revelations were perhaps as companies, whose owners Bulgaria and Greece lucrative contracts, often side- the last drop in the area, where are linked with the AKP, are — has, by historic lining the law. tensions were suppressed by declared the winners of public accounts, one of the In other, perhaps related, authorities, when local envi- tenders to build public parks, Al Arab Publishing House Trichest, most diverse flora and developments, forest fires ronmentalists had filed nearly whose aesthetics have been Quadrant Building fauna in the Mediterranean and have flared up, with more than 40 legal cases against a dozen severely criticised by the archi- 177-179 Hammersmith Road Black Sea basin. However, with 25 blazes reported in various hydroelectric power plant con- tects’ chambers. London W6 8BS the recent acceleration into the locations. Suspicions are struction projects. Will these trends continue? open, official destruction of its high, given that the affected Similar issues pop up The problem with Turkey’s op- natural environment, all this locations are of high value — elsewhere with increasing position in general is its disorder may soon be history. potential settlements or tourist frequency. A report by the and lack of coherence in or- Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 Since Turkey’s municipal resorts near the sea — that the Cumhuriyet newspaper raised ganising the public discontent. Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 elections, which shook the incidents may not be accidents. questions about the construc- About half of Turkey’s popula- ground under the Islamist- In direct proportion to the es- tion of Akkuyu Nuclear Plant tion — if not more — is discon- dominated regime of Turkish calation, popular resistance to on the southern shore of tent with the ways Erdogan is President Recep Tayyip the AKP’s policies, which had Anatolia, near Mersin. Engi- running the country. US Publisher: Erdogan, eyes have anxiously been visible in the opposition neers told the newspaper of The way the anger and pro- The Arab Weekly USA LLC. turned on projects that envi- alliance taking over the mu- “grave oversights in the Shattered by the tests emerge — and fade — ronmentalists — rather weak nicipalities in six major cities in construction,” which, economic crisis, are signs of the absence [email protected] and mainly ignored by the the western half of Anatolia, fo- they said would cause Islamist-dominated of clear-sighted leader- [email protected] centrist opposition parties — cuses these days on ecological a natural calamity in rulers see the selling or ship in challenging say will inflict irreversible harm issues. An increasing number of the area. Even a basic these ways. Coupled Tel: 248-679-6624 renting of valuable land to life conditions in general in locals, backed by activists from house would be built with the extremely Turkey. metropoles such as Istanbul more scientifically, on the peninsula or at weakened critical me- Destructive measures to and Izmir, are engaged in pro- they warned. There the seashore as dia, the half-hearted modify the natural textures of test marches, peaceful assem- were no reactions from inevitable channels to approach of the main Anatolia, accompanied by freak blies and petition campaigns on the authorities. stay in power. opposition to issue-based construction projects, have several symbolic cases. Due to the construction resistance cause a vicious been part of the ruling Justice The strongest attention is of Istanbul’s new, gigantic air- cycle and disbelief in demo- Subscription & Advertising: and Development Party (AKP) on Kaz Mountains, a large eco- port, not only 13 million trees cratic race. [email protected] but the apparent acceleration of system near Troy, a mountain of the only remaining forest Nevertheless, the targeting Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 what environmentalists brand known anciently as Ida, marked in the vicinity of the city were of the natural resources show as “hostile attacks” is not a as the cradle of Greek mythol- chopped down but there are how deep corruption in Turkey coincidence. ogy, whose flora is a paradise near-daily incidents of planes has gone as opposition voters’ Mohamed Al Mufti Shattered by the economic for biologists for its richness. hitting large flocks of birds, motto in the recent local elec- Marketing & Advertising crisis, Islamist-dominated rul- When it became clear that a whose natural habitat had been tions — #everythingwillbejust- Manager ers in Ankara see the selling or Turkish company, Dogu Biga, in the area. fine — fades away, once more. renting of valuable land on the a subsidiary of the Canadian Elsewhere as in Uzungol, Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 peninsula or at the seashore as giant Alamos Gold, had cut once a marvel of nature on the Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish www.alarab.co.uk inevitable channels to stay in more than 150,000 trees for a eastern Black Sea mountains, journalist and regular columnist power, while business circles, gold-digging project, it led to a or in another lake, Salda, in the for The Arab Weekly. 8 August 18, 2019 News & Analysis Gulf Yemen

Viewpoint The Southern Transitional Council has not just parachuted into the Yemeni crisis

What we have learnt from developments in Yemen during the Haitham past ten years more than anything El-Zobaidi else is the great extent of collusion between the Houthis and the Muslim Brotherhood represented den, where to? This by al-Islah party. We cannot ignore question becomes Hadi’s tireless pursuit of a power- relevant after the sharing deal with the Houthis. The capture of the city man gave up hope for such a deal and its most impor- only after the Houthis had placed tant installations and him under house arrest. governmentA buildings by forces of Anyone who has any doubt the Southern Transitional about this can go back to the Council, which took advantage of circumstances that accompanied the failure of the Yemeni interim the Houthis’ takeover of Sana’a. government, also known as the Hadi had, at the time, refused to “legitimacy camp,” to provide defend the city, pretexting that adequate protection to it. it was the former President Ali The interim government was Abdullah Saleh’s battle, not his. supposed to be present in the He did not stop the Houthis at interim capital, Aden, but it has Amran governorate, which was shined only by its flagrant and considered the gateway to Sana’a. irresponsible absence from the city, Worse than that, he hailed the fall of leaving it wide open for the return Brigade 310, which was commanded of the Houthis with the malicious by Brigadier-General Hamid al- complicity of al-Qaeda and the Qushaibi. The latter was affiliated Reassessing priorities. Yemeni demonstrators wave flags of former South Yemen as they march in Muslim Brotherhood. Both of the with the current vice-president, Yemen’s second city of Aden, August 15. (AFP) latter would have preferred to see General Ali Mohsen Saleh al-Ahmar the stagnant status quo in Yemen — in other words, the Muslim the negligence of the “legitimacy Saleh’s army officers following their fundamental part of Yemen and just go on until the day they could strike Brotherhood. camp.” The STC, which has its own invasion and occupation of Aden in repeat the bitter experience of the a deal with the Iran-sponsored Let’s not forget that the forces, seems to have decided that 1994. post-1994 period? Houthis. Brotherhood played a major role it cannot rely on anyone to protect The STC’s move was necessary Certainly, the southern Yemen In this sense, the move by the in facilitating the expansion of the the city, especially following the to prove there are still people who case is different from that of other Southern Transitional Council (STC) Houthis outside of Saada District bombings in Aden that killed a want to protect Aden and prevent separatist movements and no one in Aden can be seen as aimed at after they overthrew the Saleh senior military commander of the the return of the Houthis, while can make that comparison unless defending the “legitimacy camp,” or regime in 2011, hoping to take council’s Security Belt Forces. being deeply aware that Hadi he or she intends to defend the false whatever was left of it, and a move control of the country. Those bombings established is more interested in business nationalism of both the Houthis and to prevent the return of the Houthis The Brotherhood never needed three things: the close coordination dealings above anything else, given al-Islah party. to the capital of southern Yemen to openly ally itself with the between the Houthis and al-Qaeda, that he has become the puppet of To characterise the recent after their expulsion in 2015. Houthis. There were even public the implication of the Muslim businessman Ahmed al-Essa and developments in southern Yemen Emirati forces, part of the Saudi- confrontations between the two Brothers, who are waiting in the that the Muslim Brothers want as a naive, instinctive and non- led coalition, drove the Houthis out sides. All that the Brotherhood had wings for the ripe moment to nothing but to please Qatar and nationalist separatist project of Aden after they had been in the done was in the interest of Iran’s pounce on Aden and the obvious Turkey and to share power with the neglects to consider crucial city for a few months. On September proxies, the Houthis. They have had weakness of the forces belonging to Houthis. elements of regional security in 21, 2014, the Houthis had seized secret relations with Qatar since the Hadi and his son Nasser. Some media reports depict the that vital part of the world. All one Sana’a and signed a peace and latter mediated the conflict between In the final analysis, the southerners who are leading the must do is check which foreign cooperation agreement with Yemeni them and Saleh during the six wars “legitimacy” forces were mere STC as if they were adventurers who power is driving al-Islah party to President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi between the two sides from 2004- militias originating from Abyan had parachuted into the Yemeni stand against the Arab coalition to and the UN secretary-general’s 10. province, the home region of crisis and its related conflicts. If discover who assigned it to oversee envoy to Yemen at the time, Jamal In fact, the mediation ceased in Yemeni president, with which the these southerners are calling for the this important part of the Arab Benomar. 2007 and the Qataris sided with the people of Aden and surrounding secession of the South, it is not just system. Houthis after Saleh had failed them areas had a long history of conflict for the sake of secession but as a There is a real need for a at the end of 2008 and refused to and hostility (most notably in 1986), reaction to a flimsy political system reassessment of priorities in the The Southern attend the Arab summit in especially the military personnel that wants to impose a model of region and for reconsidering what called by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa from the Lahji governorate or Dhale political Islam going by the name of elements contribute to enhancing Transitional Council’s al-Thani, then emir of Qatar. governorate and their districts. “al-Islah” (Reform) while nominally the security of the region and move was necessary It was about the same time Above all of those considerations, refusing a second model of political to pinpoint who was primarily to prove there are still and for the same reason that the the STC had no trust in a president Islam called the Houthis. responsible for the situation in relationship between the Yemeni whose son Nasser was leading a Southern Yemenis have been Yemen. people who want to Muslim Brothers and Qatar regional militia in Aden, while his compelled to submit and bear in protect Aden and deepened out of spite for Saleh, other son, Jalal, was involved in silence the situation imposed on Dr Haitham El-Zobaidi is an Iraqi whom Sheikh Hamad considered a trade in Aden and was committing them under different patriotic writer based in London. prevent the return of backstabber. acts of violation and humiliation labels. Is it patriotic for al-Islah He is the Executive Editor of the Houthis. Recent events in Aden laid bare similar to the ones committed by party to oppress the people of a Al Arab Publishing Group. New twist in Yemen conflict as STC takes over Aden

Faith Salama amid fears that Islamist forces in the the heart of this,” Alnoud said. land, history, culture and economy,” fronting the Iranian project in Yemen. Saudi-led coalition could take over While the STC is unlikely to forego there has been “damage done by the and Abu Dhabi have dis- the south, even permitting al-Qaeda its advances in Aden, it is also unlikely northern political parties, notably al- played a united front on Yemen, play- Dubai to make a comeback there. to pursue independence in the short Islah, to Yemen’s national unity.” ing down reports of divisions that The STC maintains that whatever term, relying instead on negotiations “Members of al-Islah party… can analysts say could weaken their joint he conflict in Yemen took a the outcome of the drawn-out con- to resolve the crisis. only view today’s Saudi Arabia as campaign against Iran-linked rebels. major turn when the Southern flict, southerners need to be repre- Analysts noted that the STC has sig- an enemy,” Sarraf added. “However, Transitional Council took ef- sented in peace talks and have a say in nificant leverage but warned that al- southerners could turn out being a Yemen specialist Khairallah Khairallah T fective control of Aden after the country’s future. Islah remains a threat. better ally if they consider the need for days of fighting with troops loyal to The STC has reportedly been con- “A return to a united Yemen is no Riyadh to support them in their fight “A return to a united Yemen is the government of Yemeni President sidering Saudi Arabia’s call to de- longer possible. At the same time, against two evils: the Iran-backed no longer possible. At the same Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. escalate and preparing to attend an it is impossible to revive a country Houthis and failed tribalism that has time, it is impossible to revive Since the conflict began in March emergency summit in Jeddah aimed that was once called South Yemen long been upheld by Islamists.” a country that was once called 2015, fighters with the Southern Tran- at reaching an agreement for all par- and which at one point was going by The agenda in Jeddah will likely be South Yemen.” sitional Council (STC) have been a ma- ties in Aden. the name of the People’s Democratic determined by the Arab coalition and jor component of the Saudi-led coali- However, Saleh Alnoud, a Britain- Republic of Yemen,” said Khairallah would reportedly centre on reaching Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh tion’s battle against the Iran-backed based spokesman for the council, Khairallah, an analyst and author on a mechanism to reduce political and Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan met Houthi movement that ousted Hadi vowed on August 14 that the STC Yemeni politics. security tensions. with Saudi leaders near Mecca August from power in Sana’a in 2014. would maintain control over Aden, “The recent events at Aden, not The Arab coalition eyes the devel- 12, backing Riyadh’s calls for dialogue The southern port city of Aden has saying that the only way out of the only serve to expose the weakness of opment of consensus to having joint between the warring parties. been the temporary base of Hadi’s impasse was for Islamists, a reference the al-Islah backed legitimacy camp security forces maintain security in The United Arab Emirates, which in government. The president has based to al-Islah party that constitutes a but also usher a turning point that can Aden, under the supervision of the July announced it was scaling down himself in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. backbone of Hadi’s government, and ultimately to Aden possibly regaining Arab coalition, and on removing from its military presence in Yemen amid The war against the Houthis seems northerners to be removed from posi- some of its past glory by providing the Aden brigades and other military Gulf tensions with Iran, has long been to have revived old strains between tions of power in the south. necessary services and security for its units that are not needed for Aden’s suspicious of al-Islah. north and south Yemen — formerly “Giving up control of Aden is not on people.” security. While the group is part of Hadi’s separate countries that united into the table at the moment,” Alnoud said “This is the real challenge for the The agreement, media reports said, coalition government, some Yemenis a single state in 1990 under Yemeni in an interview with Reuters. Southern Transitional Council, not would integrate the STC in govern- allege it is collaborating with Qatar President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The STC has accused al-Islah, an that of reviving a defunct state in the ment institutions and assigning it to divert the attention of the Saudi- The move August 11 by the STC, offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, south going back to the pre-unifica- ministerial portfolios. It would also led coalition from its fight against the which is backed by most of the Securi- of being complicit in a deadly Houthi tion era,” he added. include measures for unifying media Houthi militia. ty Belt Forces and led by former Aden missile strike on southern forces ear- Iraqi writer Ali Sarraf said that while statements by the government and Governor Aidarus al-Zubaidi, came lier this month. “Al-Islah has been at “Yemenis are united around their the STC and focusing them on con- Faith Salama is a Lebanese journalist. August 18, 2019 9 News & Analysis Egypt Potential deal with UAE boosts Egypt’s hopes to join ranks of arms exporters

Ahmed Megahid The deals allowed Egyptian mili- tary production plants to produce a wide range of military equipment, Cairo including tanks (US M1 Abrams main battle tanks among them), gypt is close to securing the helicopters, unmanned aerial ve- first deal for the export of its hicles, training jets, corvettes and locally made ST-100 MRAP light weapons, including machine E armoured vehicles, which of- guns. fer protection against ballistic mis- “Egypt has been making steady siles and bomb threats. progress in military production, Egypt has sent models of the ve- which underscores national ambi- hicle for experimentation in the tions in this regard,” said retired desert of Abu Dhabi, said Youssri army General Nasr Salem. “Local al-Nemr, chairman of the Armed military plants produce a diversified Vehicles Maintenance and Produc- range of arms that are needed by the Big ambitions. An Egyptian military officer looks at an ST-100 MRAP armoured vehicle at Egypt’s first tion Factory, one of Egypt’s military Egyptian Army and are also needed Service Defence Exhibition in Cairo, last December. (AFP) production facilities. by other armies in the region.” He said he expected the export There are 26 military factories in contract for the vehicles to be Egypt, most of which are owned by factured with China. years, the ministry has hosted doz- cles have a classic body design, with signed with the United Arab Emir- the Egyptian Ministry of Defence. The products on display also in- ens of Arab and African military two side doors, one rear door, one ates in August. Each of the factories has its own cluded models of the Gowind-class officials for tours of factories and weapon escape hatch and one roof Together with those in the pipe- research and development depart- corvette, the five-seat attack Ga- production centres. hatch. line with other Arab and African ment employing hundreds of mili- zelle helicopter and coastal patrol Nevertheless, Egypt’s road to be- The vehicles can be fitted with states, the UAE contract brings tary engineers and scientists devel- boats. They also included the early coming an arms manufacturer and a wide range of light remote-con- Egypt close to a long-time strategic oping new weapons or designing warning Surveillance Radar ESR-32 exporter is far from smooth, experts trolled weapon stations. Remote goal of becoming an arms manufac- upgrades for weaponry possessed 2D. said. turrets can be armed with a 7.62mm turer and exporter and turning mili- by the Egyptian Army. “The fair gave thousands of mili- Among the challenges is competi- or 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm tary industries into a major source The level of progress reached by tary specialists a window into the tion with more advanced manufac- automatic grenade launcher. The of income. these factories was manifest at the high level of local military produc- turers, including in the region, the armament is mounted on top of the Egypt has been developing its first Egypt Defence Expo in 2018. tion,” said retired intelligence of- high cost of research and the reluc- roof of the vehicle, which has a sin- military industries with the initial Local military factories showcased ficer Mohamed al-Shahawi. “It also tance of military partners to trans- gle hatch. aim of satisfying the domestic de- a wide range of products. served the national arms marketing fer military production technology, “The vehicles are very competi- mand for arms and using available Products featured included ST- strategy by bringing together po- they added. tive, demonstrating Egypt’s abil- industrial capabilities in making 100 vehicles and the smaller ST- tential buyers and partners.” “These are challenges that can- ity to produce advanced defence money from military industries. 500s. The vehicles are produced The Egyptian Ministry of Military not be easily overcome,” said re- systems,” Salem said. “True, there Egypt plans to be a full arms pro- by International Marathon United Production, which oversees the de- tired army General Gamal Eddine are challenges but they will be eas- ducer and exporter by 2030. It has Technology Group and the Ministry velopment of the national military Mazloum. “Self-dependence by re- ily overcome in the presence of a signed dozens of manufacturing of Military Production. production strategy, has been pur- liance on scientific research is also national will at the highest level to deals with countries such as the Egyptian military exhibitors dis- suing aggressive marketing policies very costly.” score real progress in this field.” United States, China, Russia, France, played models of fighter and train- to draw in potential buyers. However, the ST-100 MRAP vehi- South Korea and the United King- ing jets, such as the K-8 training jet Apart from the Egypt Defence cles are an example of the country Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian dom to localise military industries. and three models of drones manu- Expo, which is to be every two being up to the challenge. The vehi- reporter in Cairo. Reinstatement of Salafist preacher angers moderates in Egypt

Hassan Abdel Zaher mons to 20 minutes. Few expect and seized the group’s assets. How- Islam, in general, and political Is- bidding farewell to his parents at a Borhami to hold to the restrictions. ever, the August 4 attack suggests lam, in particular. park in southern Cairo. The video, There were also rumours of an the Brotherhood is a danger, even Sisi has been a champion of reli- analysts said, proves that the per- Cairo unfolding alliance between the though the group might be disman- gious reform, calling several times petrator’s parents knew of the at- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al- tled at the organisational level, ana- for removing extremist content from tack beforehand, which suggests oderate circles in Egypt Sisi government and the Salafists lysts said. textbooks used in religious schools, deep social and cultural problems in reacted with alarm after with the aim of choking the Muslim This makes it necessary for Sisi’s reforming religious discourse and Egypt. religious authorities gave Brotherhood. regime to nurture alliances with im- renewing the understanding of reli- This is why opposition to Bor- M permission to an extrem- Sisi has been cracking down on portant political groups, they added. gious texts. hami and other Salafists returning ist preacher to deliver sermons at a the Muslim Brotherhood since he “The government acts very smart- His calls for reform were precipi- to mosque pulpits engendered fears mosque in Alexandria. became president in 2014 after the ly, given the media war began by the tated by the spike in terrorist at- that such problems would increase. The Egyptian Ministry of Reli- Brotherhood was implicated in ter- Brotherhood,” said Tarek al-Besh- tacks in Egypt, including those by a “We are in a fierce war against ter- gious Endowments, which controls rorist attacks. An August 4 bombing beshi, an Islamist affairs specialist. branch of the Islamic State in Sinai. rorism,” Zunt said. “This is why we the mosques, gave Yasser Borhami, outside the main cancer hospital in By allowing the Salafists to be pre- There are apparently cultural and are badly in need of strengthening the deputy head of the Salafist Call, Cairo, in which 20 people died, was sent, despite public opposition, Sisi social aspects to the wave of terror- the domestic front.” the umbrella organisation of Salafi blamed on a Brotherhood militia. perhaps wants to discredit Muslim ism. Following the August 4 bomb- Alexandria is a Salafi stronghold. movements, approval to deliver ser- The authorities disbanded the Brotherhood propaganda that his ing, authorities aired videos show- The city’s mosques were controlled mons before Friday prayers at the Muslim Brotherhood’s party in 2014 government is waging a war against ing the perpetrator of the attack by Salafi preachers who espoused Wise Caliphs Mosque in Alexandria. extremist ideologies. “Everybody is shocked at the de- The Salafists abhor recognis- cision to allow this man to preach ing Egypt’s ancient civilisation. In at the mosques,” said Saad al-Zunt, 2012, a Salafist preacher called for the head of the Strategic Studies demolishing the Giza Pyramids and Centre, a local think-tank. “These Sphinx. When the 2011 uprising people [the Salafists] have invented erupted, there were debates among a new religion that is totally foreign Salafists on the need to covering an- to the tolerant nature of the people cient statues with wax. of Egypt.” Sisi, however, appears to be re- Salafists adhere to a strict ver- paying the Salafists for backing him sion of Islam. They do not believe in all through. women’s rights and call for women The Salafists, who used to act in to be clothed from head to toe. The synchronisation with the Muslim Salafists adopt a hostile stance to- Brotherhood, backed the uprising wards non-Muslims, saying they are against Islamist President Muham- not full citizens. They order follow- mad Morsi in July 2013. They backed ers not to congratulate Christians on Sisi in the 2014 presidential elec- their religious occasions. tion. Salafist representatives in par- Borhami is notorious for many liament approved most of the bills controversial edicts. He once said and economic reform measures pro- that a husband, who runs for his life, posed by Sisi’s government. leaving his wife behind to be raped, “The Salafist al-Nour Party stood is not a sinner. Another time, he said by the Egyptian state at the time of Mother’s Day is only celebrated by the anti-Brotherhood uprising,” said “infidels.” Sameh Eid, a specialist in Islamist af- Perhaps anticipating a backlash fairs. “The Salafists, in general, are to its decision, the Ministry of Re- keen to politically act in a balanced ligious Endowments set rules for manner.” Borhami to abide by, including ab- staining from discussing politics, Hassan Abdel Zaher complying with topics determined Back to preaching. Yasser Borhami (C), deputy head of the Salafist Call, walks with his supporters in is a Cairo-based contributor to by the ministry and limiting ser- Alexandria. (Reuters) The Arab Weekly. 10 August 18, 2019 News & Analysis Iraq Explosion at Iraqi weapons depot sparks speculation about Israeli role Other people said they saw a Azhar Al-Rubaie drone above the depot just before and Yousif al-Hashimi the explosion. The International Statistical In- stitute said satellite imagery indi- Baghdad cated “it is probable that the blast was caused by an air strike, fol- massive explosion at a lowed by secondary explosions of weapons depot at an Iran- explosives stored in the place.” backed military base near Iraqi Interior Ministry spokes- A Baghdad heightened se- person Saad Maan said the cause curity concerns and raised ques- of the explosion remained unclear tions about Iraq’s ability to protect but a security source said it was its sovereignty. likely due to poor storage condi- The blast August 12 at al-Saqr tions and high temperatures. military base south of Baghdad However, many Iraqi analysts killed one person and wounded blamed Israel, which has frequent- at least 31 others. The explosions ly targeted Iranian positions across sent projectiles into residential the region and is believed to be areas, including al-Doura district, waging a campaign against Iran- officials said. Iraqi Prime Minister backed militias. Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered an in- “We believe the weapons depot vestigation into the incident. was targeted by an oppressive co- Mokhalad al-Dulaimi, who lives lonial state on the basis of a trea- near the explosion site, said: “At sonous Iraqi act,” former Iraqi Dep- first I heard two strong explosions. uty Prime Minister Baha al-Araji The third came after but it was hor- posted on Twitter. rifying. I pushed myself out of the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper door and I saw the smoke filling quoted an unidentified source say- the sky and its smell was through- ing Israel conducted the strike as out the home. part of a campaign that began in “The explosion sounds con- Syria to dismantle Iran-backed mi- tinued around two hours. Many litias. houses were destroyed. Roads Iraqi professor Ghazi Faisal Hus- were blocked and people were hor- sein, a specialist of international Shrouded in mystery. Plumes of smoke rise after an explosion at a military base south-west of rified and went into the streets to relations and political develop- Baghdad, August 12. (AP) save their life.” ment, said: “It is probable that the strike was carried out by Israel.” The attack, he added, would be also argued that Iran was putting ed the IRGC as a terrorist organisa- On August 15, Abdul-Mahdi pro- Many Iraqi analysts “a continuation of the strikes on Iraq at risk, writing on Twitter that tion, the Iraqi federal government hibited military flights without blamed Israel, which has the military positions of Iran and “Iran is aiming to use Iraq as a war has relied on many of its leaders in permission from the prime minis- frequently targeted the Iran’s [Islamic Revolutionary zone to face US pressure.” the fight against the Islamic State. ter and ordered all military camps Iranian positions across Guard Corps] IRGC in Syria and With US sanctions hitting Iran’s In 2016, Iraq’s Representatives and munitions warehouses be the region and is believed Iraq. They may be used as military economy, Tehran has sought to Council legalised Iran-backed mi- moved outside Iraqi cities. to be waging a campaign bases. This poses a security threat hide its heavy weapons in Iraq, litias’ presence in Iraq, leading to against Iran-backed to Iraq and a great danger to the Syria and Lebanon to preserve its the creation of the Popular Mobi- Azhar Al-Rubaie is a freelance militias. life of people, hence missiles are influence. The Iraqi government lisation Forces’ security force. Iran journalist based in Iraq. He has placed in a residential area and has done little to address the issue. provided the PMF with weapons been working in the field of media Raghad Qasim, from al-Doura, should be placed in the desert.” For decades, Iran has sought to and training as they fought along- since 2014. His writing focuses said: “At 6.30pm, I heard an ex- “Iran must respect the sover- establish a powerful presence in side the Iraqi Army. on politics, health, society, wars tremely loud sound. It was fol- eignty of neighbouring countries, Iraq, including within the coun- That same year, an explosion oc- and human rights. Follow him on lowed by fires and the rockets hit including Iraq. Today, Iraq is under try’s Popular Mobilisation Forces curred at a PMF weapons depot in Twitter: @AzherRubaie. and destroyed some houses. Many Iranian control and controls the (PMF). IRGC leaders took key posi- eastern Baghdad. The PMF did not Yousif al-Hashimi is a journalist were wounded and lots of families internal Iraqi situation,” Hussein tions in the PMF, helping expand take responsibility at the time, nor and social media specialist in Iraq. were evacuated from their hous- said. Tehran’s proxy network. did the Iraqi Security Forces pro- Follow him on Twitter: es.” Political analyst Entifaq Qanbar While the United States has list- vide a clear explanation. @YousifHashimi. Viewpoint Death of US Marine in Iraq brings renewed attention to ISIS threat

espite claims by US are clearly worried about an ISIS June, ISIS carried out “targeted military confrontation with Iran. President Donald resurgence. In January, Director assassinations, ambushes, suicide Many of those politicians called Gregory Trump that the of National Intelligence Dan bombings and the burning of for all US troops to leave Iraq, Aftandilian Islamic State had Coats, appearing before the US crops” in Iraq and Syria The report putting pressure on high-ranking been “100%” Congress with other intelligence stated that the reduction of US Iraqi officials, such as President defeated, the leaders, said: “While ISIS is troops in Syria decreased support Barham Salih and Prime Minister Dcombat death of a US service nearing territorial defeat in Iraq needed by partner forces in Syria to Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who said member in Iraq on August 10 and Syria, the group has returned respond to the renewed ISIS threat. Washington should not involve underscored to policymakers to its guerrilla warfare roots while Although Trump is unlikely to Iraq in its dispute with Tehran. and the public that the militant continuing to plot attacks and reverse his decision to draw down US Secretary of State Mike group remains a significant direct its supporters worldwide. US troops in Syria to about 400, he Pompeo’s trip to Baghdad in May threat. ISIS is intent on resurging and still wants to keep the current US troop warning of possible pro-Iran The US Marine who was killed commands thousands of fighters presence in Iraq at about 5,000. militia attacks on US personnel was reportedly advising and in Iraq and Syria.” Media reports said Iraqi also generated controversy, accompanying Iraqi security forces In response to this assessment as government officials have privately especially since Abdul-Mahdi, on a planned operation in Nineveh well as one on North Korea saying admitted that their regular army, a few weeks later, called for the province to weed out Islamic State North Korean leader Kim Jong- while vastly improved since its militias to be put under the control (ISIS) cells. un would not likely give up his dismal performance against ISIS in of the regular Iraqi armed forces. For Iraqis, this was no surprise, nuclear weapons, both of which 2014, needs more training and that One Iraqi Shia militia leader because there have been bombings contradicted claims by Trump, US special forces help the resolve charged that the prime minister and shootings by ISIS against Iraqi the US president denigrated his of elite Iraqi units. Hence, these was doing Washington’s bidding. soldiers and civilians in the past intelligence chiefs and tweeted officials want US troops to remain For US troops to remain in Iraq several months. they should “go back to school.” to prevent an ISIS resurgence. to help in the anti-ISIS campaign, Indeed, a panel of UN experts However, since Trump’s insults, This practical desire by Iraqi the Trump administration needs issued a report to the UN Security driven more by politics than officials has run up against Iraqi to be much more cognisant of Council in late July in which they national security concerns, he has nationalism on the one hand and Iraqi sensibilities and the fact that state that ISIS’s centre of gravity been more circumspect. James the fear that Iraq could be dragged Iraq has endured many decades of For US troops to remains Iraq where its leader, Abu Jeffrey, the US envoy to the anti- into a US-Iran clash on the other. bloodshed. remain in Iraq to help Bakr al-Baghdadi, is believed to be ISIS coalition, led a briefing at the Trump’s gaffes — flying in and out The more the United States puts hiding. US State Department on August of Al-Asad Airbase in central Iraq pressure on Iraqi officials, the in the anti-ISIS He and other ISIS leaders, the 1 in which he said, despite ISIS’s in December 2018 without meeting more they will have to distance campaign, the Trump report added, aim to “adapt, loss of territory, the risk remained with Iraqi officials as is customary themselves from US policy. That administration needs survive and consolidate in the core of renewed attacks but he was not and stating in a television would be unfortunate, given area and to establish sleeper cells reprimanded by the White House. interview in February that he that both countries need the to be much more at the local level” in preparation of Jeffrey added that thousands of wants US troops in Iraq to “watch cooperation of each other to cognisant of Iraqi a comeback. The report stated that ISIS fighters are scattered around Iran” — became a hot-button preclude an ISIS resurgence. as many as 30,000 ISIS fighters Syria and Iraq where observers see political issue in Iraq. sensibilities and the may have escaped the fall of its a “persistent, resilient, rural level Many Iraqi parliamentarians Gregory Aftandilian is a lecturer fact that Iraq has so-called caliphate. US officials say of violence.” charged that the United States was in the Pardee School of Global endured many the number is 14,000-18,000. Additionally, a US Department disrespectful of Iraqi sovereignty Studies at Boston University and Regardless of the differences of Defence inspector general’s and that Iraqis had no desire to a former US State Department decades of bloodshed. over the numbers, US officials report noted that from April- see their country embroiled in a Middle East analyst. August 18, 2019 11 Spotlight ISIS

ISIS names heir to Baghdadi from Saddam’s officer corps

Sami Moubayed A stubborn nightmare. A 2014 file Beirut picture shows ISIS fighters efore the Eid al-Adha holi- waving flags days, the Islamic State’s during a military news agency Amaq an- parade along the nounced that Abdullah Qar- streets of Syria’s B northern Raqqa dash had been appointed successor to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. province. Since then, however, no state- (Reuters) ment has come from top command of the Islamic State (ISIS) to either challenge or confirm the story, prompting jihadism watchers and think-tanks to accept it as fact. Since its creation six years ago, Amaq has had a high degree of be- lievability, especially in Baghdadi- related news. Hours after the announcement was made, a source at the Iraqi In- terior Ministry said Baghdadi, aged 48, was in poor health, suffering from limb paralysis because of inju- ries from rocket shrapnel incurred during the battle in Hajin on the Eu- phrates River last December. His most recent public address was via a pre-recorded video re- leased in April, during which, con- trary to reports, he seemed healthy tional flag and coffers oozing with Saddam, especially in scaring peo- Qardash, like Baghdadi, is a for- the caliph needs to hail from the and in good shape. oil money. ple into submissiveness. He never mer inmate at Camp Bucca, a US Quraysh tribe of Mecca and the ca- Even if not severely injured, He would rather go down in his- hesitated to suppress dissent, chop- prison near the Iraq-Kuwait border. liphate can never be assumed by Baghdadi has good reason to name tory as the man who presided over ping off heads and filming the -ex This is where the men met after the an outsider. Shia Muslims are even a successor and to gradually disap- ISIS’s “golden era,” which began ecutions to extract maximal fear 2003 US invasion and where both stricter about the caliphate, saying pear from the public eye. ISIS, as we with his famous declaration of among his “citizens,” an act that were heavily indoctrinated by al- that only a member of Ahl al-Bayt knew it, is finished and nobody is statehood from a Mosul mosque Qardash will likely repeat, having Qaeda veterans. Their paths crossed — family of the Prophet — is eligible aware of that better than Baghdadi. five years ago, than a miserable per- been trained at the same brutal au- again after ISIS’s sweeping victory for the position. Gone are the approximately son hiding in a cave, trying to piece thoritarian school. in Mosul in 2014, when Qardash Baghdadi claimed eligibility on 50,000 fighters once under his di- the terrorist organisation back to- personally welcomed Baghdadi to both accounts, signing off all his of- rect command, governing a state gether; a seemingly impossible task. the city, offering him the oath of al- ficial statements as “Abu Bakr al- bestriding the deserts of Syria and The choice of Qardash (aka Abu Amaq’s statement said legiance. Baghdadi al-Qurashi al-Hassani.” Iraq, with 6 million inhabitants Omar) tells plenty about Baghdadi’s Qardash was marked to Also, like Baghdadi, Qardash is Qardash claims that he, too, is origi- spread across 90,000 sq.km. state of mind. For starters, Qardash succeed Baghdadi but only from an Islamic educational back- nally from Quraysh and descends Gone are the foreign fighters who is an Iraqi like Baghdadi, from the as commander of ISIS and ground, having studied at the Col- directly from the Prophet’s family. flocked to his fiefdom. The many city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul. This not as caliph of all Muslims. lege of Imam al-Adham Abu Hanifa The statement said Qardash was affiliates that swore allegiance to means Iraqis will continue to have al-Noumani in Mosul. This makes marked to succeed Baghdadi but him, stretching from Nigeria and the upper hand in ISIS’s future, Additionally, Qardash is close to him well-versed in Islamic history. only as commander of ISIS and not Egypt to Libya, Gaza and Europe, overpowering the many Syrian ji- the former Iraqi officer class, espe- More important than any of the as caliph of all Muslims. If he suc- are also no more. hadists who have been grappling cially those who know their way above is Qardash’s proclaimed ceeds in the first position, will Bagh- He will forever be remembered as with Baghdadi since 2014. around Saddam’s arms, storehouses family tree, which points to direct dadi go a step forward and bequeath the “founder” of the Islamic State in Qardash, too, was an officer in and secret underground networks, descent from Imam Hassan, the the caliphate to him, in addition to Raqqa, which once held the inter- the Iraqi Army under Saddam Hus- built to ward off an attack by Iran grandson of Prophet Mohammad. ISIS command? national community by its throat, sein and was trained in brutality in the 1980s. That network played This makes him eligible to assume enjoyed all the trappings of state- and ruthlessness by the former Iraqi nicely into the hands of al-Qaeda in the caliphate of Islam, just as Bagh- Sami Moubayed is a Syrian hood from a full-fledged army and president. 2003 and will certainly prove useful dadi claimed five years ago. historian and author of “Under the ruthless intelligence service to a na- Baghdadi learned plenty from to ISIS in 2019. Sunni jurisprudence states that Black Flag” (IB Tauris, 2015). Pentagon sees Iraq and Syria facing greater threat from ISIS, Iran proxies

Emily Przyborowski mately 1,000 US troops from Syria a publication of the US Military led to a resurgence of ISIS in both Academy’s Combating Terrorism Syria and Iraq. The Pentagon report Centre, Michael Knights, a senior Washington said that 14,000-18,000 ISIS mili- fellow at the Washington Institute tants are present in Iraq and Syria. for Near East Policy, wrote that the he death of a US Marine in The report noted: “Despite losing “main threat is Abu Mahdi al-Mu- Iraq serves as a reminder its territorial ‘caliphate,’ the Islamic handis and Kata’ib Hezbollah,” the that the war against the Is- State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) solidi- Iran-backed militant organisation T lamic State is not over, US fied its insurgent capabilities in Iraq that has become one of the most defence strategists said. The Pen- and was resurging in Syria.” powerful Iranian affiliates in the tagon’s task in Iraq is further com- The ISIS campaign of expanding region. plicated by the presence of pro-Iran throughout Syria and Iraq makes Muhandis, the group’s founder, proxies in the region. it difficult for dwindling troops to has a long history of working with US Marine Gunnery Sergeant combat. Defence Department Act- Iran-linked groups, including Hez- Scott Koppenhafer, 35, died August ing Inspector General Glenn Fine bollah and the Badr Corps. Muhan- 10 in northern Iraq during a mission stated in a memo accompanying dis has been associated with sev- targeting suspected Islamic State the report that “the reduction of US eral Hezbollah attacks, including (ISIS) members. forces has decreased the support the 1983 Kuwait Embassy bomb- In December, US President Don- available for Syrian partner forces ing, and previously served as the ald Trump proclaimed that ISIS at a time when their forces need leader of the Badr Corps. Muhandis had been defeated and that the more training and equipping to re- is sanctioned by the United States United States would be withdraw- spond to the ISIS resurgence.” and wanted by the Kuwaiti govern- ing all troops from Syria. Following Iraqi officials deny there has been ment. an outcry by lawmakers that ISIS any resurgence, claiming “the fig- Iran-backed groups have signifi- was not defeated, the White House ure announced by the Pentagon is cantly strengthened since the US retracted the full withdrawal in greatly exaggerated” and that the military pulled out of Iraq in 2011. February and said it would slowly number of ISIS members on the Their increase in funding is because withdraw troops and keep 200 on border is only a few dozen. of their access to government funds the ground. ISIS may not be the only group meant to combat ISIS and corrupt Resurgent threat. A member of the Kurdish security forces looking to take advantage of US money-making ventures. examines debris at the site of an ISIS-claimed car bombing in the disengagement in the region. The groups have expanded out- town of al-Qahtaniyah in the Hasakah province, August 7. (AFP) The combination of ISIS More than 50 Iran-linked militant side of Iraq and proliferate through- and Iranian proxies in Iraq organisations in Syria and Iraq out Syria because of the current and Syria is a particularly are said to be trying to step in the instability. In 2011, Kata’ib Hezbol- fundraising and training efforts. groups to rebuild. Fine stated that challenging issue because power vacuum in Iraq and Syria. lah had approximately 400 active The combination of ISIS and Ira- the resurgence of ISIS “could cause allocating funds to fight The groups’ encroachment asserts members in Iraq while today it nian proxies in Iraq and Syria is a US-backed forces in Syria to look ISIS acts as fodder to the greater Iranian influence in the maintains 7,500 fighters in Iraq and particularly challenging issue be- for ‘alternate partnerships and re- Iran-backed organisations. two countries. Many of the groups 2,500 fighters in Syria, Knights said. cause allocating funds to fight ISIS sources’ to replace the reduced US are battalions of the Iraqi Popu- The US withdrawal of troops from acts as fodder to the Iran-backed support.” Despite claims that ISIS had been lar Mobilisation Forces, which al- Iraq and the war with ISIS strength- organisations. defeated in December, a US Depart- lowed them to become active in ened the struggling groups. Their The withdrawal of US troops Emily Przyborowski is an ment of Defence report released in Syria during the war. actions on behalf of Iran in the Syri- from Syria has stalled but further Arab Weekly correspondent in August said the pull out of approxi- In a recent issue of CTC Sentinel, an war required larger recruitment, withdrawals might allow both Washington. 12 August 18, 2019 News & Analysis Lebanon Viewpoint Meeting at Baabda Palace ends Druze tensions

Sami Moubayed sions to the present administra- tion, by relinquishing one of his three cabinet seats to Arslan’s Beirut party, which went to Gharib as Refugee Affairs minister. he rival Druze leaders of It has been decided that the Lebanon — Walid Jum- Lebanese justice system will han- blatt and Talal Arslan dle the case and that any verdict T — were brought to a rap- would be referred to the cabinet prochement meeting at Baabda of ministers. Palace, attended by Lebanese Hariri took a surprisingly neu- President Michel Aoun, Prime tral stance throughout the con- Minister Saad Hariri and parlia- flict, fearing for his government ment Speaker Nabih Berri. and the delicate balance that it Much of the lobbying was car- managed to achieve last January. ried out by Berri, who enjoys ex- Aoun was less diplomatic, how- cellent relations with both the ever, having originally toyed with anti-Syrian camp, where Jum- the idea of imposing a judicial blatt stands, and the pro-Syrian council tailor-made to his liking Not airtight. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) and Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri speak one, known as the March 8 Alli- and that of Arslan, regardless of to the press following a meeting at the State Department in Washington, August 15. (AFP) ance, to which he belongs. Berri what the Jumblatt camp thought and Jumblatt go a very long way about it. back, when they were comrades- Jumblatt agreed to let his par- in-arms throughout the Lebanese tisans stand before court, as wit- Civil War. nesses only, however, rather than Hariri travels to Washington Thanks to Berri, the two sides “suspects,” insisting they were decided at the August 9 meeting innocent of what happened in to end gripping tension within Qabrshmoun. amid strained US-Lebanon ties the Druze community that was Speeding up the rapproche- triggered June 30 in the village ment for all sides was a high-tone of Qabrshmoun when the en- statement from the US Embassy — that Hezbollah is a legitimately own campaign for the presidency. tourage of Druze minister Saleh in Beirut calling for an “inde- elected political party — no longer For Hariri to save himself a seat Gharib was attacked, reportedly pendent” and “un-politicised” holds water. For two decades, at the post-deal table, he is better by Jumblatt loyalists, while pass- judicial process, which many Makram Rabah the Lebanese have stood by and off taking a firmer stance against ing through Mount Lebanon. Lebanese read as a call in favour watched Hezbollah transform from Hezbollah and refusing to grant all Two of Gharib’s bodyguards of Jumblatt. ending a child to college a small local militia into one of its requests, including key cabinet were killed, causing an uproar in ranks as one of the most the main pillars of Iran’s Islamic portfolios and security posts. the Democratic Party to which he memorable — and Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Perhaps the most dangerous item belongs and which is headed by Lebanese citizens are emotional — moments spear of its expansionist project. Hariri packed for his Washington Arslan. To avoid a confrontation asking what the highly in a parent’s life, Hariri’s conciliatory attitude with trip was his firm sense of delusion between the Druze ministers, polarised Lebanese system marking an important Hezbollah stems from personal and and entitlement. This has led Hariri refused to call his cabinet had done to prevent the Sachievement for the student and political calculations. him to falsely believe that the US into session for more than one reoccurrence of such a bringing both into a new stage of First, Hariri’s many unwise government and the international month. bloody incident and where their lives. business and political decisions community would stick by One day after the Baabda rap- it leaves the families of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad over the last few years and his Lebanon at any cost and that prochement, however, the Hariri two victims killed at Hariri recently achieved this shaky relationship with the Saudi Hezbollah’s containment does cabinet convened and Aoun had Qabrshmoun. milestone when he travelled administration have taken a toll not fall on the shoulders of the a one-on-one with Gharib, who to Washington to see his only on his own finances, forcing him Lebanese state but is contingent on agreed to drop mention of the The veteran Druze leader, who daughter, Loulwa, off to school to look for different sources of a regional settlement. Qabrshmoun incident and let the has been at the apex of Lebanese ahead of the fall semester. income. While the Trump administration Lebanese justice system handle politics since the late 1970s, has However, it was not only his and the US Congress will resume it. He had previously insisted the walked a fine line between his po- personal life that drew Hariri assisting the Lebanese Armed incident was a targeted assassina- sition on Syrian tutelage in Leba- to the United States. He also The Trump Forces and various security tion against him personally, car- non and his cordial relations with used the occasion to meet with agencies, they will also sanction ried out at Jumblatt’s orders. Hezbollah. That, too, facilitated senior members of the Trump administration did more Hezbollah members and In theory, all sides seem to have the rapprochement and gave Ber- administration and discuss not receive Hariri with connected financial institutions, downplayed their escalation after ri wide room to manoeuvre. Lebanon’s precarious economic the same level of which are projected to evolve Qabrshmoun. Arslan had origi- Jumblatt had insisted that a rep- and political situation vis-a-vis the to include Hezbollah’s Christian nally fumed “this will not pass,” resentative from Hezbollah attend United States’ showdown with Iran sympathy, instead allies such as Bassil and his fellow threatening to take up arms to the Baabda rapprochement, hop- and its regional proxies, specifically expressing alarm over travellers. protect his followers should the ing to make the deal as cohesive as Hezbollah. Despite Hariri’s many attempts state fail to do so. He resorted to possible and make space for com- On his latest previous visit to the the prime minister’s to project a successful trip to none of that, however, agreeing mon ground with Hezbollah. White House, in July 2017, Hariri failure to curb Washington, there are indications to attend the reconciliation meet- Although its officials refused to was in a much better position, Hezbollah’s influence. that he still refuses to accept ing with no preconditions. attend the meeting, claiming they politically speaking. At the time, reality and honour his position Arslan, who enjoys excellent were not directly involved in the his meeting with US President With no alternative financial as Lebanon’s sovereign prime relations with Syria, Iran and Qabrshmoun conflict, Hezbol- Donald Trump was considered a resources and Iran’s victory after minister. Hezbollah, had insisted on the lah blessed the agreement and is sign of US support for Lebanon’s the nuclear deal reached under US Hariri’s attempt to buy time and case being referred to a judicial toying with a broader rapproche- government, an implication that President Barack Obama, Hariri profit from Lebanon’s anarchy and council, headed by Justice Min- ment with Jumblatt, through ar- the United States accepted the deal became convinced that it was futile predicaments has seemingly run ister Albert Sarhan, a member ranging a meeting between some between Hariri and Hezbollah’s and personally counterproductive its course. The growing wave of of the Hezbollah-affiliated Free of their senior officials and mem- main Christian ally, Lebanese to oppose Iran and its local US sanctions against Hezbollah Patriotic Movement of Aoun and bers of Jumblatt’s Progressive So- President Michel Aoun. Lebanese allies. Therefore, he and their fronts will sooner or later his son-in-law, Foreign Minister cialist Party. However, this time the Trump thought, it was wise for him to wait arrive at Hariri’s own doorstep. Gebran Bassil. Now that the ranking politi- administration did not receive out the storm until Trump reaches As Hariri bids goodbye to his Jumblatt’s allies — never on cians have been accommodated Hariri with the same level of a new deal with Iran, one that daughter as she embarks on her good terms with the Aounists — and brought together for one sympathy, instead expressing alarm would make all this confrontational college studies, he should remind argued that such a council would souvenir photo at Baabda Pal- over the prime minister’s failure to rhetoric obsolete. himself of a wise expression that not be impartial, demanding in- ace, Lebanese citizens are asking curb Hezbollah’s influence. While conceptually true, Hariri’s parents often tell their children: stead referral to the Internal Se- what the highly polarised Leba- As it stands, the United States approach is deeply flawed. Not only One is known by the company he curity Forces, which are allied nese system had done to prevent and its Gulf allies are frustrated has his soft stance on Hezbollah keeps. with Hariri. the reoccurrence of such a bloody with Hariri’s commitment to a and its allies hurt Lebanon, it has As for Lebanon, its real friends Jumblatt threatened that his incident and where it leaves the Faustian deal with Aoun and also led the US administration and are not found among Iran’s agents two ministers would boycott any families of the two victims killed his over-ambitious son-in-law, its Gulf allies, mainly Saudi Arabia, but in the United States and the cabinet meeting and even resign at Qabrshmoun. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran to give up on Lebanon and its Arab world, which have, time and from their posts should the case Coinciding with the photo at Bassil. Time and again, Hariri has cooperating hostage government. again, stood by the country in be referred to the Aounist judicial Baabda, another photograph gone out of his way to defend While the Iran-Trump deal is sickness and health. council. He controls the educa- went viral on social media — the Hezbollah’s regional expansionist not totally far-fetched — although tion and industry portfolios. daughter of one of the body- projects, which only invite still unexpected — Hariri’s lack of Makram Rabah is a lecturer at A Jumblatt walkout on the guards killed kissing a poster of additional sanctions and cause political acumen has taken him the American University of Beirut Hariri government would bring it her dead father. Underneath was Lebanon’s fragile economy to from a partner in the presidential and author of “A Campus at War: down automatically, jeopardising the caption: “It’s over, Papa. They become further alienated. settlement to ancillary to Bassil, Student Politics at the American the entire state. Jumblatt insisted have reconciled — Yalla, come Hariri’s somewhat simple pretext who is clearly ramping up for his University of Beirut, 1967-1975.” he has given his share of conces- back!” August 18, 2019 13 News & Analysis Palestine Israel Israel bars entry to US congresswomen, risks showdown with Democrats

The Arab Weekly staff Also unprecedented was the call by Trump on Israeli leaders to bar the two Democratic congresswomen London/ Washington from entering the country. “It would show great weakness if Israel allowed fter announcing its decision Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit,” to bar two outspoken US Mus- Trump wrote on Twitter. lim congresswomen from vis- “They hate Israel & all Jewish peo- A iting the occupied West Bank ple, & there is nothing that can be said and East Jerusalem, Israel seemed or done to change their minds. Min- Unprecedented. US Representative Ilhan Omar (R) speaks as US Representative Rashida Tlaib listens to be heading towards a confronta- nesota and Michigan will have a hard during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, last July. (AP) tion with US Democratic lawmakers a time putting them back in office. They month before Israeli elections. are a disgrace!” Experts saw the move to bar US The two Muslim members of Con- objected to barring the two Democrats Israeli leaders seemed aware of the er actors from around the world.” Representatives Rashida Tlaib of gress, elected in 2018, are outspoken from entering Israel. David Harris, possible repercussions of their deci- The decision to bar the congress- Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minne- critics of Israel’s treatment of the Pal- CEO of the American Jewish Com- sion on their relations with the US women could sharpen divisions sota from entering Israel as unprece- estinians. They have been at the cen- mittee, expressed the belief that “the Congress and quickly engaged in dam- among US Democrats over Israel dented and as marking a deep foray by tre of a US debate fuelled in July when costs in the US of barring the entry of age control. Deri, in a statement, said: ahead of the 2020 elections. Israel into the United States’ bitterly Trump called on four progressive two members of Congress may prove “The state of Israel respects the Amer- US Senator Chuck Schumer, the polarised politics. congresswomen, including Tlaib and even higher than the alternative.” ican Congress, in the framework of the Democratic leader in the Senate and Analysts said US President Donald Omar, to “go back” to the countries Politicians and former diplomats close alliance between the two coun- stalwart defender of Israel in Con- Trump was appealing to his base of they came from instead of “loudly and also spoke out against barring the con- tries, but it’s unacceptable to allow the gress, described Israel’s decision as “a conservative voters with staunchly viciously telling the people of the Unit- gresswomen from visiting. entrance to the country of those who sign of weakness, not strength.” pro-Israel stances. Trump’s aides, ed States” how to run the government. Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan wish to harm the state of Israel, espe- “No democratic society should fear who spoke on condition of anonym- Both are US citizens. Tlaib was born Shapiro wrote on Twitter that the deci- cially during their visit.” an open debate,” he posted on Twit- ity, told the Associated Press: “Trump in the United States after her fam- sion to bar their entry “harms Israel’s Arthur Lenk, a former Israeli ambas- ter. “Many strong supporters of Israel is banking that his loud support for ily immigrated from the West Bank. standing in the US, boosts BDS.” sador to South Africa, said barring Omar will be deeply disappointed in this de- Israel will attract more Jewish and Omar, a native of Somalia, has lived all Israeli lawmaker Ayman Odeh, and Tlaib “would be sinking us deeper cision, which the Israeli government evangelical Christian supporters.” her adult life in Minnesota. leader of the Joint List of Arab parties, into US domestic political quagmire.” should reverse.” The move was also a sharp escala- The two are members of the so- wrote that “Israel has always banned Israel often hosts delegations of US Republicans have amplified the tion of Israel’s campaign against the called “Squad” left-wing Democrats, Palestinians from their land and sepa- representatives and senators, who views of left-wing Democrats to pre- Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions along with Representatives Alexan- rated us from other Palestinians but usually meet with senior Israeli offi- sent the party as deeply divided and at (BDS) movement and its supporters dria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and this time the Palestinian is a US con- cials as well as Palestinian officials in odds with Israel. Democratic leaders on the American left. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. gresswoman.” the occupied West Bank. reiterated the party’s strong support Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri In a statement August 15, Omar said: Israel has sought to combat the BDS MIFTAH, the Palestinian organisa- for Israel, in part to protect representa- issued a statement August 15 saying “The irony of the ‘only democracy’ in movement, which advocates boycotts, tion that was to host Tlaib and Omar tives from more conservative districts. that, after consultations with Israeli the Middle East making such a deci- divestment and sanctions against Is- in the West Bank, issued a statement In July, the Democratic-led House Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sion is that it is both an insult to demo- raeli businesses, universities and cul- saying that Israel’s decision was “an of Representatives voted overwhelm- and other senior Israeli officials, he cratic values and a chilling response to tural institutions. The country passed affront to the American people and ingly in favour of a resolution against decided not to allow Tlaib and Omar a visit by government officials from an a law permitting a ban on entry to ac- their representatives” and “an assault the BDS movement. to enter because of “their boycott ac- allied nation.” tivists who “knowingly issue a call for on the Palestinian people’s right to tivities against Israel.” American Jewish organisations had boycotting Israel.” reach out to decision-makers and oth- (With news agencies.) Viewpoint Is Israel transforming the Palestinian issue into religious conflict?

his year’s Eid al-Adha to the second day, to assemble as also known as the Wailing Wall, as Israel’s aim is to end Jordan’s role feast, the festival of many Muslims as possible to foil the main prayer site for followers of and spiritual sovereignty on the sacrifice, saw the the settlers’ attempts to storm the the Jewish faith. The structure forms sacred sites. Yousef Alhelou largest Israeli settlers’ mosque. part of a larger wall that surrounds There are several factors that attempt to storm The systematic provocations by the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa give Israel a free hand to change the al-Aqsa Mosque since hundreds of heavily armed settlers Mosque. status of Jerusalem. T2003. More than 1,500 Jewish and Israeli occupation forces have Jews and Muslims have frequently First: the increased pace of settlers gathered in the alleyways not stopped since the occupation of disputed control of the wall and, normalisation between Israel and leading to the gates of the sacred East Jerusalem in 1967. Extremist often, access to it. some Arab countries on both the mosque and were protected by Jewish organisations, known “It is not possible to impose facts official and popular levels. Israeli soldiers. widely as Temple Mount groups, by force or by changing the status Second: the weakening of the To counter this, about 100,000 regularly organise massive visits quo. Israel has to remember that Palestinian Authority under pressure Palestinian Jerusalemites, including and encourage raids on al-Aqsa. the second intifada was erupted of US sanctions due to its rejection those who live in Israel — the Green The groups’ goal is to build the after Ariel Sharon’s desecration of of US President Donald Trump’s Line areas of 1948 — as well as Third Jewish Temple on the Temple al-Aqsa Mosque in September 2000,” decisions concerning Jerusalem and residents from the occupied West Mount in Jerusalem and reinstitute said Basim Naeem, a member of his so-called peace process. Bank gathered to protect the shrine, the practice of ritual sacrifice. the international relations office of Third: Trump’s supportive stance one of Islam’s holiest sites. Ahmed Saeed al-Tamimi, a Hamas. towards Israeli Prime Minister Soon after the Eid prayer finished, member of the Palestine Liberation Director-General of the Jerusalem Binyamin Netanyahu’s policies. dozens of Muslims worshippers Organisation’s executive committee International Foundation Yasin Fourth: Israeli politicians and were injured by rubber bullets and and head of the Human Rights Hammoud said Palestinian right-wing movements’ use of attacks with batons and tear gas and Civil Society Department, said Jerusalemites won the battle of provocations to serve their election while some were arrested when the such provocations will drag the consciousness by defending al-Aqsa campaigns. occupation forces tried to empty the region into violence because of the and repelling the settler storming Fifth: the turmoil destabilising the courtyards of the compound of what tensions that pervade the occupied attempt. Arab world. Israel refers to as the Temple Mount, Palestinian territories and continued Light condemnations were Sixth: the rise of Christian Zionism to allow Jewish settlers to pray at the pressure of the Israeli occupation expressed, with the Arab parliament religious rhetoric, as followers of Islamic site. and settlers. stating its rejection of repeated this trend say the gathering of the The Muslim feast day coincided Israel is fuelling religious factors attacks and stressing that storming Jews in Israel is a prerequisite for with the Jewish fasting holiday for conflict. Tensions in Jerusalem of al-Aqsa courtyards on the first day the second coming of Jesus and that Tisha B’av, the saddest day on have increased in recent years. The of Eid was a provocative act. Christians should actively support a the Jewish calendar, which Jews Trump administration recognised “We hold the Israeli government Jewish return to the land of Israel. say marks the destruction of the Jerusalem as the capital of Israel responsible for such attacks and Palestinians stress that their two biblical-era temples that once and has given Tel Aviv a free hand to its consequences. We call on struggle is only political and aims to existed in Jerusalem Judaise the city, wipe away its Arab the international community end Israel’s military occupation and However, no trace has been identity, change its demographics to intervene immediately and has never been or will be a conflict discovered under al-Aqsa Mosque. through house demolitions, take legal and humanitarian against Judaism. Endless excavation and historical evictions and revoking the residency responsibility to face these repeated If support for and solidarity with projects underneath the Islamic of its Palestinian residents while Israeli attacks,” said Arab parliament the Palestinian people continue, it is Palestinians stress site for the past 52 years have not making life for Palestinians Speaker Masha’al al-Salmi. not because Palestinians are Muslim uncovered any trace of the so-called miserable to force them to leave and Jordan, which has a historical role or Christian but because they have a that their struggle is Solomon’s Temple. abandon their properties. in administrating al-Aqsa Mosque, just cause. only political and The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, The site has long been a flashpoint also condemned the provocations. It The question is: Does Israel aims to end Israel’s known as Islamic Religious for Israeli-Palestinian violence. has had custodianship of Jerusalem think it has something to gain by Endowments, issued a fatwa Israel controls who enters the site holy sites, both Muslim and transforming the 7-decade old military occupation to delay the morning prayer of and has attempted many times Christian, since 1967. Intermittent political conflict into a religious and has never been or Eid al-Adha one hour to 7.30am, to change its status to give Jews violence at the Temple Mount confrontation? temporarily closed the mosques frequent access to visit and pray at between Israelis and Palestinians will be a conflict surrounding the holy site and al-Shareef Islamic compound. This evolves into diplomatic disputes Yousef Alhelou is a Palestinian against Judaism. postponed the sacrifice of animals is despite having the Western Wall, between Israel and Jordan. Part of journalist living in London. 14 August 18, 2019 News & Analysis Turkey 20 years after deadly earthquake, Turkey is unprepared for expected new shock

Thomas Seibert and where his brother died, he said. “The same thing will happen again,” Ozkan said. “It’s not the Golcuk earthquake that kills, buildings kill.” wenty years ago, Osman Some people in Golcuk said they Ozkan saw dozens of his were not afraid of a new catastro- relatives die in one of Tur- phe because they were convinced T key’s deadliest natural dis- that the tectonic fault lines had asters. He said he is concerned that spent their energy in 1999 and disaster could strike again. needed time to build up the tension Ozkan, 52, runs a small store sell- again. Energy “has exhausted itself ing cigarettes and lottery tickets here,” said Yunus Usta, an 80-year- in Golcuk, a city of 160,000 on the old pensioner. “Nothing will hap- Gulf of Izmit, approximately 100km pen for at least a hundred years.” south-east of Istanbul. Golcuk was However, scientists monitoring only a few kilometres from the tectonic activity say there is no epicentre of a 7.4-magnitude earth- way to predict when and where an quake that flattened the city and earthquake will strike. A branch of killed at least 17,000 people in the the North Anatolian Fault runs un- early hours of August 17, 1999. der the Sea of Marmara, a few kilo- “I was lucky because I live half- metres south of Istanbul. way up the hill and my house “There are fault lines. There is was not affected,” Ozkan said. Hs movement. There are the quakes brother, sister-in-law and their in history. There is energy build- two young children died that night ing up, which will come out,” Haluk along with thousands of other peo- Ozener, director of the Kandilli Ob- ple, he said. servatory and Earthquake Research “Their house was right on the Centre in Istanbul, told the Hurriyet water and collapsed. It took us nine newspaper. “I hope the earthquake days to get the bodies out,” Ozkan will wait until we are ready.” Can happen anytime. Minor damage from an earthquake is seen on a street in Bozkurt, in Denizli said. He lost 29 relatives in the Istanbul is clearly not ready. province, western Turkey, August 8. (AP) quake, he added. A major quake under the Sea of Experts say the reasons for the Marmara near Istanbul could kill up 1999 earthquake — tectonic activ- to 30,000 people, Murat Nurlu, the Some buildings in Istanbul are dogan said he was “scared” by the cy lanes for fire trucks and ambu- ity along the North Anatolian Fault head of the earthquake department dangerous even without the shock prospect of a big earthquake hitting lances in case of a natural disaster near Golcuk, where the Anatolian of Turkey’s Disaster and Emergen- from a fault line. Last February, an Istanbul. but many of the streets are routine- Plate presses west and rubs along cy Management Authority (AFAD), apartment block in the city’s Asian Binali Yildirim, a former prime ly blocked by parked cars anyway. the Eurasian Plate — could trigger said last year. AFAD is expecting part collapsed, killing 21 people. minister who unsuccessfully ran Apart from the immediate disas- a new devastating shock. It could 150,000 homeless people after Three floors of the eight-storey for mayor of Istanbul this spring, ter relief, feeding a city of 15 million strike the region of Golcuk or even such an event. The expected quake building had been built illegally but said during the campaign that up people after an earthquake would Istanbul, a city of 15 million people. could trigger a tsunami, threaten- owners of the property were able to to 50,000 buildings in Istanbul had be a major challenge. AFAD recom- In 1939, an earthquake on the North ing buildings along the Sea of Mar- register it under an amnesty law for to be made earthquake safe. Yildi- mended Istanbulites should stock Anatolian Fault in Erzincan in east- mara and along the Bosporus. illegal construction that resulted in rim added that some districts of the food for 72 hours and should pack ern Turkey killed more than 30,000 More than half of Turkey’s build- billions of dollars of revenue for the megacity lacked free spaces, such an “earthquake bag” containing people. ing stock — 13 million buildings — government. as parks, that could serve as venues water, canned food, blankets, first In Golcuk, important lessons contravene housing regulations, The Istanbul section of Turkey’s for survivors to receive emergency aid equipment and a transistor ra- from the 1999 quake, which dam- Environment and Urbanisation Chamber of Construction Engi- aid. dio. aged almost 300,000 buildings and Ministry data indicate, and many neers said in a recent report that up A strong earthquake could rup- “An earthquake can happen any- left 500,000 people homeless, have Istanbul residents worry about to 10 million of Istanbul’s 15 million ture power lines and break natu- time,” Candas Tolga Isik, a column- been ignored, Ozkan said. New damage from a major earthquake. people lived in buildings that were ral gas pipelines, leading to power ist for the Posta newspaper, wrote houses were built along the shore- The Golcuk earthquake of 1999 not earthquake safe. blackouts and fires. Some streets in earlier this month, “and afterward? line in the same area where dozens killed hundreds of people in outer Following the building collapse, Istanbul have no-parking orders be- After the Istanbul quake, the dead of apartment blocks were destroyed suburbs of Istanbul, 100km away. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Er- cause they are marked as emergen- will count themselves lucky.” Turkey’s war on signs reflects intolerance of Syrian refugees Constanze Letsch has not been handled well by the had been inspected to ensure they rules discriminate. how the AKP government has been Justice and Development Party complied with the rule that 75% of “The move against Arabic shop using the plight of Syrian refugees (AKP) government. A report pub- the shop signage should be written signs was too hasty,” said writer to garner political support, accus- Istanbul lished August 10 at the behest of in Turkish, a rule announced June Hayati Inanc. “Istanbul is a cosmo- ing them of turning on the refugees the right-wing Nationalist Move- 15 by the Interior Ministry. politan city where people of many by “fanning the flames of controlled mid flagging support and ment Party stated that almost 90% Data published by the Ministry different backgrounds live. There hate.” a worsening economic of Turks polled said they wanted of Trade indicate that more than are hundreds of thousands of peo- crisis, the Turkish Justice Syrians to return to Syria. 15,000 businesses that involve at ple who live here who only know Since the new language A and Development Party Social media in Turkey abound least one Syrian business partner Arabic. Removing Arabic shop signs government has singled out an un- with rumours alleging that Syr- have opened in Turkey since the while shop signs in Russian and standards went into effect, likely enemy: Arabic-language shop ian shop owners have an unfair ad- war started in 2011. To circumvent English remain is a hasty move. municipal authorities have signs. vantage because they do not have legal restrictions on opening busi- “Our language feeds off Arabic, removed dozens of Arabic- Hundreds of the banners have to pay taxes and are exempt from nesses, shops, cafes and restau- Persian and Turkish. This decision language shop signs in cities been removed from high streets rules their Turkish competitors are rants are often owned by Turks on is not good for the Turkish lan- all over the country, in some across Turkey but critics warn the obliged to obey. paper but managed and operated guage. It will cause much conster- cases by force. move would deepen the growing The new signage rules on Syrian- by Syrians. nation and many complaints,” he hostility against Syrian refugees. run businesses are yet another ob- Syrian business owners could said. Tamer Yazar, a journalist who Turkish Interior Minister Suley- stacle for Syrians trying to carve out lose a large percentage of their cus- Others said the language ban was lives in Hatay, a province near the man Soylu announced that “of- a living for themselves and their tomers if they cannot advertise in not comprehensive enough. Ekrem Syrian border that hosts more than fending” Arabic shop signs across families in Turkey. The Istanbul Arabic because they often cater to Erdem, president of the Language 430,000 Syrian refugees, said the Turkey would be changed within governor’s office said in early July Arabic-speaking tourists or fellow and Literature Association Turkey, removal of Arabic-language shop six months. “There is a standard that hundreds of shops in three Syrians who do not speak Turkish. told the online publication memur- signs is another expression of grow- and that standard is Turkish. If they administrative districts of the city Some Turks, too, say the new lar.net: “There are regulations by ing intolerance towards Syrians. want to write small Arabic letters the Turkish Standard Institute con- Yazar said anti-Syrian sentiments underneath, they can. Everyone cerning shop signs on what shop and discrimination against Syrian will stick to the rules and the obli- signs in the public and private sec- refugees have been an issue almost gations, whatever they are,” he said tor should look like.” since the war in Syria started. Be- in July. “Steps have to be taken against cause of the fast-growing number Turkey shelters approximately all languages in this framework. It is of refugees in the country, the ini- 3.6 million Syrian refugees, making not right to take steps only against tial goodwill quickly turned sour. it the world’s largest refugee host- one language. We talk about Arabic “As soon as the promised return ing country. A small number of the shop signs but there is English eve- [of Syrians] to their home coun- refugees reside in state-run camps rywhere,” he added. try was delayed and when Syrians but most live in big cities. More Since the new language stand- started to live in many parts of than 500,000 Syrians live in Istan- ards went into effect, municipal Turkey in an uncontrolled manner, bul. authorities have removed dozens everything changed,” Yazar said via Critics said Turkey’s legislative of Arabic-language shop signs in WhatsApp. “The Arabic shop signs restrictions and Ankara’s failure to cities all over the country, in some are interpreted as another indica- implement a coherent and trans- cases by force. Local Turkish news- tor for the permanence of these un- parent refugee policy have made it papers regularly report on “Arabic wanted new residents. Syrians have difficult for Syrians to make a living shop sign operations” by municipal been the victims of Ankara’s failed in Turkey and increased anti-refu- police officers because of the “un- refugee policy. Now they are again gee sentiment. ease” of Turkish residents. left to pay the price for it.” Voters across the political spec- Ertugrul Kurkcu, honorary presi- trum said the large Syrian popula- Casualty of intolerance. People walk in the Fatih district in dent of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Constanze Letsch is a contributor tion in Turkey was a problem that Istanbul. (AP) Democratic Party, harshly criticised to The Arab Weekly in Istanbul. August 18, 2019 15 Debate Iran

Open letters underscore Iranians’ frustration with Khamenei’s rule

Ali Alfoneh

ne must truly cry tears of blood for the “ Islamic society, in which even the possibilityO of someone like me [seizing leadership in it] is raised.” Such were the words of , as the Assembly of Experts was trying to find newly deceased Grand Ayatollah ’s successor in its extraordinary June 4, 1989, session. Khamenei most probably uttered those words in a false show of modesty and did not hesitate in taking the mantle of leadership. Three decades after he was elected leader of the revolution, many Iranians agree with those statements and say the supreme leader should resign. Even more remarkably, members of the public increasingly express their opinion in open letters. There is a long history of open letters to political leaders in Iran. Some of the more known include the March 5, 1975, letter of political activist Mozzafar Baghai to the shah in which he criticised the regime’s abolishment of political parties and transformation of Iran into a single party system. A question of time. Iranian worshippers take part in prayers at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran with a poster of Iran’s Supreme Just as famous is the June 12, Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the background. (AFP) 1977, open letter of Iran Freedom Movement leaders Karim Sanjabi, Dariush Forouhar and Shapour viewpoints… and demonstrate itself. By hiding behind religious demanded Khamenei’s resignation protest. Indeed, there have been Bakhtiar, who urged the shah solidarity and strength. Based beliefs and instrumentally and change of the constitution. reports of the arrest of several to abandon his authoritarian on this theory, disorder and using religion… it has become The letter concluded: “We… signatories. rule and submit to the treason were publicly the main obstacle in the path are determined to continue our Open letters do not necessarily constitution. denounced in order of progress and freedom of the struggle in a civil and non-violent threaten the political order in The open letters to create an explicit Iranian nation.” To remedy the manner… until we achieve all our Iran and Khamenei is not likely served a specific position against the problems, the authors demanded demands.” to resign unless the Islamic purpose. In his As in the days of the shah.” a “peaceful transition from the The authors of the three letters Revolutionary Guard Corps “The Iranian shah, open letters This tradition Islamic Republic to a secular are a diverse group from different perceives him as a liability rather Revolution in perhaps herald the has been revived parliamentary democracy.” social strata and political beliefs than an asset. But, as in the Two Phases,” beginning of a new with open letters On June 11, 14 political but they appear to have reached a days of the shah, open letters , phase in the broad in recent years. activists published an open similar conclusion concerning the perhaps herald the beginning of Iran’s first popular opposition Some of the letter demanding Khamenei’s necessity of a regime change as a a new phase in the broad popular prime minister, against Iran. more remarkable resignation, arguing: “As precondition for change in Iran. opposition against Iran. explained: “We did missives include opposed to the first draft of the It is also remarkable that many Khamenei and Iran should fear everything in our the February 11, constitution, there is neither of the signatories, in particular people who speak truth to power power to express the 2018, letter in which 15 republicanism nor freedom [in of the latter two letters, are not because they no longer believe criticism overtly, openly political activists, based in Iran].” well-known political activists but they have anything to lose. and courageously, so that it Iran and abroad, stated: “The On August 11, a third open letter, appear to be ordinary citizens. no longer was individual or cumulative experiences of the past this time signed by 14 women, Just as important, most of them Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at limited to a single group. It should 40 years demonstrate inability all of whom live in Iran, was live in Iran and are aware of legal the Arab Gulf States Institute in encompass all social strata and of the Islamic Republic to reform released in which the signatories and other repercussions of their Washington. Why did Soleimani blow cover of an IRGC al-Quds Force arm?

had engagements in Syria. because of US sanctions against Iran budget and representatives of al-Quds Force are not clear but Ali Alfoneh Besides reconstructing Shia and a 50% devaluation of the Iranian Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah the decree he issued may shed shrines, those activities include rial. Ali Khamenei closely monitor its light into them: Al-Quds Force’s t is quite common that international fundraising for the Despite claims of the work. commander asked Pelarak to join intelligence agencies and reconstruction effort and servicing Reconstruction Organisation being The organisation has long been “the economics committee of the special operations forces use Iranian pilgrims. Iraqi officials a non-governmental organisation, suspected of being a cover for [Quds] Force to neutralise the front organisations to provide interviewed by IRNA said the there are many indications that al-Quds Force. Hassan Pelarak, sanctions.” cover for their covert agents number of Iranian pilgrims to Iraq it is a governmental entity. The the first director of the It is not known to what and actions. Those agencies totalled 3.5 million by 2018. That Reconstruction Organisation organisation, is a native extent al-Quds Force is Iopenly admit their relationship number has dramatically declined appears on the country’s annual of Kerman and a engaged in bypassing with the covers is less common if veteran of the 41st Despite claims the US sanctions to not unprecedented. Sarallah Division of the Reconstruction help Iran’s economy This is exactly what happened of the IRGC. So is Organisation being a and openly July 25. The government-controlled Soleimani, who non-governmental declaring such Iranian media reported Major- was commander of organisation, there are intentions hardly General Qassem Soleimani, chief the division during many indications that enhances such commander of extraterritorial the war with Iraq. it is a governmental schemes. However, operations al-Quds Force of the The Soleimani may hope Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Reconstruction entity. the declarations alone (IRGC), appointed a new director for Organisation would will further endear him the Reconstruction Organisation of be an obvious cover for and al-Quds Force to the Holy Shrines in Iraq. al-Quds Force, which can Iranian public. The questions are what the exact use the cover of pilgrim and This approach is not free role of this organisation is and why construction materials logistics of risk. Rather than perceiving Soleimani disclosed the relationship to transport men and materiel from Soleimani and al-Quds Force as between al-Quds Force and its cover. Iran to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. saviours, the Iranian public may just Its website states that the Those suspicions were proven as well question the wisdom of Iran Reconstruction Organisation right when Soleimani, on July 25, using scarce resources in Iraq, Syria was established as a “non- appointed Pelarak his “special and Lebanon rather than helping governmental” and “non-profit” assistant” and “adviser to the Quds needy Iranians. entity in 2003, which coincides Force commander” and replaced Worse, the Iranian public may with the US-led invasion of Iraq. him with Mohammad Jalal-Maab, blame the regime in Tehran The website discloses that, apart Unclear motives. Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani (C), another native of Kerman. and al-Quds Force for economic from activities in Balad, Karbala, commander of al-Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Soleimani’s motives for disclosing hardships, rather than the Trump Kazimiyah, Musayib, Najaf and Corps (IRGC), attends a graduation ceremony of IRGC officers in the relationship between the administration and its maximum Samarra in Iraq, the organisation has Tehran. (AP) Reconstruction Organisation and pressure campaign against Iran. 16 August 18, 2019 News & Analysis East West Europe sides with UK over tanker row but shows no appetite for showdown with Iran

Sabahat Khan measure by the European Union after Iran provided written assur- ances to the United Kingdom that Dubai the vessel’s cargo would not be dis- patched to Syria. s US-Iran tensions esca- Europeans remain critical more lated, so have European widely of Iran’s regional activities efforts to salvage the Iran and strategy but are wary of being A nuclear accord, known as pulled into a standoff with little Joint Comprehensive Plan of Ac- space for manoeuvre, which they tion, from collapse. see as Washington’s making. Two European diplomacy played a weeks ago, German Foreign Minis- pivotal role in the nuclear agree- ter Heiko Maas recharacterised the ment materialising in 2015 but US approach to Iran as “maximum those efforts have been under- tension” rather than “maximum mined by regional geopolitics and pressure.” competition involving Iran. Berlin has effectively rejected The European position on the calls from its British and US allies to Iran crisis has come under increas- contribute a more substantial role ing scrutiny since the seizure of in the region. Far from the Europe- the British-flagged Stena Impero, an-led naval mission sought by the which remains impounded, by United Kingdom coming together, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard has decided against join- Corps in the Strait of Hormuz in ing even the US-led naval task July. force despite a formal request from That incident was a response by Washington. Tehran to British forces seizing the Underlying differences between Iranian oil tanker Grace I off the key Western powers will come as coast of Gibraltar for allegedly vio- some relief to the Iranian leader- lating EU sanctions against Damas- ship, which was facing the prospect cus. of serious international isolation Diplomatic manoeuvres. Iranian Foreign Minister (R) meets with Emmanuel Iran has continued its targeted after the United States initiated a Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French president, in Tehran, July 10. (AFP) harassment of British commercial campaign of unprecedented sanc- and military vessels in Gulf waters. tions against key officials, oil trade Ruling out a quid pro quo exchange and nuclear activities in Iran. has been frustrated by Europe’s France, on the other hand, which to cater to Iranian oil exports that of the vessels, the United Kingdom France has been stepping up its lack of support as it attempts to rein has historically sought to preserve have been crippled by US sanc- reinforced its naval deployments efforts to get the United States and in Iran’s regional activities. its independence from US primacy tions and if it will be opened up to and spearheaded efforts to form a Iran to avoid further escalation and However, Francois Nicoullaud, a and which vehemently opposed the other countries, such as Russia and European-led task force in the Gulf move towards some form of talks. former French ambassador to Iran, US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, has China. to protect freedom of navigation. French President Emmanuel Ma- said Europe wants to avoid becom- been frustrated by Washington’s INSTEX is without a chief execu- The logic to a European-led naval cron sent Emmanuel Bonne, a key ing “trapped” into the standoff with strategy against Iran that has cre- tive after Bernd Erbel, a former Ger- mission is that Tehran would be far adviser, to Tehran, received Iranian Iran in the way the United King- ated an explosive environment. man ambassador to Iran, withdrew more reluctant to harass a Europe- Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Ab- dom may have already, preferring Europe has thrown its weight be- following comments sympathising an coalition, given its disinclination bas Araghchi in Paris and reported- to craft a uniquely European ini- hind convincing Iran to reverse its with Iran and criticising Israel. to the “maximum pressure” ap- ly has had lengthy discussions with tiative. It is a sentiment echoed in recent breaches of the Iran nuclear European policymakers will be proach being pursued by the United Iranian President Hassan Rohani. Germany by Maas, who suggested deal and to recommit to the accord. seeking to stay out of the firing States against Iran. US President Donald Trump criti- Europe’s “efforts in the region must In a major breakthrough two line and reinforce their credibility While European allies have sided cised Macron for sending “mixed be recognisably European.” weeks ago, the EU payment sys- as mediators, primarily with Iran, with the United Kingdom against signals” to Iran and supposedly Germany and France, Europe’s tem designed to enable European to the crisis but the tightrope walk Iran’s seizure of the Steno Impero representing the United States in its heavyweight powers, have tradi- businesses to conduct non-dollar this involves comes with pitfalls — as well as any other threat from talks with Iranian officials. tionally shaped the European Un- trade with Iran without breaking US and the time to achieve progress is Iran to open-water navigation — the In an unusual rebuke, French ion’s approach to international is- sanctions, known as the Instrument closing. European appetite for a more direct Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian sues and crises. Post-WWII Germany in Support of Trade Exchanges military role is low. The Grace I was said France spoke “with total sover- has emphasised diplomacy and con- (INSTEX), completed its first trans- Sabahat Khan, based in Dubai, released by Gibraltarian authori- eignty” and would not seek permis- structivism in its international role actions. maintains a cross-disciplinary ties, against US advice, in what can sion from others for its diplomatic and activities, with a deep-rooted It is unclear what strategic effect focus in international security, be seen as a confidence-building efforts with Iran. The United States dislike of military options. INSTEX could have, if it will be able defence policy and strategic issues.

Viewpoint Russia’s naval cooperation with Iran complicates Western calculus

is an inland sea shared by reserves the right to counter volatile maritime zones because turning point in the relations of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, i t .” it could provide a counterweight Tehran and Moscow in the field Russia and Turkmenistan and is Two days later, on August 11, to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, of defence.” John C.K. Daly covered by a joint agreement Islamic Revolutionary Guard homeported in Bahrain. While Washington could between them prohibiting the Corps Navy Commander Rear- Further seeking additional counter the rising Iranian-Rus- presence of foreign military Admiral stated regional allies, Iranian President sian rapprochement by softening ttacks on tankers forces there. that the United States and Britain Hassan Rohani had telephone US policy towards Iran, returning plying the Strait of In contrast, the Strait of bore responsibility for an Israeli conversations with Turkish to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Hormuz, through Hormuz, connecting the Arabian presence in raising tensions in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Plan of Action nuclear agree- which 20% of the Gulf to the Arabian Sea and the the Arabian Gulf, warning: “Any Pakistani Prime Minister Imran ment, easing and eventually world’s oil tankers Indian Ocean, is an international kind of presence of the Zionist Khan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin lifting sanctions and fostering pass, have been waterway recognised under regime in the Arabian Gulf is Hamad al-Thani, assuring them Arab-Iranian reconciliation attributedA by the Trump maritime law as open to ships illegal as it may trigger war and that security in the Arabian Gulf across the Gulf, reducing ten- administration to Iranian naval from all nations. conflict in the region.” and the Gulf of Oman is a funda- sions and thereby limiting units, which is ratcheting up its In seeking to gather a naval Adding another level of mental foreign policy objective Russia’s ability to expand its already bellicose rhetoric coalition to deploy there, complexity to this rapidly of Iran. On the diplomatic front, regional presence, such a against Tehran as the Pentagon ostensibly to protect merchant evolving situation, unconfirmed Russia has sent UN Security moderate policy shift seems increases its military presence shipping, the US government is reports state that Russia, under Council members a draft docu- unlikely given the ascendancy of around Iran. “flying the flag” to increase the terms of its bilateral agree- ment regarding collective foreign policy hardliners in the In seeking potential allies to diplomatic pressure on Iran and ment, intends to use Iran’s security in the Arabian Gulf Trump administration. forestall possible Western naval to isolate it. The Trump adminis- Bandar-e-Bushehr and Chabahar aimed at “preventing armed In the interim, as Washington assaults, Iran is looking for tration is pressuring allies, ports as forward military bases conflicts.” prevaricates, support for Iran’s solidarity from another country including Germany, France, for warships and nuclear subma- It is an open secret in Washing- position grows. On August 14, under heavy sanctions from the Belgium, Norway, Japan, South rines, to be guarded by hundreds ton that many Trump administra- Iraq’s Alsumaria News reported West: Russia. Korea and Australia, to contrib- of special forces “military tion officials, led by national that the Iraqi government was Iranian Navy Commander ute maritime forces to this advisers.” security adviser John Bolton, are drafting a proposal for neigh- Rear-Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, coalition. The British govern- As maritime tensions intensify actively promoting regime bouring Arab countries to secure who was in St. Petersburg July 29 ment has announced that it was between Iran, the United States change in Iran, while Russian navigation in the Gulf and for Russia’s Navy Day commemo- formally joining the US Operation and Great Britain, the presence of President Vladimir Putin has prevent the entry of outside rations, noted that Russia and Sentinel maritime mission to Russian maritime forces there steadfastly maintained his military forces. Iran had signed a naval coopera- protect commercial shipping in would constitute a significant opposition to such Washington- Baghdad’s efforts underline tion agreement and that the two the Gulf. check on potential offensive inspired colour revolutions. that many Middle Eastern countries’ navies would have Upping the ante, Israel said it Western naval operations, Given US President Donald countries apparently prefer joint manoeuvres in the Arabian would join what the United providing Iran with a significant Trump’s closeness to the Russian regional efforts to resolve Gulf, a significant development States calls an effort to boost naval ally. president, it remains unclear conflict more than solutions given rising tensions there. security of navigation in the Gulf, While in the past the Russian whose advice Trump will imposed by foreign military This would not be the first leading Iran’s Foreign Ministry Navy has sent warships to the consider most closely when force, whatever Washington’s bilateral naval cooperation spokesman Abbas Mousavi to say Indian Ocean to participate in shaping his administration’s hawks might wish. between Iran and Russia. Begin- that Iran considers the possible anti-piracy operations off policies in one of the most ning in 2015 Iran and Russia have Israeli presence in the US-led Somalia, this planned deploy- volatile regions in the world. John C.K. Daly is a Washington- had joint naval drills in the coalition in the Gulf as a “clear ment represents a significant Regarding the July 29 agree- based specialist on Russian and Caspian. The Caspian, however, threat to its national security and development in one of the most ment, Khanzadi said: “This is a post-Soviet affairs. August 18, 2019 17 News & Analysis East West

Book Review How the West’s depiction of Prophet Mohammad has come a full circle

Yet by the 18th century, most “Mahomet der Welt” after the nent church clerics of his day, world. This had been made portrayals of Mohammad were latter’s victory at Ulm and they Mohammad was “detestable.” abundantly clear in 1989 when positive. In the late 16th century, discussed the Prophet’s life when Tolan explains that “many of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Francis Ghilès Reformist polemicists explained they met at Erfurt two years later. these authors were interested condemned Salman Rushdie to the spread of Islam by the Napoleon saw him as a role less in Islam and its Prophet than death for blasphemy. The author corruption of the established model — a brilliant general, orator in reading into Mohammad’s was well-informed about the long as Mohammad church, which led them to and leader and, as the author story lessons they could apply to history of Christian misrepresen- a heretic and an portray the Prophet of Islam as a notes, believed that “great their own preoccupations and tations of Mohammad but that cut imposter or a champion of reform. reputations are only made in the predicaments. Peter the Vener- little ice with the Iranian leader. reformer and a Mohammad is a “saint” only in Orient. Europe is too small.” able was anxious to reclaim Spain Today the anti-Islamic blogo- statesman? comparison with the pope, yet In the years that followed, from the Moors as he was to sphere draws on what the Middle In European Martin Luther introduces “a note Mohammad fascinated Victor combat heresy in Christendom. Ages said of Mohammad. History Wculture, the Prophet of Islam has, of relativism that marks an Hugo, Thomas Carlyle and others By 2011 the editor of Charlie has come full circle. The author, more often than not, been vilified important change in European “in large part because he allows Hebdo, heir to two centuries of however, hardly touches on these as a pagan idol. In the early discourse on Mohammad and these authors to explore themes strong French anti-clericalism, subjects; he feels more comfort- Middle Ages, Islam was portrayed Islam.” important in the romantic delighted in satirising religion. able in the company of intellectu- as a perversion of Christian Islam is viewed by some as one movement — genius, heroism, Catholicism might well have als. Yet his fascinating book is far teachings. Not merely a heresy “sect” among others. John Tolan devotion — outside the con- been their principal target but more topical than Tolan seems to but the sum of all heresies. Its writes in “Faces of Muhammad: straints of Christian history,” they were happy to ridicule Islam think. founder was said to be “the Western Perceptions of the Tolan says. and its Prophet. Islam today plays the role chosen disciple of the devil.” Prophet of Islam from the Middle Mohammad has worn many The editor vowed that the formerly given to Soviet Commu- A caricature of the Prophet, Ages to Today” that because they faces because he has acted as a mockery would not cease until nism as the principal rival and which accompanies a work by were “plagued by violence and mirror for those who wrote about “Islam had been rendered as threat to Western democracy and Peter the Venerable, a 12th-cen- religious strife at home, Europe- him. Their portrayals reveal more banal as Catholicism.” This, he civilisation. Such simplistic tury abbot of the Benedictine ans looked to the Ottoman about their own concerns, believed, was treating Muslims as schemas not only blind us to Abbey of Cluny in Burgundy Empire not only as a threatening particularly in the period of equals — the only problem was understanding the variety and — “Summa totius haeresis military power but also as a medieval Christendom, than the they, in French society, were not richness of Islamic cultures but Saracenorum” (“A summary of model of political unity and historical reality of the founder treated as equals. also serve as a convenient scape- the Entire Heresy of the Sara- stability and of tolerance for of Islam as Tolan explains in his Yet, as Tom Holland has noted, goat that helps us avoid looking cens”) — shows him as a siren, a religious diversity. fascinating book that sets aside if the editor of Charlie Hebdo critically at our own — European monstrous combination of the European Christian writers, the historical Mohammad and “was chiefly interested in the and American — responsibilities human and the bestial. His Protestant and Catholic, saw the Muslim portraits of God’s figure of Mohammad as a mirror for the inequality, injustice and purpose was to lure the unwary Turks as a double threat who messenger to focus on Moham- held up to his own preoccupa- violence in the world. to their doom. This was at a time could both conquer and seduce mad as European men have tions, then no longer is the mirror Today’s globalised context, when the assumption was that unwary European Christians. He depicted him over the centu- quite as distant as it once provoked by colonisation, the Saracens were like the Vikings adds: “Ottoman Istanbul was both ries. was.” decolonisation and immigration or the Magyars and calls were an enemy capital and a bustling Tolan The killing in 2015 of 12 of has brought negative European frequent to the faithful to join the cosmopolitan city. The Ottoman shows a Charlie Hebdo’s staff mem- perceptions of Islam and its Crusades. Emperors seemed to have found Moham- bers by two gunmen bent on Prophet to the attention of ways to tolerate religious diver- mad made revenge served to demon- Muslims and incites resentment, sity and peaceful coexistence that of gold, strate that “Western percep- reproach and violence. Europe, riven by religious strife, worshipped tions of the Prophet of Yet, as Tolan’s learned book Today’s globalised was unable to put in place.” in Jerusalem Islam” no longer exist in demonstrates: “Mohammad and In revolutionary England, both as the isolation from the Muslim Islam are integral elements of context, provoked by the Royalists and the Round- Antichrist: a European culture. Nothing can colonisation, heads drew parallels between man who alter that historical truth.” decolonisation and Oliver Cromwell and Mohammad, tricks his A look into complex John V. Tolan, “Faces of asking whether he was a rebel followers by conceptions. Muhammad: Western Percep- immigration has against legitimate authority or means of Cover of John tions of the Prophet of Islam from brought negative the bringer of a new and just assorted ruses Tolan’s “Faces of the Middle Ages to Today,” order. By the 18th century, and who is Muhammad: Western Princeton University Press, European perceptions Voltaire saw Mohammad as an lecherous and Perceptions of the 2019. of Islam and its archetypal religious fanatic only stained in blood. Prophet of Islam Prophet to the to claim him as an enemy of For Peter the from the Middle Francis Ghilès is an associate superstition a few years later. Venerable, one of Ages to Today.” fellow at the Barcelona Centre for attention of Muslims. Goethe hailed Napoleon as the most promi- International Affairs. Viewpoint New US immigration rules add brain drain pressures to religious bias

breathe free, The wretched refuse others appear in all shades of had to worry about the colour of public housing and food assis- of your teeming shore. Send white-brown-black and every- his skin? tance. They aim to reject applica- these, the homeless, tempest- thing in between. How would the And what about other great tions from people with illnesses Claude Salhani tossed to me, I lift my lamp Trump administration categorise Arab Americans? People such as that may cost heavily on the beside the golden door!” — those? And why should it in the Dr Michael DeBakey, of Lebanese state. mounted in bronze on the base of first place? origin and credited with saving The Trump administration has the Statue of Liberty will have to I can only wonder if my tens of thousands of lives? The said the immigration overhaul be rewritten. grandparents would have contribution of Arab Americans would ensure that new legal Those words, written by Emma been allowed to to the advancement of the arts residents carry their own weight, Lazarus as “The New Colossus,” migrate to and sciences in the United States without prejudice or favour. obviously do not agree with America if has been tremendous. Yet the new rule for weeding Trump’s vision of who should be Cuccinelli was Overall, the Trump immigra- out those who might be a drain on admitted to immigrate to the around calling tion plan seems to cater not just taxpayers will almost certainly ith the Trump United States. the shots when to white Europeans but to the disadvantage poor people from administration If Trump gets his way, a new they arrived on rich and well-educated elites. Latin America, Africa and parts of looking at ethnic version would probably include US shores. The poor, dark-skinned masses Asia. It will drain developing and categorisation as something along these lines: Would Khalil need not apply, it seems. emerging countries, including it redraws lines “Keep your poor at home. Give Gibran, who wrote The new rule — pushed by those of the Middle East and of ethnicity for me your immigrant but only some of his best the White House adviser North Africa, of elites they need Wits immigration standards, favour- those who have bank accounts poetry in the Stephen Miller as a critical to break the vicious circle of ing white Europeans over other and who will not prove to be a United States, piece of Trump’s poverty and hopelessness. races, Arabs wishing to achieve burden on the state. Those who have America First The United States is bucking a the American dream may have to will be able to sustain themselves immigration trend in the developed West as it be creative regarding their ethnic financially.” agenda — aims closes its doors to all forms of origins. Trump is particularly targeting to reshape the mass migration while trying to In the past, it did not matter as Latinos and among those he is immigrant draw educated elites from poorer much but in view of US President narrowing his target on Mexi- community. parts of the world. Donald Trump’s immigration cans. He says those among them Its backers The talented few will be policy, as explained by Ken trying to enter the United States want fewer increasingly encouraged to Cuccinelli, acting director of US are criminals, drug dealers and poor people emigrate to the United States and Citizenship and Immigration rapists. who might require Europe. It does not matter if the Services, being of an ethnic stock Arabs in the United States discontent of Arab elites is the seems to matter to those who will henceforth have an result of inadequate policies decide who should be admitted to added issue to worry about: and cataclysmic events in the United States. on top of facing religious which the West bears a huge If you bear in mind what discrimination should they part of the responsibility. Cuccinelli has said, the welcome now be concerned about Just give me your talented or mat to America is reserved for getting too much of a suntan if rich few. The huddled masses people from Europe. they intend to visit a US can try other shores. The words that greeted new consular officer? immigrants arriving by sea in In general, Arabs are white, Claude Salhani is a regular New York, those famous words — black, brown or a melange. columnist for The Arab Weekly those precious words: “Give me Indeed, many Arabs are as white The wrong direction. Acting Director of United States Citizenship and a senior fellow at the your tired, your poor, Your as any northern European and and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli speaks at the White Institute of World Affairs in huddled masses yearning to others as black as an African and House, August 12. (AP) Washington. 18 August 18, 2019 Economy

Algeria’s oil sales soften blow but economic crisis looms Briefs

Lamine Ghanmi Egypt extends Tunis gains on lgeria’s Saharan Blend inflation data crude oil provided a cush- ion for the country’s rap- Egyptian blue-chip stocks rose to A idly deteriorating economy their highest in nearly three-and-a- but a political standstill continues half months, extending the previous to hinder reforms. session’s gains, after Egypt reported Millions of Algerians have taken better-than-expected inflation data to the streets each Friday for almost for July. six months asking for a sweeping Egypt’s blue-chip index surged overhaul of the government. 2.5% to 14,541 points, a level not The protesters forced long-time seen since May 5. The country’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika out biggest lender, Commercial Inter- of office April 2. Street pressure Vital lifeline. A general view shows an oil installation on the outskirts of In Amenas in Algeria. (AFP) national Bank, rose 2.8%, while El pushed the country’s de facto mili- Sewedy Electric jumped 8.1%. tary rulers, led by Algerian Army Egypt reported that its headline General Ahmed Gaid Salah, to ar- business figures linked to Boutef- gone but we did not achieve the Economists expect the average inflation rate had fallen to its lowest rest key members of Bouteflika’s lika’s regime were jailed on charges desired change because there is no price of crude oil to remain $60-$70 in nearly four years, dropping to regime, including two former prime of corruption and their assets, in- programme and no leadership.” for the rest of the year. However, 8.7% in July. ministers. Many prominent busi- cluding bank accounts, frozen, leav- Benbitour cast doubt about that price is far below the $116 a nessmen have been jailed on suspi- ing enterprises that employed thou- whether conflicting parties could barrel Algeria needs to balance its (Reuters) cion of corruption. sands at risk of bankruptcy. come together for productive dia- budget for 2019. The peaceful Friday demonstra- Workers at many of the business- logue. Algeria’s economy grew 1.5% dur- tions are no hindrance to an econ- es, including automobile assembly “We hail all the initiatives seeking ing the first quarter of this year, the omy that depends on oil and gas plants and sugar refineries, have to end the impasse but most of these lowest such growth rate in 20 years, exports but the economic slump, been without pay since June. initiatives are within the framework official figures indicate. Official which is tracking the lowest eco- “This operation against these of dialogue but the question is dia- data gave another alarm by show- nomic growth rate in 20 years, has businesspeople is inflicting real logue over what issue,” he said. ing that the country’s oil and gas Saudi, Abu left Algeria with few options to fi- carnage against the private sector,” “The stands are clear. We have sector had declined 7.7% during the Dhabi showing nance investment spending and said political writer Makhlouf Meh- the rulers in one side and the dis- period. subsidies from reserves. heni. “It is continuing with no one sent movement in the opposite side Algeria is in dire need of foreign ‘high interest’ in Hopes for reform seem to have able to say when it will stop.” demanding the departure of the rul- investment in its oil and gas sector been dashed as the country’s eco- Gaid Salah vowed to press in his ers. Thus, negotiations are needed to upgrade its ageing fields but po- investing in VF2 nomic situation worsened. Even crackdown on corruption but his to change the system.” litical turbulence is an obstacle for moderate figures backing the pro- critics say he is using the anti-cor- Economists predicted that pro- foreign investors. SoftBank Group Corp founder tests warned that political paralysis ruption campaign to purge the sys- testers will list new economic de- As oil prices surged from 2003-13, and CEO Masayoshi Son said Saudi could have dire repercussions. tem of his rivals before presidential mands by September, when many Algeria accumulated foreign cur- Arabia and Abu Dhabi are showing The departure of Bouteflika and elections. workers return from summer holi- rency reserves of approximately “high interest” in investing in the his entourage showed that Alge- Gaid Salah has pushed opposi- days and schools and universities $200 billion. In mid-2014, it was the second Vision Fund. ria’s military command was the real tion leaders and civic associations begin a new academic year. eighth largest state holder of such Discussions were continuing so power centre. to reach consensus on how to move They said any delay in ending the reserves in the world. Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi were Gaid Salah pressed for elections forward with elections as soon as political deadlock would further However, the decline of oil prices not included on the list of partici- to replace Bouteflika but demon- possible. Other leaders have spoken harm the country’s economy, lead- since June 2014 pushed the gov- pants pledging $108 billion to the strators feared a hurried process about the need for a clear agenda ing to an increase in imports and ernment to use reserves to finance fund, Son said at a news conference would favour the establishment and before action is taken. lowering the foreign currency re- huge public projects and provide in Tokyo. fail to bring about reform. “We learnt from the experience serves. large subsidies to maintain social Protest leaders have been unable of Egypt and Tunisia that, when Increasing oil prices have helped peace. (Reuters) to select mediators to engage with the protesters occupy the strategic soften the blow of Algeria’s econom- The International Monetary Fund the government and articulate their areas of the capital, they can force ic morass. From February 22-August predicted that Algeria’s reserves perspective. The standstill stopped out of power the head of the state 15, Algeria’s Saharan Blend crude oil could slump to $64 billion by next Algeria from agreeing to an electoral even when the protesters have no sold at an average of $67.12 per bar- December and drop as low as $47 plan within constitutionally man- programme and leader,” said former rel, more than $17 above the average billion by the end of 2020. Algeria dated timeframes. Prime Minister Ahmed Benbitour. of $50 budgeted by the government imports 70% of what its population Algeria’s economy took a hit when “In Algeria, the president had for 2019. of 42 million consumes. Iraq close to pipeline deal Viewpoint with BP and Eni

Iraq is close to reaching a deal Saudi Aramco financial report hints at early PI O with oil majors BP and Eni for an export pipeline project that was profitability and move the company officials had attributed health of the global economy and initially planned as part of a deal goalpost up for the limited share the $69.1 billion acquisition of the oil price levels will influence the with US energy giant ExxonMobil, sale. As required in the prospectus majority stake in SABIC for government’s timing for the said five senior Iraqi oil officials Jareer Elass for its recent bond sale, Saudi pushing the Saudi Aramco IPO IPO. involved in the negotiations. Aramco had already released into next year or 2021. Crown Prince Mohammed Under the proposed $400 million significant financial and oil The SABIC purchase is not recently downplayed that a agreement, British company BP production data that revealed it expected to be completed until decision on the choice of one or and Italy’s Eni would run the plan rare release by Saudi was the world’s most profitable early 2020 and it may be unclear if more foreign bourses to to build two seabed oil pipelines Aramco of its latest company in 2018, with net income the IPO occurs next year how well participate in the share flotation for Iraq’s southern exports through financial perfor- of $111.1 billion on revenues of the two companies’ petrochemical had yet to be made. Saudi Aramco the Gulf. mance and news of $355.9 billion. businesses have been merged officials are reportedly arguing a major foreign The state energy giant said it together and how profitable the against listing on the New York (Reuters) downstream recorded net income of $46.9 combined operations will be. Stock Exchange, where the investmentA are lending credence billion for the first six months of News that coincided with its company could face anti-trust first-half earnings release that litigation from Saudi Arabia’s role to reports that the Saudi govern- 2019, a 12% drop from net ment was moving up its timeta- earnings for the first half of 2018, Saudi Aramco had agreed to in OPEC and legal risks from US ble for the much-anticipated largely the result of lower oil acquire a 20% stake in Reliance legislation that allows families of initial public offering of the Saudi prices. The firm noted that it Industries, one of India’s largest 9/11 victims to sue Riyadh. Algeria trade state oil and gas giant. earned an average of $66 a barrel private refiners, is another One issue of concern for IPO deficit up on There is scepticism in the for its crude for the half-year, 4% indication that the Saudi state investors is that Saudi Aramco energy and financial lower than the same period in firm is intent on enhancing its does not have a stated, clear lower energy communities that Riyadh can 2018. corporate value with an eye to the policy on dividends it pays to the conduct Saudi Aramco’s limited Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser IPO. Saudi government. In its August earnings sale in 2020, given the decision- said the energy conglomerate is The $15 billion investment will 12 earnings release, the company making required and questions, following through on its provide Saudi Aramco with a reported that it paid Riyadh Algeria’s trade deficit rose 12% in including the Saudi “downstream growth strategy” stake in Reliance’s Jamnagar dividends of $46.4 billion in the the first half of 2019 from the same government’s valuation of the that has involved strategic refinery, which with a processing first half of 2019, consisting of an period a year ago after a 6.3% fall state crown jewel and the extent domestic and foreign acquisitions. capacity of 1.24 million barrels per “ordinary” payment of $26 billion in energy revenues, official data of Saudi Aramco’s dividend “These acquisitions are expected day (bpd) is the world’s largest and a “special” dividend of $20 showed. payments to the government. to enhance dedicated crude refinery. As part of the billion that “reflected the Oil and gas exports, which ac- Buoyed by an oversubscribed placement, increase refining and arrangement, Reliance agreed to exceptionally strong performance counted for 93.1% of total sales international bond sale in April chemicals capacity, capture value buy 500,000 bpd of Saudi of 2018.” abroad, reached $17.7 billion, down that raised $12 billion for Saudi from integration and diversify our crude. That total payment almost from $18.8 billion in January-June Aramco, Riyadh was reportedly operations,” he said. There are several outstanding mirrors the $46.9 billion that 2018, customs figures indicated. gearing up to list shares as early Large-scale acquisitions, such issues impeding progress on the Saudi Aramco reported as net That pushed up the trade deficit as next year rather than wait as Saudi Aramco’s decision in limited sale of Saudi Aramco income for the first half of the to $3.2 billion from $2.8 billion in until 2021. Saudi Crown Prince March to purchase 70% of state shares. The Saudi government is year. For potential shareholders, the first six months of 2018. Mohammed bin Salman bin petrochemical firm Saudi Basic reportedly refusing to budge on the lack of clarity on dividend The overall value of exports Abdulaziz recently insisted that Industries Corporation (SABIC), its valuation of $2 trillion for the payments to Riyadh may reached $19 billion against $20.3 the Saudi Aramco initial public demonstrate the oil firm’s desire oil company, which, with a 5% underscore how financially billion in the first half of 2018, offering (IPO) would take place in to bolster its downstream sector floating, could generate $100 beholden Saudi Aramco is to the while imports fell 4.3% to $22.1 bil- 2020 or early 2021. as part of evolving into a more billion for state coffers and needs of the government. lion in the first half of this year. Saudi Aramco’s release of its integrated and competitive represent the largest IPO to date. 2019 first-half earnings on energy company and raise its Industry estimates suggest a Jareer Elass reports from (Reuters) August 12 was intended to assure corporate value ahead of the share valuation of $1.5 trillion-$1.75 Washington on energy issues for potential investors of the firm’s offering. Government and trillion is more realistic. The The Arab Weekly. August 18, 2019 19 Economy Bureaucracy in MENA Egyptian expatriates struggle with red tape at home

Mohamed Hammad Beit al-Watan is a government megaproject offering housing units for sale at cities being constructed. Cairo Cairo allowed Egyptian expatriates to purchase the units if they pay in he Ministry of State for US dollars. Migration and Egyptian Af- For decades, Cairo has not been fairs Abroad and the Small able to find a common language T and Medium Enterprises to communicate and deal with Development Agency signed a co- Egyptians living abroad. Even the operation protocol to develop ideas annual conference of Egyptian ex- for projects to be funded by savings patriates, which should have been of Egyptian citizens living abroad an opportunity to put together and thus develop job skills of Egyp- ideas and programmes beneficial to tian youth. Egypt, was transformed into small- Under the terms of the protocol, scale workshops in the Ministry of the Ministry of Immigration would Immigration. target Egyptian migrants all over Nasser Saber, head of the Egyp- the world to market investment op- tian community in New Jersey, said portunities in small and medium that during a conference of Egyp- enterprises in Egypt, in addition to tian expatriates in Cairo at the end providing easy terms and facilities of the 1990s, it was announced that such as land in industrial zones and investments by expatriates were ready-made feasibility studies pre- welcomed. He said he invested pared by the Small Projects Author- more than $15 million in reclaim- ity. ing and developing more than 1,300 Cairo is trying to return the vol- hectares of desert in Beni Suef gov- ume of remittances from abroad to ernorate, south-west of Cairo, and what it was a few years ago. Remit- turned them into productive land tances by Egyptians living abroad that would export its produce. Now still represent a major source of for- the Egyptian government is threat- eign currency in the country. ening to take the project from him. A long way to go. An employee of the Egyptian Embassy checks documents of an expatriate national Egypt’s balance of payments is Nasser said local authorities have at the country’s embassy in Kuwait. (Reuters) showing a decline in the volume of delayed for a quarter of a century remittances from abroad during the and did not complete the official first half of the current fiscal year. procedures for him to acquire granting the land free of charge.” ernment needs to do is to reform its through investments from Egyp- Remittances fell to $12 billion, com- deeds to the project. Land in the industrial zones is policies to attract this category of tians living abroad,” said Economic pared to $12.9 billion during the Two years ago, Cairo introduced selling at about $245 per square me- investors, he said. analyst Yasser Amara. “The new same period last year. investment certificates in dollars tre. This price is quite high because Sharara pointed out that it was activities will focus on technology Cairo’s ambitions are being ham- and euros with a 5% yield intended the smallest plant would require at a good idea to attract investments and recycling of waste and elec- pered by a heavy bureaucracy that for Egyptian expatriates. The initia- least 700 square metres and thus by expatriates but the govern- tronic components, in the hope of even investors at home are suffer- tive, however, failed and the new fi- would require about $170,000 just ment needs to solve investment upgrading these industries through ing from. Some Egyptian expatri- nancial product did not result in in- for land, notwithstanding invest- problems first. Applying current input from expatriates. ates said they have let their anger creasing the volume of remittances ments for buildings, machinery measures and policies in the case “Cairo is encouraging expatriates and frustration show, especially at from abroad. and equipment. At these prices, no of Egyptian expatriates wishing to to return to Egypt to benefit from the government’s lack of commu- Fouad Thabet, chairman of the Egyptian living abroad would be invest in the country would eat up the skills they acquired abroad nication with them and because of Federation of Economic Develop- tempted to invest in his country, their savings before the projects get and, at the same time, reduce the bitter experiences regarding many ment Associations, said that attract- Thabet said off the ground, he said. migration of young people abroad. projects. ing investments by Egyptians living What is making matters worse is The message the government was Michael Leon, an Egyptian in abroad depends on the flexibility that the private sector is copying hoping to convey was to show that New York, spoke of how he had and ease of terms that the govern- the pricing policy of the public sec- Egypt’s balance of Egyptian expatriates are returning purchased several housing units in ment shows in granting industrial tor. Industrial land outside the gov- payments is showing a to their homeland to work there the Beit al-Watan project through land with full facilities at attractive ernment’s industrial zones is sell- decline in the volume of again, something that may moti- the website that the Egyptian Min- prices and long repayment periods. ing for as high as $500 per square remittances from abroad vate unemployed young people to istry of Housing had specifically de- He warned that the government metre. during the first half of the use their skills.” signed for expatriates. He said that, cannot continue to deal with inves- Majdi Sharara, chairman of the current fiscal year. Amara stressed that returning after making several payments, tors who have a real estate specula- Small Projects Committee of the expatriates represent many advan- he sent a large number of e-mails tor’s mentality of trying to realise 10th of Ramadan Investors Associa- The most important areas ex- tages, including ideas for projects to the address allocated to inquir- the highest profit margin from the tion, said the government is contra- pected to receive new investments and often sizeable savings to fi- ies about the project but all went sale of the land. dicting itself. The state has many are cities in southern Egypt, North- nance the projects, thus saving the unanswered. Now, he said, he is Thabet said: “The price of in- unsold industrial zones because of ern Sinai, East Port Said and Dami- government the burden of funding reluctant to deal or make any trans- dustrial land in Egypt is excessive the high cost of setting up facto- etta on the Mediterranean and the the projects. actions with Egyptian agencies. Ex- compared to neighbouring coun- ries. At the same time, it is trying to Suez Canal axis. patriates cannot deal with a deep tries. Incentives given to investors present investment opportunities “The government aims to revital- Mohamed Hammad is an Egyptian bureaucracy, said Leon. in some countries can go as far as to Egyptians abroad. What the gov- ise the sector of small enterprises writer.

Viewpoint Bureaucracy is killing Tunisia’s economy

reform measures as the flip side complexity of administrative more widespread the phenom- Reports by the Tunisian of corruption. procedures, the slow resolution enon of bribery and extortion Anti-Corruption Commission One wonders why strategic of important files and lengthy within government bodies is. The state that the level of administra- Riadh Bouazza projects in Tunisia, which were delays even in acquiring ordinary government’s insistence that it is tive and financial corruption had ready for implementation years documents. Everything requires fighting bureaucracy and increased at all levels of the ago, are still waiting for approval undue time, which is the main corruption is no more than an administration since 2011 in such by administrative authorities. A aspect of a deep bureaucracy that electoral tool for reaping votes. a way that it can no longer be any analysts and problem with the Tunisian is often accused of being at the It is certain that some adminis- tolerated. It has become the experts say that administration is the lengthy service of powerful political and trators take advantage of major factor that is hindering one of the administrative procedure. This economic lobbies. citizens’ or investors’ need for economic growth while the reasons for the slow bureaucracy stands as an While the business sector is speeding up procedures to move country experienced losses of sharp decline of a obstacle to implementation of trying to resolve the many crises forward with their projects and $830 million every year. country’s any political or economic as quickly as possible and move face them with two options: wait There is widespread convic- Meconomy is its heavy and deep decisions. ahead with its activities, the for the transactions to go through tion among Tunisians that the bureaucracy. Bureaucracy kills Even top officials acknowledge bureaucracy and corruption regular channels, which may take private sector is the prime an economy by hampering there is a deep bureaucracy that factors are constraining the years, or submit to administra- suspect for maintaining and investors’ projects and ambitions must be fought to implement companies and investors with a tive blackmailing and pay a bribe nourishing corruption. For years, and depriving the state of badly reforms. They, however, were foggy and fuzzy picture of the to speed things up. the sector has been supported by needed revenues. unable to fight this hidden business climate, one the All the blame cannot solely be a corrupt bureaucracy in the With few exceptions, the bureaucracy and gave another government has claimed was put on the person in charge of form of subsidies, concessions disturbing stereotype of a heavy, proof of the state’s inability to improving with a new invest- completing concrete transactions and loans from the state without lumbering bureaucracy is address the power of influential ment law. in any government agency real guarantees. pervasive in Arab countries. Only lobbies and individuals. There is a well-known equation because that person is a “pas- We should not ignore that the those that have undertaken a The Tunisian government in Tunisia: The more administra- sive” employee, a cog in a huge spread of administrative deep cleaning up of obsolete laws doesn’t seem serious about tive procedures there are, the bureaucratic machinery unable corruption in state structures and regulations and of invest- remedying the problem. In 2018, to function smoothly, quickly has exacerbated the phenom- ment-killing administrative the government announced a and especially creatively. enon of parallel commerce, procedures have developed the comprehensive programme to Data from the World Bank which costs the country’s appropriate business climate to fight bureaucracy. Ironically, the There is widespread indicate that Tunisian companies treasury billions of dollars in lost succeed. The United Arab problem has worsened at all have spent since the beginning of revenues each year. All these Emirates, for example, has levels of the administration. conviction among the economic crisis eight years factors are causing Tunisia to become a global model for Dozens of strategic projects are Tunisians that the ago nearly 18% of annual lose 2-4 percentage points of ending bureaucratic chaos. collecting dust on ministry revenues on bureaucratic growth annually and spinning The clean-up effort must be shelves under the excuse of private sector is the burdens and related corruption. the economy in a vicious circle accompanied by tangible “Tunisia first.” prime suspect for This represents a sizeable indefinitely. changes. Tunisia is a case in point Tunisian citizens and many maintaining and proportion of declining revenues because of the government’s lack companies and businessmen because of the country’s endless Riadh Bouazza is a Tunisian of attention to establishing constantly complain about the nourishing corruption. troubles. writer. 20 August 18, 2019 Spotlight Haj Haj ends with no organisational glitch, Saudis lauded

Mohammed Alkhereiji

London

he haj season, which saw nearly 2.5 million Muslims from around the world gath- T er in Mecca to perform one of the five pillars of Islam, was a re- sounding success in terms of safety and organisation, officials said. Despite a war in neighbouring Yemen and attempts to politicise the annual pilgrimage by countries such as Iran and Qatar, this year’s haj was, by most accounts, a har- monious event. Many Arab leaders and senior of- ficials congratulated Saudi Arabia on its organisation of the haj. Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ah- mad al-Jaber al-Sabah sent a con- gratulatory cable to Saudi King Sal- man bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the conclusion of haj “praising the great success accomplished in this year’s pilgrimage.” Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khali- fa “extended his sincerest congratu- lations to King Salman on the great success of the haj season,” the state- run Bahrain News Agency said. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash posted on Healthcare for all. Disabled Muslim pilgrims attend the final walk around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, August 13. (AFP) Twitter that Saudi Arabia had ex- erted “great efforts in the service of Islam.” mander of Civil Defence Moham- disease or public health issues. in Mecca, Medina and various holy The fifth pillar of Islam, haj is a Millions of pilgrims participated med al-Faraj reassured pilgrims “We saw that hospitals were well sites between July 4, when the haj ritual Muslims should perform at in the last major ritual of the haj on that the rain did not cause flooding prepared and we saw their desire to season started, and August 13. least once. To perform the rite, one August 11 with the symbolic “ston- or damage. serve the pilgrims. We also saw dif- Mecca Governor and Chairman of must be an adult Muslim of sound ing of the devil,” which marks the The United Nation’s World Health ferent sectors working together to the Central Haj Committee Prince mind and possess the physical abil- start of the Eid al-Adha holiday. Organisation (WHO) commended support the pilgrims,” said Dr Ibra- Khalid Al-Faisal Al Saud said the fi- ity to perform the rituals. The wor- Pilgrims were met with heavy Saudi Arabia’s efforts in ensuring him El-Ziq, WHO representative in nal tally of pilgrims was 2,489,406, shipper must have the financial rain as the haj drew to a close, lead- that the haj was free of outbreak of Saudi Arabia. of whom 1,855,027 were from out- resources to make the pilgrimage ing to a significant drop in tempera- “So, all in all, it has been a very side the kingdom and 634,379 were and still provide for dependents at tures from the high 40s Celsius to Mecca Governor and successful season. We congratulate Saudis. home. the much more bearable 26 degrees, Chairman of the Central Haj the Ministry of Health on a success- Prince Khalid said 336,000 per- Muslims believe that successfully a much-welcomed development for Committee Prince Khalid ful haj. There is no reporting of any mits had been given to Saudi citi- completing haj, usually over five many on the pilgrimage. infection or serious issues related zens but domestic pilgrims with- days during Dhu al-Hijjah, the last The Saudi Civil Defence urged al-Faisal said final tally of to public health.” out permits numbered another month of the Islamic calendar, gives pilgrims “to stay safe and cautious,” pilgrims was 2,489,406, of Saudi Minister of Health Dr Taw- 298,379, a much lower figure of par- the worshipper a place in paradise. avoid low ground and not to touch whom 1,855,027 were from fiq Al-Rabiah said approximately ticipants without permits from last metal objects connected to power outside Saudi Arabia and 500,000 pilgrims received medical year, when 383,000 Saudis without Mohammed Alkhereiji is the Gulf because of the downpour. Com- 634,379 were Saudis. care in hospitals and health centres permits took part in the haj. section editor of The Arab Weekly.

Viewpoint Saudi Arabia succeeds in mammoth task of organising haj

governor of Mecca region and Muslims across the world. chairman of the Central Haj For Saudi Arabia, organising Committee. the world’s largest religious The annual haj, undoubtedly festival is not just a financial Iman Zayat a mammoth organisational task, and logistical challenge but a has been expertly handled by sacred duty that strikes at the the Saudi Ministry of Haj and heart of its identity and val- Umrah for more than seven ues. decades. Among the many As long as Saudis maintain challenges of organising the reli- these values, the success story ome say that the Arab gious pilgrimage are the of the haj will surely continue. region, long plagued growing number of travellers, Building on its success, Saudi by turmoil and unrest, security concerns at a time of Arabia announced numerous has few models of growing terror threats world- projects, including a first success despite its vast wide and environmental and development model for Mina, potential. However, health factors exacerbated by which includes housing and Sthe focus on political instability the large number of visitors. camps to be ready next year and and conflict has sometimes To deal with these logistical the expansion of the Mecca caused us to lose sight of the challenges, Saudi Arabia has Route Initiative, a programme progress and successes taking spent billions of dollars and designed to facilitate interna- place. devised effective strategies to tional pilgrims’ travel experi- One of those success stories is better develop haj facilities and A shift to new technology. A translator helps pilgrims find ence. this year’s flawless organisation improve housing, transporta- information on a poster displaying helpful smartphone The kingdom has begun water of the haj, which attracted tion and sanitation. applications in Mecca, August 18. (AFP) development projects worth approximately 2.5 million As a result, pilgrims enjoy more than $825 million in Mecca pilgrims to Mecca, stated official modern facilities and perform crowds to the appropriate train, 100,000 by pedestrian and other holy sites to ensure a statistics released by Prince their religious rites at ease. venues. routes and the rest on 20,000 sustainable water supply that Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, This year, Saudi Arabia went Saudi Arabia’s major shift to buses. will develop and preserve water adviser to the Saudi King to extraordinary lengths to new technology on the haj came To ensure a comfortable haj resources, protect the environ- Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, ensure pilgrims were accommo- in 2018 with the Ministry of experience, hundreds of ment and provide high-quality dated for the haj, even pumping Communication and Informa- thousands of workers from and efficient services. up to 41 million cubic metres of tion Technology’s “Smart Haj” various Saudi sectors and We can expect many more water to Mecca and the holy platform. thousands of volunteers projects in the future as Saudi The kingdom has sites and using some 4,715 Part of the kingdom’s digital cooperated closely on issues of Arabia strives to provide the kilowatts of electricity. transformation programme logistics and health. best experience for its guests — shown it is highly In addition, the kingdom under Vision 2030, the initiative In doing so, Saudi Arabia regardless of sect, political skilled at organising introduced a smart haj platform, has grown to include many embodied the spirit of haj, affiliation, colour, gender, the event and a service-supervision initiative digital services and interactive bringing all of society together community or race. The king- to improve housing by adding applications, notably: “Destina- to help ensure its visitors were dom has shown it is highly successfully kept it living space and organising bus tion,” “Assist Me,” “Haj and taken care of. skilled at organising the event separate from trips and implemented a pilgrim Umrah Navigator,” “Health” and Saudi Arabia’s commitment to and successfully kept it separate grouping programme that used “Our Rituals.” haj was beautifully illustrated in from politics, even as some politics, even as some electronic systems to manage This year, Saudi Arabia a photograph of a security countries attempt to use the countries attempt to and monitor crowds. transported 2,489,406 pilgrims officer helping a tired pilgrim. spiritual rite to score political use the spiritual rite Advanced technology has from the holy site of Arafat to The photo, taken by Saudi points against Riyadh. helped monitor mosques’ Muzdalifah in less than six photographer Saud bin Khalid to score political environmental quality, track hours. That included moving al-Musaihej, was widely shared Iman Zayat is the Managing points against Riyadh. pilgrims’ health and guide 360,000 pilgrims on the Mashair on social media, inspiring Editor of The Arab Weekly. August 18, 2019 21 Society Brain Drain Violence pushing Iraq’s medical sector to the brink

Nazli Tarzi from Baghdad’s University College of Medicine in 2009, told France 24 that out of the 348 classmates she London graduated alongside, 285 had left the country. From 2004-07, Bagh- he violence that Iraqi physi- dad saw a 22% drop in the num- cians and medical staff en- ber of medical specialists, a study counter on the job is creat- published in the Social Science and T ing a serious medical brain Medicine Journal stated. drain and may phase out medicine Doctors are often threatened by in the battered country altogether, a patient’s family members. Out- reports indicate. bursts of violence and mobster-like Gun violence, extortion, acts of attacks are commonplace, as widely vengeance, alongside physical and shared videos displayed to a global verbal abuse and chronic shortages audience. of supplies are pushing the coun- Observers who have monitored try’s medical sector to the brink. attacks on doctors offer various “Health Care in Danger” was the readings but emerging consensus title of an International Committee blames reactionary tribalism. of the Red Cross (ICRC) campaign The pace at which state resources begun last November to kick-start and funding have shrunk has stunt- a nationwide public awareness cru- ed the state and paralysed vari- sade but to little avail. ous sectors. This has emboldened tribes to exact their own versions Health Ministry officials of justice. A 32-year-old doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity can no longer deny the said: “Tribal assailants will invent physical harm doctors medical negligence claims to hold are subjected to daily us [physicians] responsible for a but have offered few family member’s passing, even if he policy responses. died outside hospital grounds.” The biggest rupture for national Under threat. Doctors treat a patient in Mosul. (AFP) The issue of violence against doc- health care was in 2003, as Iraq was tors, nurses and hospital staff has thrown under the weight of US-led become an immovable reality, said occupation. The fallout from the only to be wielded when they need worn down by a decade of being left raise awareness locally but interna- Dr Fadhel Mustafa, a member of the US-sponsored regime change still to protect themselves. Others cite out in the cold. Although violence tional solidarity is lacking — despite Iraqi Physicians Union. “The vio- lurks. Iraq’s Penal Code of 1969, which of- is nothing new, its use as recourse this being a global phenomenon — lence doctors face is an old story,” “Few people value the work we fers protections that exist on paper is catalysing Iraq’s medical brain as noted by those interviewed. Mustafa said, conceding that “new do nor are we hailed like we once but which few hospitals implement drain in a country desensitised to As problems stack up, Iraq’s po- methods like kidnappings and ex- were,” the Baghdad Medical City- out of fear of provoking powerful violence. litical elite voiced concern but have tortion grew up after 2003.” based doctor said. As a young man, tribes. ICRC’s campaign drummed up done comparatively less to interro- A local survey revealed an over- he dreams of a life in Europe where A resident doctor, Mohannad, much-needed noise but not enough gate its causes. whelming desire among junior he can earn the respect he said he said that to be a doctor in Iraq today to reverse the tide of Iraqis fleeing “As a doctor in Iraq, I don’t want graduates to abandon their country lost and develop professionally. “is to be paid $4.50 an hour, to be of- the country. The steady perpetra- to be the next victim. Save our lives. in favour of settling abroad. An esti- Health Ministry officials can no fered no protection on the job and tion of violence — from gun violence We are under threat,” one Iraqi doc- mated 70% of those asked said they longer deny the physical harm to face the possibility of being killed to verbal abuse — is fuelling patient- tor wrote on Twitter. Similar mes- wished to flee and 98% said they doctors are subjected to daily but by a patient’s relative an hour after physician mistrust and encouraging sages can be read online but it’s un- believed violence would continue have offered few policy responses. their death.” behavioural patterns that under- certain to what degree the world is to gnaw at the very core of health A recent suggestion — which drew No official in the new Iraqi state mine Iraq’s health-care system and listening. care — its practitioners. nationwide ridicule — was a policy has actively lobbied parliament the wellbeing of its staff. Shaymaa al Kamili, a practis- that promised to arm physicians to introduce a protection act for Online campaigns introduced Nazli Tarzi is an Arab Weekly ing doctor in Basra who graduated and doctors with weapons that are health-care workers who are feeling over the years have attempted to correspondent in London. Medical brain drain endangers Egypt’s health care

Ahmed Gamal by the Egyptian Medical Syndicate providing appropriate working and ber of medical schools would not be Hamed said: “Government hospi- (EMS), which pointed that there is living environments for doctors in productive or efficient without an tals suffer from an acute shortage of no way to add large numbers of doc- remote areas, which explains why increase in the number of univer- qualified personnel in certain spe- Cairo tors before students complete the doctors increasingly shun working sity hospitals because the country cialties currently in high demand, necessarily long process of medical in those areas. There are also dif- could end up with unqualified doc- such as brain surgery, neurological ith the increasing exo- school and training. ficulties experienced by resident tors. Instead of solving the issue of and cardiovascular surgery or psy- dus of Egyptian doc- EMS Under-Secretary Mona Mina doctors and the almost daily harass- a lack of doctors, the government chological and neurological disor- tors and medical pro- said: “The government’s recom- ment experienced by female doc- could end up compounding it with ders.” W fessionals, many large mendations constitute a sabotage tors and nurses. new problems. He said “80% of public hospitals” hospitals and smaller health-care of the medical profession. The real Some observers said part of the Dr Mahmoud Hamed, who opted cannot provide open heart, kidney facilities in Egypt face mounting problem is the unfavourable work doctors’ crisis has to do with gov- to work in Saudi Arabia last year, or liver surgeries. challenges and the country’s health environment of doctors, com- ernment policies related to curbing said it is not only the opportunity There is an alarming increase in sector is at risk of failing. pounded by administrative arbi- expenditures on public services to work abroad that pushes doctors acts of violence against doctors in Statistics from the Egyptian par- trariness… and very low wages of while allowing the private sector to in public hospitals to resign. Pri- public hospitals in Egypt. Doctors liament’s Health Committee in- approximately $150 a month.” take over some activities in the edu- vate hospitals in Egypt are enticing have become targets of anger and dicate the deficit in health-care Mina claimed the Egyptian Min- cation and health sectors. young doctors to leave their jobs in frustration experienced by patients’ personnel in some government istry of Health does not care about Experts said increasing the num- government hospitals. families to the point that, in 2015, hospitals in remote areas in Egypt is EMS suggested a bill for the House about 50% and 34% in hospitals in of Representatives concerning med- major cities. In nursing, the deficit ical liability and hospital protection stands at 55%. but the measure has not yet been This deficit finds a logical expla- considered by legislators. nation in deteriorating working Medical errors leading to death conditions of doctors in most offi- are considered criminal offences, cial health facilities, in the collapse subject to up to 5 years in prison. of wages, increasing rate of assaults EMS is lobbying to have cases of on medical personnel in hospitals, medical malpractice transferred to lack of suitable environment for the the civil damages compensation completion of postgraduate stud- system. ies, increasing demand for doctors EMS said only cases of proven in private hospitals and the draw of gross negligence should be referred job opportunities for medical per- to criminal courts, while cases sonnel abroad. of post treatment complications To address the flight of medical should not be penalised at all. The doctors, the Egyptian government syndicate wants to double the maxi- came up with several recommen- mum prison sentence to 10 years for dations, including increasing the those convicted of assault against number of students admitted to doctors and hospital staff. medical schools and expanding The Egyptian health sector may plans for new public and private face further challenges unless the medical schools. government acts within its moral The goal is to inject large numbers and social responsibilities to pro- of doctors into government hospi- tect the health of the citizens and tals to deal with the crisis through provide appropriate working con- temporary action until long-term ditions for doctors. The brain drain solutions are found. However, ex- in the health sector is putting the perts said they fear the move could health of millions of Egyptians at lead to producing poorly qualified risk. doctors. The government’s move caused Ahmed Gamal is an Egyptian a stir among Egyptian doctors, led A sector at risk. Doctors take blood samples at the Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital in Cairo. (AFP) writer. 22 August 18, 2019 Culture Basra Museum comes with a view and a British- funded library

Karen Dabrowska the Hellenistic period (circa 300BC) through to the Islamic period. Three galleries — Sumer, Babylon and As- London syria — opened in March this year. Baghdad sent about 2,000 new A mission to preserve history. A general view of the Basra Museum in southern Iraq. he new Basra Museum in objects, including pieces from the (Courtesy of the Basra Museum) southern Iraq has been al- original Basra Museum, which was lotted a library of approxi- housed in a Turkish courtyard facil- T mately 3,000 books donated ity on the banks of Ashar Creek. The of the Middle East at the British Mu- looted museum was not fit for the He approached BP, which provided by the British Institute for the Study museum was looted in 1991 during seum, about what he could do to purpose. It was in an old courtyard $500,000 to renovate the building of Iraq to promote the country’s the ouster of Saddam Hussein’s re- protect and promote cultural herit- house, in poor condition, in an in- and set up the first gallery. history and heritage. The museum gime. age. secure part of the town and unsuit- The British Council’s Cultural includes hundreds of precious ar- The new museum is housed in “We asked for a survey of archae- able for displaying and safeguard- Protection Fund set up to protect tefacts that date to Iraq’s Sumerian, Saddam’s former Lakeside Palace. ological sites in southern Iraq to see ing high-value archaeological and cultural heritage at risk because Assyrian and Islamic civilisations. The idea of setting up a museum how badly they had been looted historical material. of conflicts in the Middle East and The library was stored in tin was first discussed in 2007. British and to look at museums in the area It was assumed that funding North Africa provided $930,000 to trunks in the French and British em- Army Major-General Barney White- to see what state they were in and would be made available by the complete installation of the three bassies when the British Institute Spunner had been appointed com- whether they could be put back into British government and the Depart- remaining galleries, to assist with for the Study of Iraq (BISI), formerly mander-in-chief of British troops service,” Curtis recalled. ment for International Develop- museum staff training and to estab- the British School of Archaeology in and general officer commanding the It was decided that the Lakeside ment after the army withdrew from lish the resource centre. Iraq, closed in the 1990s after the Multinational Division South-East. Palace would be the best location Iraq in 2009 but this did not happen. Curtis emphasised that FBM was first Gulf War. He asked Director of the British Mu- for a museum. Qahtan al-Abeed, the “There was a plan of the building not running the museum or telling “We hope the library, like the seum Neil MacGregor and Curtis, director of the existing museum, and a proposal for a museum pro- the Iraqis how it ought to be oper- museum, will become a resource who was keeper of the Department embraced the project because the ject, but no funding,” Curtis said. ated. “These need to be Iraqi deci- not just for Basra but for the whole sions and we are there to facilitate of southern Iraq and the wider re- not to impose or take decisions,” he gion,” said John Curtis, chairman said. of the Friends of Basra Museum He said FBM would assist with (FBM), which raised funds to set up setting up the library, which was the museum. expected to be open in December, and to help with English labels and information panels for exhibits. The first gallery, which “It is going to take some time to opened in September 2016, bring these up to a high standard,” displays artefacts relating to Curtis said. “The director of the mu- the history of Basra from the seum has ambitious aims to intro- Hellenistic period (circa duce audio-visual aids and museum 300BC) through to the guides which can be downloaded as Islamic period. apps on a mobile phone.” With the museum almost com- FBM and BISI are assisting in plete, the FBM trustees are consid- compiling an online catalogue and a ering what to do next. campaign for additional book dona- “The Basra Museum is on the tions is envisaged. Shatt al-Arab River, a very attractive “There are people looking to see location. The museum of natural what they can do with their private history is nearby and there is an- libraries and it would be great if other building that could become they donated books. We hope the a museum of modern Iraqi history. Arabic section will be built up by the The whole area could become a cul- people in Basra,” Curtis said. tural park,” Curtis said. The first gallery, which opened in September 2016, displays artefacts Karen Dabrowska is an Arab relating to the history of Basra from Valuable artefacts. Summer gallery at the Basra Museum in southern Iraq. (Courtesy of the Basra Museum) Weekly contributor in London. Viewpoint Arab culture suffers from a love blind spot

here is high degree of Rarely do we hear of a university before he dares write about love indirect statements rather than collective and or research centre having a and passion. The idealised and on telling it as it is. Thus, the individual tolerance seminar on love or sex or on the purified image of the mother intimate sexual act between Amine Zaoui of hate in speech, human body as a social con- ignores that of the mother as a husband and wife is usually writing or physical struct. These topics are taboo woman. carried out under the veil of acts in Arab and and are fiercely fought by the The character of women darkness. TMaghrebi societies. Such many brigades of the culture of consumed by love is nearly Like Arab intellectuals and behaviour seems to embarrass hate in society. absent from our novels and writers, the average Arab person and bother no one at the level of Elites who are supposed to nur- poems. When such a character has yet to get over the macho individuals or in society. ture new generations with the appears, it is usually condemned mentality inherited from ancient Worse, religious or cultural dream of coexistence, citizenship as we can find in “Al-Khubz times of Arab chivalry and pretexts are often found for this and the values ​​of tolerant al-Hafi” (“Barefoot Bread”) by equestrian prowess. He firmly type of behaviour. Thus, the pluralism, instead promote a Muhammad Shukri or in “At- believes that taking and giving family unit, the street, educa- culture of hate and condone Tatleeq” (“Repudiation”) by pleasure are purely male preroga- tors, intellectuals, ignorant discrimination and violence Rachid Boudjedra or “Hadiqat tives. people and politicians all against women. al-Hawas” (“The Garden of the Intellectuals in the Arab world manufacture and disseminate a It is from this perspective that Senses”) by Abdo Wazen. cannot get away from the logic culture of hate. a stereotypical image and It is as if our literature is blind and vision of religious enforcers. However, as soon as an restrictive portrayal of women to whatever material things, such They dress women as the individual betrays adherence to has emerged. as the human body, architecture religious prism dictates and look the culture of hate, either In literary works, women are or even colours, surround the for love in their mothers’ images through behaviour or discourse, often reduced to being mothers. writer. This is the result of and for lust and pleasure in the he or she immediately sticks out Most Arab novels are written in pressure exerted on writers by bodies of girls they want to from the herd, causing tribal praise of mothers or in mourning the so-called culture of decency, enslave on the streets. elders, family members, street of mothers or in longing for based on the religious notion of In this state of schizophrenia, crowds, intellectuals, imams, mothers to the point that it can “lowering one’s gaze” and by the Arab and Maghrebi literature is Like Arab intellectuals educators and others to go on a be easily established that Arab culture of moral hypocrisy that limited to two basic viewpoints: and writers, the state of high alert. Condemna- and Maghrebi male writers and permeates society. The purely male chauvinistic tions come from everywhere at intellectuals suffer from some Because of those considera- “chivalrous” vision that is out of average Arab person any display of love. form of an Oedipus complex. tions, Arab and Maghrebi touch with time and reality and has yet to get over the The Arab and Maghrebi This hides the repression literature in general relies on the the “Oedipal” vision immersed in macho mentality mindset tends to be shaped practised by society over any values ​​of “hearing” rather than moral and political hypocrisy, a through lopsided school syllabi, sound relationship between men “seeing.” This is why we find vision that has nothing to do inherited from mosque sermons and antiquated and women. texts filled with the “groans” of with the aesthetics of “love” and ancient times of Arab means of socialisation. It is as if the writer is so nostalgia and suffering, a is instead totally hostile to it. This pathological condition is self-repressed that he must filter tradition that is more akin to the chivalry and not restricted to citizens but any thought about women domains of music and folk Amine Zaoui is an Algerian equestrian prowess. affects society’s cultural elite. through the lens of the “mother” narratives that prefer to rely on novelist and academic. August 18, 2019 23 Culture Heritage Iraqi NGO leads uphill battle to preserve country’s cultural heritage

Oumayma Omar Sursom said there has been a additional threats through looting, positive reaction to the initiative, vandalism, government neglect which has attracted large numbers and political infighting. The Iraqi Baghdad of volunteers. “We were mostly government lacks a nationwide encouraged by the enthusiasm of strategy to preserve, protect and here is no limit to our young people who showed great rebuild sites that contribute to the ambitions. All that we interest in discovering and pre- country’s cultural legacy of being “ are seeking is to preserve serving heritage and historic sites,” the cradle of civilisation. TIraq’s rich cultural herit- she said. Preserving Iraq’s cultural herit- age,” said Zikra Sursom, deputy Tours are announced on Burj age is essential and urgent, warned president of the Burj Babel Asso- Babel’s Facebook page. “Every Falah Hassan, an activist and pro- ciation, which has begun an initia- week, we announce the location fessional photographer who has tive to raise awareness about the that we want to inspect as well as been publishing photos of historic importance of salvaging Iraq’s his- the time and place of departure. sites. toric features. Our Facebook activists post photos “The extent of dilapidation of and historic facts about the places The group’s members take Baghdad’s historic quarters and we visit to encourage followers to old buildings is frightening. Many share information and engage in weekly visits to heritage sites and structures are on the conversations on how to conserve sites across Baghdad to verge of collapsing unless we act heritage,” Sursom said. discover, document and quickly to salvage them,” Sursom The group’s activism prompt- inform people about the said, describing the endeavour as ed the government to restore Al sites’ history. an “uphill battle” to preserve Iraq’s Suhrawardi minaret, a historic cultural identity. Baghdad landmark built 850 years “I want to show the pretty face ago. of Baghdad and introduce Iraqis “The task is huge,” Sursom said. to our country’s rich cultural herit- The Iraqi government lacks “Whole quarters in old Baghdad age,” Hassan said. a nationwide strategy to are losing their historic features. “We need to act quickly. One of At risk. Baghdad’s landmark Sheikh Suhrawardi cone-shaped dome. preserve, protect and The government’s failure to apply my greatest fears for instance is to (AFP) rebuild sites that contribute conservation laws compounded witness the collapse of Al-Khulafa to the country’s cultural with corruption and greed is caus- Mosque’s minaret, which dates to legacy of being the cradle of ing the loss of unique buildings the Abbasid era and which is lean- the damage done to cultural herit- by conflict, deliberate damage or civilisation. dating back to the Umayyad, Ab- ing dangerously.” age. negligence. basid and Ottoman eras.” Hassan noted that Iraq lacks the The Let Us Save What Remains He noted that the numbers of The group’s members take week- While the law prohibits the dem- expertise to conserve old buildings initiative organises educational participants in Burj Babel’s tours ly visits to heritage sites across olition of old buildings still stand- and the government is not willing trips for youth groups to visit are increasing constantly, especial- Baghdad to discover, document ing, their owners intentionally to allocate funds to protect herit- ancient rock reliefs in the Zawa ly since they expanded to regions and inform people about the sites’ neglect them until they collapse. age sites. Mountains and to view active ex- such as Babel and Samarra. history. Then they can sell them to de- “We need to have a strong local cavation sites. Plans are under way “We could see how enthusias- “The tours take place on week- velopers who build high-rise and will coupled with foreign support to begin visiting schools and youth tic and dazzled the young people ends and holidays. We make it a modern buildings. to avoid the catastrophe. Other- centres to develop an education were, especially those who were point to drive around the city’s old Iraq’s cultural history spans wise we will lose Baghdad’s most system to teach young Iraqis about not aware of Iraq’s history. It was quarters on bicycles to attract public some 10,000 years and more than iconic landmarks that go back hun- the importance of cultural heritage so delightful and so sad at the attention,” Sursom said. “The aim 10,000 heritage sites. Conflicts dreds of years,” he said. sites. same time,” Hassan said. is to put in focus the historic land- over the past three decades robbed In addition to Burj Babel, vari- Hassan said he was confi- marks and expose their poor condi- Iraq of some of its past by stripping ous platforms and initiatives have dent that greater knowledge of Oumayma Omar, based in tion and to urge the government and the country of its tangible cultural sought to raise awareness and call the issue will help maintain the Baghdad, is a contributor to the the people to join efforts in preserv- heritage. for Iraqis to join in celebrating country’s identity from fading Culture and Society section of ing our invaluable heritage.” Cultural heritage in Iraq faces their cultural diversity and stop away by destruction, whether The Arab Weekly.

Landmarks in focus. Activists rest near an old building in Baghdad. Discovering sites. Burj Babel activists on a tour in the old quarters of (Courtesy of Burj Babel) Baghdad. (Courtesy of Burj Babel) 24 August 18, 2019

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