Minority Watch # 09, Nov 15, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters

An understanding, not judgement

Minorities in the News

1. Druze in Israel

The response of the police against Druze protesters in Peki'in evoke strong criticisms from political leaders, reports Ha'artz, Oct 31, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/918690.html

Knesset Interior Committee votes in favor of a state commission of inquiry to go into the violence in the Druze village of Peki'in in late Oct, reports Ha'aretz, Nov 5, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/920209.html

2. Arabs in Israel

Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman calls for the disbanding of Higher Arab Monitoring Committee because "it challenges the Jewish people's right of self-determination", reports Ha'aretz, Nov 8, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/921625.html

3. Kurds in Turkey

Democratic Society Party of Turkey calls for autonomy for predominantly Kurdish southeast region, reports The Daily Star, Nov 9, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=86646

******

Minority Watch # 08, November 1, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters
An understanding, not judgement

Minorities in the News

1. Bohras in Kuwait
Plans to construct a Bohra mosque generates heated debate in Kuwait, reports The Daily Star, Oct 17, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=86010

2. Druze in Israel

According to Foreign Ministry officials Kadima MK Majallie Whbee would soon be appointed as Deputy Minister reports The Jerusalem Post, Oct 22, 2007, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1192380617397&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

3. Christians in the Occupied territories

Citing security considerations Israel has cancelled reentry visas to Arab Christian religious leaders wishing to travel to and out of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, reports Ha'aretz, Oct 26, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/917189.html

4. Non-Jews in Israel

Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann told a Knesset Committee that the High Court should not review petitions by non-Jews on citizenship issues, reports Ha'aretz, Oct 28, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/917489.html

Articles, Books, Reports etc.,

1. Bedouins in Sinai
Bedouin unrest troubles Cairo, says a commentary in ISN Security Watch Oct 15, 2007, http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18237

2. Kurds and Turkey
"Iraq's Kurds hold key to Turkey's dilemma", says Charles Recknage, in Radio Free Europe, Oct 25, 2007, http://www.rferl.org/newsline/5-not.asp

***

Minority Watch # 07, October 15, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters

An understanding, not judgement

Minorities in the News

1. Armenian massacre

US President George W Bush opposes moves to characterize the deaths of thousands of Armenians during the World War I as 'genocide', reports The Daily Star, Oct 6, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85815

On Oct 10, US House Foreign Affairs Committee's approved a motion call the killing of Armenians during the World War I as a 'genocide' and now it goes to the full House, reports Ha'aretz, Oct 11, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/911629.html. The same paper carries a report by Anshel Pfeffer on Israel's reaction and responses to the whole controversy, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/911630.html

Citing potentional tension with Turkey, the White House has opposed the Committee move, reports The Daily Star, Oct 11, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85916

2. Bedouins in Sinai

Police used tear gas to put down protests by Bedouins in Sinai, reports The Daily Star, Oct 8, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85836

3. Druze in Israel

Israeli Druze town of Hurfeish is being discriminated financially complaints its major, reports Ha'aretz, Oct 9, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/910722.html;

A group of Druze women from the Golan Heights held a protest in front of the Red Cross Office in Jerusalem demanding right to visit their relatives in Syria through the Quneitra border crossing, reports Ha'aretz, Oct 9, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/910721.html

Articles, Books, Reports etc.,

1. Muslims in Germany

Beneath the secular surface, Germany fears conversion argues Halima Krausen in The Daily Star, Oct 10, 2007,

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=85833

******

2. Druze in Israel

In his article in Ha'aretz (Oct 9, 2007), Meron Rapoport warns of an impending Druze Intifada in Israel, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/910757.html

Minority Watch # 06, October 1, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters
An understanding, not judgement

Minorities in the news

1. Muslims in the Occupied territories

Israel restricts Palestinians from the West Bank to attend prayers in Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on the first Friday of Ramadan reports Ha'aretz, September 16, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/903965.html

2. Arabs in Israel

Citing "discriminatory security checks" leaders of Israel's Arab community are planning to boycott the Israel's national Carrier El Al, reports Ha'aretz, Sep 19, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/904964.html

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) would agree to market lands under its control for the Israeli Arab citizens, reports Ha'aretz, September 24, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/906491.html

3. Jordan and Muslims

The Hashemite Kingdom allocated US$1.5 million to Jordan Hashemite Fund for the Reconstruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock and the head of the Fund Prince Ghazi that the Kingdom grant Jordanian passports to 90,000 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, reports Ha'aretz, September 24, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/906483.html

4. Kurds in Iraq

Iranian government has admitted that its forces had attacked Kurdish positions inside Iraq reports, The Daily Star, September 26, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85581

5. Bedouins in Israel

Non-recognition of Bedouin villages in the Negev makes their lives harsher reports The Daily Star, September 29, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85658

Reports, Articles etc.,

1. The 2007 Report on International Religious Freedom was released on Sep 14. Though the US itself would be found wanting in many of its standards used by it, The Report continues to be the most detailed information regarding religious minorities in different parts of the world. Country-wise reports can be assessed from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/

******

Minority Watch # 05, September 15, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters

An understanding, not judgement

Minorities in the News

1. Jews of Iran

Constructions begin for a state-funded Jewish cultural and sports complex in Central Tehran, reports The Daily Star, September 3, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=84993

2. Arabs of Israel

Plans to grant $50 million for improving educational facilities in the Arab sectors generates fears that local authorities would misuse the funds, reports Ha'aretz, September 6, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/901585.html

3. Bahais in Iran

The Iranian government is accused of trying to expel Bahai students from the universities, reports Radio Free Europe, August 29, 2007, http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/08/1EB34090-1BF1-42AE-8C8F-0006E518BC54.html

Articles, Reports etc.,

1. Islam and Dhimmi

"Islam and Minorites: Need for a liberal framework", by P R Kumaraswamy in Mediterranean Quarterly, Summer 2007. Full text can be find at: http://mq.dukejournals.org/cgi/reprint/18/3/94

Minority Watch # 04, September 1, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters.

An understanding not judgement.

Minorities in the News

1. Druze in Lebanon

Druze religious authority opens an official website says, The Daily Star, August 20, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=84642

2. Arabs in Israel

Israeli cabinet approves a voluntary alternative to military service available also to its Arab citizens, reports Ha'aretz, August 20, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/895143.html

Rabbinate forces Arab formers to sell land for 'kashrut' reports, Ha'aretz, August 29, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/898485.html

3. Bedouins in Israel

Commentary on the problems of Bedouins due to non-recognition of their villages by Eli Elan in Ha'aretz, August 21, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/895578.html

Israel plans to evacuate unrecognised Bedouin villages exposed to hazardous materials near the Ramat Hovav industrial zone in the Negev, says Ha'aretz, Augus 23, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896579.html

4. Copts in Egypt

There is growing tension in Egypt between Coptic Christians and Muslims, reports AFP in Daily Star, August 22, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=84684

5. Christians in Jordan

Churches of various denominations are to be developed and renovated in Jordan, says The Jordan Times, August 23, 2007, http://jordantimes.com/index.php?news=1663

6. Armenians in Turkey

The question of Armenian killings during the World War heightens tensions between Turkey and Israel and the American Jewry, reports, Ha'aretz, August 22, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896179.html and Ha'aretz, August 24, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896887.html

7. Arabs in Iraq

Arab refugees flee to 'relatively safer' Kurdish region of Suleimaniyya, reports AFP, The Daily Star, August 25, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=84771

Reports, Articles, etc.,

1. Kurds in Iraq

The Kurds in Post-Saddam Iraq, Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report by Kenneth Katzman and Alfred B. Prados, updated June 12, 2007, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22079.pdf.

******

Minority Watch # 03, August 15, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters.
An understanding not judgement.

Minorities in the News

1. Bedouins in Egypt

Violence erupts between protestors and police over fears of house domolisions in Sinai, The Daily Star, 1 August 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=84229

2. Kurds in Iran

Two Kurdish journalist sentenced to death in Iran for being "enemies of God", says BBC, 31 July 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6925016.stm

3. Kurds in Iraq

"Kurds build island of calm in Iraqi inferno", says Zvi Ba'rel in Ha'aretz, Aug 13, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/892602.html

4. Arabs in Israel

Commentary by Moshe Arens on the controversies surrounding the Jewish Nation Fund laws, Ha'aretz, 31 July 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/888011.html

******

Minority Watch # 02 August 1, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters.
An understanding not judgement.

Minorities in the News

1. Bedouins in Israel

Bedouins in Israel protest over land rights. Ha'aretz, 16 July 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/882365.html

2. Bedouins in Israel

House demolitions to be delayed, Ha'aretz, 20 July 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/883846.html

3. Arabs in Israel

Criticims of the Jewish National Fund Law, editorial in Ha'aretz, 20 July 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/884358.html

4. Christians in Iraq

"The destruction of Iraq's Christians" by Rayyan al-Shawaf in The Daily Star (Beirut), 20 July 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=83937

5. Non-Muslims in Egypt

Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa says Muslims can convert into other religions, The Daily Star, 25 July 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=84053

Articles, Reports etc.,

1. Kurds in Turkey

"Turkish nationalism and the Kurdish question" by Mesut Yegen in Ethnic and Racial Studies, January 2007, pp.119-151

2. Arabs in Israel

Commentary by Rami G Khouri on the inclusion of Nakba in Israeli school text books, The Daily Star, July 28, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=84138

******

Minority Watch # 01, July 15, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters.

Minorities in the News

1. Bedouins in Sinai

Attempts at reconciliation: The government shows signs that it might be willing to meet at least some of the demands of Sinai's Bedouins, reports Serene Assir. Al-Ahram Weekly, 5 July 2007, http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/852/eg8.htm

2. Arabs in Israel

Arab-Israeli attorney Marwan Dalal was appointed to a prosecutor to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), based in The Hague. Ha'aretz, 8 July 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/879230.html

3. Muslims in Israel

Israel Antiquities Authority plans a Museum of Tolerance on the site of an ancient Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem's Mamila area. Ha'aretz, 11 July 2007. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/880500.html

4. Christians in Iraq

Christians face uncertain future in anarchic Iraq, The Daily Star, 9 July 2007 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=83646

Articles, Reports, Briefing

1. Iran: Minorities

Congressional Research Service Report on ethnic and religious minorities in Iran 25 May 2007,

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/87362.pdf

2. Iran: Minorities

"Iran's Ethnic Tinderbox" by John R Bradley, The Washington Quarterly, vol. 30, no.1, Winter 2006-07, pp.181-90,

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/washington_quarterly/v030/30.1bradley.pdf

[may not be freely available]

3. Persian Gulf

Religion, Ethnicity and Identity Politics in the Persian Gulf by Mahjoob Zweiri and Mohammed Zahid, published by Athens-based Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS), July 2007), accessible from http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?lng=en&id=32393

4. Bahrain: Shias

Victory of Al Wefaq: The Rise of Shiite Politics in Bahrain authored by Mohammed Zahid Mahjoob Zweiri, published by Athens-based Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS), April 2007). Accessible from http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?lng=en&id=29901

******