How Arab Regimes Defeated The Liberalization Challenge
Prof. Barry Rubin - 10/13/2007
This article examines democratization efforts in the Arab world and how governments neutralized, utilized, or adjusted to them. The reactions of Islamists and the liberal movements themselves are also examined. In general, the regimes were able to defeat the demands for reform by using a number of classical techniques and new adaptations.

In recent years, from within and without, Arab regimes have faced a democracy challenge. Originally, this arose from a domestic challenge by reform-minded groups that were frustrated by the shortcomings of their countries’ governments. It became increasingly clear that the numerous failures of Arab rulers over many years were not being addressed by changes. Arab states were increasingly falling further behind others in the world in terms of living standards, the level of rights, the treatment of women, responsiveness to rapid changes in the world, and other areas.[1]

Manama- Aafaq:
The president of the Women's Petition (WP), the Bahraini activist Ms Ghada Jamsheer revealed the existence of a formal decision preventing her from appearing in any of the Bahraini media. In a statement to Aafaq, she stated that in addition to the official media of radio and television, newspapers, whether state or nearby, were also included in the blockade campaign.
Press sources in the capital Manama mentioned to Aafaq that the blockade resolution came directly from the Royal Court, through its Minister- Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, who gave a direct instruction to newspapers preventing publication any article or news related to Jamsheer.

Employer in dock

Titus Filio
Contributor

The police have asked the employer to return the passport of a Filipina maid who earlier had complained of physical assault against him.
A case is being prepared against the employer, identified as an Arab working in an embassy who allegedly attacked the maid with a lead pipe on the first day of Ramadhan.
The maid is housed at the Philippine embassy shelter. A medical check on her confirmed she suffered bruises and fractures on her hands when she tried to defend herself. The maid also suffered injuries in the head and the body.
An embassy official said they were in touch with the sponsor. The case has not been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor yet and is now considered a police case, based on the maid’s complaints.

The Constitution states that Islam is the official religion and that Shari'a (Islamic law) is a principal source for legislation. Article 22 of the Constitution provides for freedom of conscience, the inviolability of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold religious parades and meetings, in accordance with the customs observed in the country; however, the Government placed some limitations on the exercise of this right.

There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the reporting period. The Government continued to exert a level of control and to monitor both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, and there continued to be government discrimination against Shi'a Muslims in certain fields. Members of other religious groups who practice their faith privately do so without interference from the Government.

Published: 12th September 2007

HUMAN trafficking, rape, and the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children were some of the topics on the agenda as the US Special Representative for Social Issues concluded a three-day visit to Bahrain yesterday.

Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees met with officials from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, MPs and Non-Government Organisations, including the Migrant Workers Protection Society during his stay.

President George Bush created the post in October last year to promote the country's multi-lateral agenda worldwide, including combating sexual violence, addressing the exploitation of women and children and enhancing maternal and child health.

By REBECCA TORR
Published: 12th September 2007

BAHRAIN is ahead of other Arab countries in its initiatives to close the gender gap, but it still has a long way to go, says a UN gender consultant. While Bahraini women are fairing well compared to other countries in terms of education, being economically active and setting up their own businesses, they still find it difficult to make it into decision-making positions, said UN Development Programme Arab Countries gender consultant Dr Fatima Khafagy.

"Thirty one per cent of commercially registered enterprises in Bahrain are in the name of women and this is a high number compared to other countries, but still there is a wide gender gap in other fields such as in high government and managerial positions," she told the GDN.

http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10146274.html

08/13/2007 10:48 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: Women activists have blasted a statement by Islamist deputies opposing the election of a woman to head the Council of Representatives' finance committee.

"A major premise of democracy is that those who are elected to the parliament represent all the people, and not just a specific gender, sect or category," Women's Union spokeswoman Fatima Rabia said.

"The constitution rejects any form of discrimination, and no parliamentary bloc should discriminate against women. MP Latifa Al Gaood should be given the opportunity to prove her capabilities and her aptitudes. She may be better than her predecessor, and she should be judged on her skills, not on her being a woman."

By MAY ASHOUR
Published: 9th August 2007

MORE than 35 unemployed women staged a protest yesterday in front of the Education Ministry's Employee Affairs Directorate, Manama, demanding teaching jobs.

The women held up signs and banners for two hours from 10.30am, demanding to speak to top officials about alleged inequities in the ministry's hiring process.

Most of them hold teaching and information educational methods degrees from Bahrain University.

They claimed they had passed the ministry's employment tests several times, but been regularly waitlisted.

The ministry announced on Tuesday that it had finalised 473 new jobs for the new academic year, including teaching positions and promotions.

India clamp on women workers
By SOMAN BABY
Published: 3rd August 2007

INDIA has tightened restrictions on Indian women travelling to work in Bahrain and other Gulf countries, it was revealed yesterday.

From now on, not just housemaids but also other women with emigration clearance-required (ECR) passports will not be allowed to work in countries that do not have a labour welfare pact.

These include salesgirls, seamstresses, waitresses and a variety of other service jobs.

The new rules now also demand a $400 (BD150) minimum salary for all household service workers (HSW) and a security deposit of $2,500 (BD943) from potential HSW employers.

Show me the way to go home
Amnesty gets off to flying start
BT team

A filipina mother with three undocumented children was one of the first to apply for relief under the general amnesty which got off to a flying start yesterday with at least 375 illegal expatriates queueing up at their respective embassies.
The 5-month amnesty offer by the government in a bid to regulate the labour market is expected to attract thousands of illegal expats mainly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines and to a lesser extent Thailand.
Most of the embassies have set up special counters to deal with the amnesty-seekers, and are also undertaking awareness campaigns among the respective communities.