MENASource

This Week in Egypt – June 14, 2013

By Amira Mikhail

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.

In Letters to Morsi, Congress and Senate Call into Question US Aid to Egypt

By Amira Mikhail

In a letter to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Senator Tim Kaine, Senator Marco Rubio and twelve other senators, expressed deep concern regarding the recent convictions of forty-three pro-democracy, civil society workers in Egypt. On June 4, Judge Makram Awad sentenced forty-three non-governmental organization (NGO) workers to one to five years of prison. The NGO workers, […]

Top News: United States Pledges Military Aid to Syria Rebels, No-Fly Zone

The United States dramatically toughened its line on Syria on Thursday, accusing the regime of using chemical weapons and promising military aid to the opposition.

Syria: A Crossing for its Own Sake?

By Frederic C. Hof

The US administration has, at long last, crossed the Rubicon of authorizing lethal assistance to selected units of Syria’s armed opposition.

Top News: Egypt Official Says Citizens Free to Join Fight in Syria

A senior official in Egypt’s presidential office said that Egyptians are free to fight in the conflict in Syria, and will not be prosecuted on their return to Egypt. In a response to an Associated Press question about the government’s stance on citizens going to fight alongside Syrian rebels, Khaled al-Qazzaz, a foreign affairs advisor […]

After Qusayr

By Faysal Itani

Hezbollah’s involvement in fighting the Syrian regime’s war in Qusayr represents a turning point for Sunni-Shia relations in Lebanon.

Top News: United States Eases Trade Restriction on Syrian Opposition

The United States eased restrictions on trade with Syria’s opposition Wednesday, in a move aimed at helping supply the critical needs of Syrians in "liberated areas."

Syria: Is Geneva II the Key?

By Frederic C. Hof

When Secretary of State John Kerry pressed his Russian counterpart in early May 2013 to help him convene a conference to implement the Action Group on Syria Geneva agreement of June 2012, his motive was honorable and straightforward: cut to the chase and get Syrian opposition and Assad regime representatives into a room to negotiate […]

Top News: Congressional Committee Calls for Pardon of NGO Trial Defendants

By Egypt Source

In Washington DC, the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa held a hearing on the verdict convicting forty-three NGO workers of operating illegally. Chairperson of the Subcommittee, Ileana Ros-Leitnen, called on Congress to send a strong message to President Morsi to pardon all the defendants and allow the accused NGO to continue to […]

International Response to Egypt’s NGO Trial

By Amira Mikhail

On June 4, Egypt’s courts concluded the year and a half long sentence of 43 workers in 4 non-governmental organizations based in Cairo. Sentences varied from 1 to 5 years in prison as well as the confiscation of the NGO’s assets. The defendants were accused of illegally receiving foreign funds for their respective work in […]