With curated multimedia series focused on hard hitting issues such climate change as well as current events, MENASource seeks to explore all facets of life in the region as affected by political, security, economic, and cultural issues.

Of particular focus and interest are the minorities, women, and the youth populations across the region and how they are affected by the changing environments.

The views expressed in MENASource are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

Learn more about the Middle East

Morsi Pardons Political Prisoners, Human Rights Groups Call for More to be Done

MENASource
Sep 19, 2025

How Israel’s strike on Doha is forcing a Gulf security reckoning

The Gulf monarchies have displayed strong unity at a time when rethinking twenty-first-century Gulf security is no longer optional.

Read More

Morsi Pardons Political Prisoners, Human Rights Groups Call for More to be Done

MENASource
Sep 19, 2025

Snapback sanctions threaten to further derail Iran nuclear deal hopes

By
Rob Macaire

Now would be the best time for the West to negotiate a deal with Iran—but snapback sanctions threaten a derailing into further confrontation.

Economic Sanctions
Iran

Morsi Pardons Political Prisoners, Human Rights Groups Call for More to be Done

MENASource
Sep 17, 2025

In landmark Syria elections, women still face electoral hurdles

By
Marie Forestier 

As the indirect electoral process begins, Syrian officials could take several steps to increase women’s chances in this process.

Civil Society
Democratic Transitions

Stay Updated


Content

MENASource

Oct 9, 2012

Morsi Pardons Political Prisoners, Human Rights Groups Call for More to be Done

By Nancy Messieh

Marking his first 100 days in office, President Mohamed Morsi issued a decree pardoning protesters convicted and imprisoned during the January 25th uprising that led to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. The decree was met with mixed reactions, with many describing it as a step in the right direction, but lacking certain guarantees.

MENASource

Oct 9, 2012

Top News: Morsy Issues General Amnesty for Revolution-Related Crimes, Egypt Remembers Maspero Clashes on Tuesday

By Egypt Source

On Monday President Mohamed Morsy issued a mass pardon for all those accused or found guilty of crimes pertaining to the events of the 25 January revolution — with some exceptions. The decision to issue general amnesty was based on the recommendation of Morsy’s military trial review committee.

MENASource

Oct 5, 2012

ANHRI Documents 43 Violations on Freedom of Expression in the Past Three Months

By Nancy Messieh

The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) published a report (Arabic) about the current state of freedom of expression in Egypt, under President Mohammed Morsi. In a statement announcing the report, ANHRI pointed to the “absence of the regime’s political will in Egypt, under the rule of the first civilian-elect president, to respect the […]

MENASource

Oct 5, 2012

Egypt’s Politics of Hidden Business Empires: The Brotherhood Versus the Army

By Zeinab Abul-Magd

In post-revolution Egypt, there are two types of capitalists dominating the economic landscape: Islamist capitalists, embodied by the ruling Muslim Brotherhood and military capitalists, embodied by the country’s affluent army generals. Both groups are content to work in and benefit from the free market milieu created about twenty years ago by the previous regime. However, […]

MENASource

Oct 5, 2012

Top News: Sabbahi Demands Changes for Constitutional Articles on Freedoms

By Egypt Source

Hamdeen Sabbahi, founder of the new Popular Current Party and former presidential candidate, said on Wednesday evening that he agreed with Alliance of the Egyptian Nation head Amr Moussa that 10 articles in the new constitution’s section on rights and freedoms should be amended.

MENASource

Oct 5, 2012

The Case for an Interim Constitution in Libya

By Duncan Pickard

Who is in charge of Libya? Muhammad Magarief, the president of the General National Congress (GNC), spoke at the UN General Assembly as de facto head of state. Mustafa Abushughur, the prime minister–elect, is another good bet. An argument could even be made for the ghost of the disbanded National Transitional Council (NTC), whose 2011 […]

Libya

MENASource

Oct 4, 2012

Parliament Remade: Egypt’s Shifting Political Forces

By Tarek Radwan

“Liberal parties have struggled to find their footing in Egypt’s post-revolution political atmosphere due to inadequate time to form a loyal constituency,” said Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East’s Visiting Fellow, Magdy Samaan, during a roundtable discussion moderated by Hariri Center Director, Michele Dunne, held on October 1. Elijah Zarwan, Senior Fellow for the […]

North Africa

MENASource

Oct 4, 2012

Top News: Morsi Appoints Emergency Court Judges

By Egypt Source

An Egyptian rights group has sued to repeal a presidential order that would effectively reinstate the country’s reviled state of emergency. Although the state of emergency was lifted in May of this year, President Mohamed Morsy issued a presidential order on 22 September that appointed 3,649 judges to seats in State Security Emergency Courts.

MENASource

Oct 3, 2012

Two Minors Placed in Juvenile Detention as Blasphemy Cases Increase in Egypt

By Nancy Messieh

With an initial wave of protests against an anti-Islam film dying down rather quickly in Egypt, an increase in blasphemy cases throughout the country appears to be a byproduct of these events. While blasphemy laws were often manipulated under the Mubarak regime, the number of cases in Egypt increased sharply over the past few weeks, […]

MENASource

Oct 3, 2012

Top News: New Bill Could Impose Restrictions on NGO Funding, Legalize Muslim Brotherhood

By Egypt Source

Legislation drafted by the Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs could tighten control over funding for non-governmental organizations and also give legal status to the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest Islamist group.

Load More