Right here’s a round-up of Al Jazeera’s Center East protection this week.
Fears for democracy as barely anybody turns up for Tunisia’s elections, the World Cup has vacated the constructing, and Jordan’s gasoline protests flip lethal. Right here’s your round-up, written by Abubakr Al-Shamahi, Al Jazeera Digital’s Center East and North Africa editor.
Over the previous decade, Tunisians have repeatedly packed polling stations, queuing for hours, to train their hard-won proper to vote, in one of many area’s few actually democratic programs. They fought bravely for that proper, incomes it solely after managing to overthrow their long-time chief, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in 2011.
On Saturday, they have been ostensibly voting once more, this time in parliamentary elections. However the actuality was that barely anybody confirmed up, with the turnout introduced as an embarrassingly low 11.2 %. The explanation seems to be that numerous Tunisians have had sufficient of President Kais Saied, and his selections to rule by decree whereas curbing the powers of parliament during the last 18 months.
Saied rode to energy in 2019, on the again of well-liked anger throughout an financial disaster. However in July 2021, he unilaterally sacked the federal government and suspended an opposition-controlled parliament earlier than staging a referendum (30 % turned out) that put most of parliament’s energy in his personal fingers. None of that has improved the economic system. If something, it’s gotten worse, with meals shortages the norm. For now, Saied doesn’t appear to care. So, is Tunisia’s democracy useless? Or is it simply biding time?
The World Cup runneth over no extra
It’s over. It’s actually over. One gloriously glutinous month of typically every day soccer was topped with the biggest last in World Cup historical past (there, I mentioned it, no have to qualify the assertion), with Lionel Messi lastly getting a well-deserved World Cup winner’s medal with Argentina in his fifth and last strive. However now, Doha feels emptywith out Argentina followers singing their Muchachos track each 5 minutes on random road corners.
Morocco’s nationwide workforce has returned house to a hero’s welcome and royal honours, after changing into the primary African and Arab nation to achieve a #FIFAWorldCup semi-final 👇 pic.twitter.com/NghckYu6X5
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 21, 2022
Messi’s triumph is inevitably the largest headline to be taken from the match, however there have been many others, too: The primary Arab World Cup, the rise of groups from Africa and Asia, the political controversies and points over human rights. You possibly can learn extra about my ideas on this piece. And I actually suggest this podcast, from The Take, which compiles reactions to the video games from numerous journalists who lined the World Cup. I’m in there, and as you'll be able to most likely inform from my feedback, I’m nonetheless bitter about England dropping.
After which, in fact, there was what I've now taken to calling Bisht-gate: The backlash over the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, gifting Messi a conventional Arab cloak, generally known as a bisht, in the course of the trophy presentation ceremony. That second will undoubtedly be one of many abiding recollections of this match. It already is. Supposed as an honour, it was instantly met with incredulity from a few of the extra cynical members of the media, who in the end have sought to color a lot about this match in a damaging gentle — typically justifiably, typically not. On this case, a whole lot of that criticism went effectively past the mere questioning of whether or not it was the suitable time for Messi to be given a bisht, and as a substitute veered headlong right into a disparagement of Arab tradition. Sadly, completely predictable.
Petrol protests in Jordan flip ugly
Whereas Jordan is extensively considered as an island of stability within the Center East, the financial issues there typically result in main protests each few years.
Final week, demonstrations in opposition to excessive gasoline costs, a results of limits on subsidies imposed by the IMF, unfold throughout cities and cities in Jordan, significantly outdoors of the capital, Amman. They turned lethal in Maan, the place a police officer was killed on December 15. That led to a raid and an change of gunfire on December 19, when police tried to seize the suspected killers. Three law enforcement officials have been killed, in addition to one of many suspects.
[READ: Jordan’s truckers struggle to get by, sparking protests and violence]
And Now for One thing Totally different
‘Tis the season to go to Bethlehem. Vacationer numbers are lastly rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic, with folks, significantly Christians, selecting to go to in the course of the Christmas holidays. The Palestinian metropolis within the occupied West Financial institution is considered the birthplace of Jesus, and because the pictures on this gallery present, websites just like the Church of the Nativity are packed as soon as once more — spreading, hopefully, somewhat sorely wanted peace and goodwill to all.
In Transient
Palestinian prisoner with most cancers dies in Israeli custody – Israel’s Netanyahu says deal agreed with far-right to kind authorities, however what function will Non secular Zionists play? – Iran’s IRGC says 4 members of safety forces killed in assault close to Pakistani border – Sweden’s prime court docket blocks extradition of Turkish journalist – Palestinian American detained by Israel for attempting to enter Jerusalem, underscores double customary imposed by Israel in opposition to People of Palestinian descent – Qatar says Belgian probe into corruption in European Parliament primarily based on “inaccurate” data – At the least eight reportedly killed in explosion close to Iraq’s Kirkuk – Two Palestinian brothers killed after being run over by Jewish settler – Iran arrests actress Taraneh Alidoosti for expressing solidarity with executed man – Erdogan says Istanbul mayor and his presidential rival, Ekrem Imamoglu, can nonetheless enchantment responsible verdict, jail sentence for “insulting officers” – IMF approves $3 billion bundle for Egypt – France normalises consular relations with Morocco after final 12 months’s visa cuts – Libya PM admits function in switch to US of Lockerbie bombing suspect
Palestinian views on Ukraine
For a lot of Palestinians dwelling underneath Israeli occupation, the parallels to the Ukrainian expertise with the Russian invasion are apparent. However in response to Adnan Abu Amer, head of political sciences on the College of the Ummah in Gaza, the Ukrainian authorities and its Western allies have did not see the hyperlink. As a substitute, argues Abu Amer, there was nothing however unconditional help for Kyiv whereas concurrently pretending there's “no equivalence with Palestine’s scenario”.
Quote of the Week
“Demise to this and loss of life to that … Think about your kids rising up in a tradition that glorifies loss of life. What sort of future will we now have? What sort of era are we creating?” — “Najat”, quoted in a robust essay about journalist Afrah Nasser’s return to Yemen after 11 years in exile. After a lot battle, and the Houthi takeover of Sanaa, the house she left not exists.
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