Full Coverage: Middle East

27.10.2006 Canadian Maher Arar was recently given a human rights award for his struggle against U.S. authorities who sent him to Syria to face nearly a year of torture. Arar, who has since been completely vindicated of any links to terrorism, vividly recounts the ordeal in his video acceptance.

25.10.2006 "Somehow the most reasonable, trusted, and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted," says ex-soldier Kevin Tillman in an essay encouraging U.S. voters to demand change November 7.
From: truthdig

25.10.2006 Turkey has received a strong message from the European Union: trade union rights are on the same list regarding Turkey’s commitments as freedom of expression, human rights, women’s rights, minorities’ rights, and the right to practice one’s own religion.

25.10.2006 Concerning trade union rights, on the 3rd October, Turkey received a strong message delivered by Olli Rehn, the Finnish European Commissioner, who is responsible for enlargement. According to him Turkey needs to ensure that full Trade Union rights are respected in line with EU standards and ILO Conventions.

24.10.2006 NEW YORK, Oct 24 (OneWorld) - A majority of people around the world reject the use of torture even if it is supposed to extract information that could save lives from terrorism, pollsters say. The finding suggests there is little support at home and abroad for President George W. Bush's defense of the abuse of terror suspects.

23.10.2006 New Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk has been a literary pioneer in trying to fuse Western and Islamic cultures, and has emerged as an outspoken proponent of free speech inside Turkey, says journalist Mevlut Katik.

12.10.2006 A rigorous study has shown nearly a three-fold increase in Iraqi deaths above what would have been expected if U.S.-led forces had never invaded and occupied the country.

10.10.2006 Two countries abolished the death penalty in 2006, but two others are considering re-instating the practice, which human rights advocates say is imposed in many countries despite appallingly low court standards.

05.10.2006 SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 4 (OneWorld) - The emotional ravages of war are at issue following the surrender to military officials of Specialist Darrell Anderson, a decorated U.S. soldier who fled to Canada rather than return to Iraq.

02.10.2006 U.S. Marine Corps Major General Richard Zilmer has made a "Priority 1" request for solar- and wind-powered generators to help with the fight in Iraq--they are strategically advantageous and could save the military billions of dollars.