Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa

Freedom House has just published its 2014 report and here's the freedom figures for the Middle East and North Africa from that report, first for 2010 - 2014 and then just for 2014

In case you are wondering, the Palestinians are not forgotten, the Gaza Strip and 'West Bank' appear under a list of territories, here's their 2014 ranking for comparison...

In the above tables, "PR" stands for "Political Rights," "CL" stands for "Civil Liberties," and "Status" is the Freedom Status.
Political Rights and Civil Liberties are measured on a one-to-seven scale, with one representing the highest degree of Freedom and seven the lowest.
“F,” “PF,” and “NF,” respectively, stand for “Free,” “Partly Free,” and “Not Free.”

The lower the number the freer the country. Can you spot the only country that is FREE? That would be Israel. Of the Muslim majority countries that surround and mostly hate Israel, only five are even classified as Partially Free - Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The rest are classified as Not Free.

How peculiar that so many people spend so much time and energy denigrating the name and record of Israel and calling it an apartheid state, when it is by far the freeest country to live in the area in which it is situated.

Don't try it on with me re ethnic cleansing in the Middle East and North Africa (update)

Further to my post back in January about the real ethnic cleansing in the Middle East and North Africa, I recently received the following comment (in French):

'Je m'excuse de n'a pas poster en anglais mais comme j'ai cru comprendre que l'auteur maîtrisé cette langue, donc je me permet de le faire en français.
 
Tout d'abord il ne faut pas se voiler la face, l'antisémitisme existe au Maghreb (même si les arabes sont aussi sémites) vis à vis des juifs bien que ces dernières années on tend à faire la différence entre israélites et sionistes. Ce type de sentiment est clairement affiché dans le monde arabe par les partis d'extrême droite conservateurs dit plus communément islamistes. Ces derniers, comme tout bon partis extrémistes qui se respectent, jouent sur les peurs des populations et amplifient des faits divers pour en faire tout un scandale qu'on généralise à tout un groupe (religieux, ethnique ou régional selon le besoin).
 
Maintenant, pour ce qui est des juifs d'Algérie, personnellement je n'en connais pas mais j'en suis sur qu'il en reste. Ces derniers doivent vivre dans le secret étant donnée ce qu'à vécu l'Algérie durant les année 90. Mais de la à donner des chiffres, je ne m'aventurerais pas dans ce genre d'entreprise.
 
Le nombre de séfarades ayant quitté l'Algérie à été une grande perte pour l'Algérie mais disons que l'histoire moderne de ce pays jeune à été très mal abordée et les algériens le découvriront en revoyant leur histoire avec plus de recul et moins d'interférences idéologiques.
 
Pour finir, je ne vois pas pourquoi parlés t on dans l'article de nettoyage ethnique, le problème israélo palestinien est un problème de colonisation. Israël fait partie aujourd'hui des derniers pays coloniaux dans le monde ne respectant pas la charte de l'ONU ainsi que plusieurs résolutions de cet organisme qui lui a pourtant donné vie. '

In case your French is not as fluent as mine (!) here's a translation courtesy of Google Translate:

,I apologize for not posting in English, but as I understand that the author mastered the language, so I can do it in French.
 
Firstly we must not close our eyes, anti-Semitism exists in the Maghreb (although Arabs are also Semites) towards Jews although in recent years it tends to make the difference between Jews and Zionists. This type of feeling is clearly displayed in the Arab world by far-right conservative parties said commonly Islamists. The latter, like any good extremist parties who meet, play on the fears of people and amplify various facts to make quite a scandal that generalizes to a group (religious, ethnic or regional, depending on need).
 
Now, regarding the Jews of Algeria, I personally do not know but I'm sure he left. They must live in secret given that only lived in Algeria during the 90 years. But to the numbers, I do not venture into this kind of business.
 
The number of Sephardim who left Algeria has been a great loss to Algeria, but say that the modern history of this young country has been poorly addressed and the Algerian discover by reviewing their history with more distance and less 'ideological interference.
 
Finally, I do not see why you t spoken in the article of ethnic cleansing, the Israeli-Palestinian problem is a problem of colonization. Israel is now one of the last colonial countries in the world do not respect the UN Charter and several resolutions of this body has yet given him life.'

As usual it is all Isreal's fault for existing, apparently those Jews have  colonised their own homeland...

The results of real ethnic cleansing in the Middle East

Just don't expect the anti Israel BBC to ever mention such historical facts.

Isn't it disgusting how Israel dominates the Middle East

The map that the BBC won't show.

Don't try it on with me re ethnic cleansing in the Middle East and North Africa

This morning I posted a comment to my piece on ethnic cleansing in the Middle East and North Africa. The original article ran thus:

'The brainwashed and the haters of Israel are often heard to scream that Israel is ethnically cleansing  Palestine. That is of course a lie, the Arab Muslim population of Israel has increased five fold over the last 60 years, the Jewish by less than half that rate,. The population of the Palestinian territories has also expanded at a faster rate than the world average. However there is one population in the Middle East and North Africa that has almost disappeared over the last 60 or so years...

...The Jewish population.

So where's the ethnic cleansing happening and who's carrying it out?'

The comment I received and posted ran thus:

mikhail Oumarov said...

il y a beaucoup de juifs qui vivent en Algérie (plus que 28 peut etre 10 000 au minimun ) tandis qu'au maroc ils sont au moins 500 000 il faut arrêter les mensonges habituelles , toutes personnes qui connait l'Afrique du nord ne pourra tomber dans une propagande aussi grotesque

20 January 2013 19:33

In case your French is not as good as mine, here's a rough translation (please correct me if I am wrong):

'There are many Jews living in Algeria (more than 28 may be at minimum 10 000), while in Morocco they are at least 500,000 must stop the lies usual, all persons who knows North Africa will fall in a grotesque propaganda'

Was I lying? Let's look at Wikipedia:

Algeria - Following Algerian independence in 1962, almost all of Algeria's Jews, having been granted French citizenship in 1870, left with the pied-noirs. The vast majority moved to France, and the rest moved to Israel. Those who remained resided mostly in Algiers, while some settled in Blida, Constantine, and Oran.

In the 1990s, the trials of Algerian Civil War led to the emigration of most of the remaining Jews. Two decisive events were the rebel Armed Islamic Group's 1994 declaration of war on all non-Muslims in the country, and the abandonment of the Algiers synagogue that year.

Here's Point Of No Return - the Jewish refugees blog:There are almost no Jews left in Algeria: the last Jewess assisted by the Joint Distribution Committee, Mrs Esther Azoulay, passed away in July 2011, bringing to a close the JDC's programme in that troubled country, its CEO Steve Schwager writes. Before 1962, Algeria had 160,000 Jews. There may still be a handful left surviving without assistance 

The story of the final desecration/destruction of the last remaining synagogue in Algiers in 1988 makes stomach-churning reading even today. The damage done was so extensive that the synagogue, now in ruins, had to be permanently closed. By the end of the eighties, only 94 Jews remained in the country.

In the mid-1990’s the assassination of two Jews in Algiers marked the end of an era.

JDC remained a pillar of strength, providing assistance to those who needed help even as the community continued to shrink.

Since 1985, Line Meller, then living in Algiers, served as JDC’s liaison with the remaining Jews of Algeria.On our behalf she helped to assure the welfare of a small number of aged and impoverished Jews, who continued to receive cash assistance from JDC until they passed away.

Although JDC could not redeem these unfortunate Jews from their suffering since they did not want to emigrate, the work that JDC did kept them alive. JDC enabled Line Meller to light a candle in a black hole of darkness.

In 2010, Mr. Messaoud Chetrit, 82-years-old and the last Jewish man still living in Oran, passed away. A delegation of Jews came from France to ensure that he was buried according to the traditional Jewish ritual in the very cemetery of Oran where he had been the final caretaker.

And that brings us to the last Jew in Algeria assisted by JDC, Mrs. Azoulay, who had a very difficult life. In 1992, her case came to the attention of JDC, which from that point on provided her with regular cash assistance. Over a period of two decades, this JDC aid enabled Mrs. Azoulay to pay for all the medical care she needed for her multiple ailments. But perhaps what she treasured most about this JDC connection was the reassurance it gave her that she had not been forgotten by her people.

How about Morocco?

Wikipedia : 
In 1948, approximately 265,000 Jews lived in Morocco. Around 2,500 live there now, mostly in Casablanca, but also in Fes and other main cities.

...

As of 2004, Marrakech had an aging population of about 260 Jews, most over the age of 60, while Casablanca has between 3,000 to 4,000 Jews. Meanwhile the State of Israel is home to nearly 1,000,000 Jews of Moroccan descent, around 15% of the nation's total population.

Here's Point Of No return: 'Until Morocco became a French protectorate in 1912, the Jews had limited legal rights. They were confined to the mellah; they could not own property. They were periodically massacred (According to Wikipedia, 400 were killed in Tetuan in 1859)and subject to forced conversion.

...

lmost as soon as Morocco became independent Mohammed V played off political parties against each other and kow-towed to the Arab League. When the leftwing of the Istiqlal party rose to power the Jews were thrown into a panic. The Jews became the scapegoats of choice. Adopting anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist measures to please the Arab league, postal links between Morocco and Israel were cut. The ephemeral Jewish postal minister ceased to exist. Certain senior Jewish civil servants found themselves in disgrace and a numerus clausus (quota) was introduced for Jews in public service. Jews were refused passports, forcing them to emigrate illegally.

Things got worse after the Arab League meeting in Casablanca in 1959. The police set out in hot pursuit of those Jews who wished to leave Morocco. All escape routes were blocked. Those Jews who were caught trying to escape were thrown into jail and tried for 'jeopardising state security'. And so Zionism became a crime. A Jewish notable in Meknes was brought to court for owning a Keren Kayemet (Jewish National Fund) calendar. Another was arrested and beaten for wearing a blue and white kippa while praying in synagogue. All charitable and social institutions were suspected of Zionism.

...

The exodus of Moroccan and Tunisian Jews extended over a long period, beginning in 1947 -8 following the creation of Israel, dipping in 1953 when Israel was in the grip of a serious economic crisis, peaking in 1956 - 7 when Tunisia and Morocco became independent. Emigration was officially banned between 1958 and 1960 but took place illegally and at great risk. In 1961 and 1962, 70 percent of Jews left when the ban was lifted. The remaining Jews left after the Six Day War. Only some 3,000 remain.' 

 So mikhail Oumarov it looks as though you were correct, I did make a mistake with that graphic. There are in fact not 6,500 Jews left in Morocco but around 3,000. As for Algeria, figures I have seen vary between none and maybe a hundred, so that figure of 28 seems plausible. 

So who's lying?

In Mallorca?

I read today that the British Prime Minister is currently on holiday in Mallorca, which is a very nice place to go on holiday. I wonder if he is aware of what happened in the capital of Mallorca, Palma, just 10 days ago?

Here's some amateur footage of some minor rioting by (apparently illegal North African immigrants)

Oddly I do not recall hearing about this in the UK media at the time. I only heard about it yesterday and so went looking for any video.

Yet another reason to despair of the United Nations

I get very sick of the way the liberal media laud praise on the United Nations as being some sort of arbiter of right and wrong, some sort of defender of peace and liberty. This United Nations Human Rights Council report on human rights in Libya, pre the revolution, includes the following quotations:

'Iran noted that the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had implemented a number of international human rights instruments and had cooperated with relevant treaty bodies. It noted with appreciation the establishment of the National Human Rights Committee as an independent national human rights institution, and the provision of an enabling environment for non-governmental organizations.

Algeria noted the efforts of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to promote human rights, which reflected the country’s commitment to complying with Human Rights Council resolutions and cooperating with the international community. Algeria welcomed the national institutional framework that had been set up, in particular the National Human Rights Committee. It noted that the country had made some progress in the area of education, as well as social and economic progress since the lifting of economic sanctions.

Qatar praised the legal framework for the protection of human rights and freedoms, including, inter alia, its criminal code and criminal procedure law, which provided legal guarantees for the implementation of those rights. Qatar expressed appreciation for the improvements made in the areas of education and health care, the rights of women, children and the elderly, and the situation of people with special needs.

Sudan noted the country’s positive experience in achieving a high school enrolment rate and improvements in the education of women.

The Syrian Arab Republic praised the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for its serious commitment to and interaction with the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. It commended the country for its democratic regime based on promoting the people’s authority through the holding of public conferences, which enhanced development and respect for human rights, while respecting cultural and religions traditions.

North Korea praised the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for its achievements in the protection of human rights, especially in the field of economic and social rights, including income augmentation, social care, a free education system, increased delivery of health-care services, care for people with disabilities, and efforts to empower women. It noted the functioning of the constitutional and legislative framework and national entities.

Bahrain noted that the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had adopted various policies aimed at improving human rights, in particular the right to education and the rights of persons with disabilities. Bahrain commended the free education system and praised programmes such as electronic examinations and teacher training. It commended the country for its efforts regarding persons with disabilities, particularly all the services and rehabilitation programmes provided.

Palestine commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for the consultations held with civil society in the preparation of the national report, which demonstrated its commitment to the improved enjoyment of human rights. Palestine praised the country for the Great Green Document on Human Rights. It noted the establishment of the national independent institution entrusted with promoting and protecting human rights, which had many of the competencies set out in the Paris Principles. It also noted the interaction of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya with human rights mechanisms.

Iraq commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for being a party to most international and regional human rights instruments, which took precedence over its national legislation. It welcomed the efforts to present a comprehensive overview of the human rights situation in the country based on the unity among democracy, development and human rights. It also commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for its cooperation with the international community.

Saudi Arabia commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’s achievements in its constitutional, legislative and institutional frameworks, which showed the importance that the country attached to human rights, and for the fact that international treaties took precedence over its national legislation. It noted that the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had become party to many human rights conventions and had equipped itself with a number of institutions, national, governmental and non-governmental, tasked with promoting and protecting human rights.

Tunisia welcomed [Libya’s] national report, as well as the efforts of the National Committee, such as the website created to gather contributions. Tunisia noted progress made by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, such as the adoption of the Great Green Charter, which was very comprehensive and enshrined fundamental freedoms and rights as enshrined in international human rights instruments.

Venezuela acknowledged the efforts of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to promote economic, social and cultural rights, especially those of children. It highlighted progress achieved in ensuring free and compulsory education.

Jordan welcomed the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’s achievements in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the establishment of institutions, particularly in the judiciary system. Jordan praised progress in the fields of health, education and labour, as well as the increased attention to the rights of women. Jordan noted the participation of women in public life, including decision-making, and emphasized the fact that women held one third of all judicial posts.

Cuba commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for the progress made in the achievement of one of the Millennium Development Goals, namely, universal primary education. It noted that the country had also made a firm commitment to providing health care.

Oman commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for its diligent efforts in the field of human rights and for making them its priority. It referred to the legal framework for the protection of human rights, and its clear commitment in that regard, which was reflected in the ratification of most human rights instruments, and its cooperation with United Nations mechanisms. The country’s report focused on both achievements and challenges, which demonstrated its sincerity in addressing human rights issues.

Egypt commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyaorganizations in combating human trafficking and corruption, and the improvement made in the conditions related to illegal migration.

Malta fully recognized the difficulties faced by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and welcomed the action taken at the national, bilateral and regional levels to suppress the illegal activities that gave rise to migration. Malta welcomed the cooperation of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya with the International Organization for Migration.

Bangladesh referred to the progress made in the enjoyment of economic and social rights, including in the areas of education, health care, poverty reduction and social welfare. Bangladesh noted with appreciation the measures taken to promote transparency.

Malaysia commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for being party to a significant number of international and regional human rights instruments.

Morocco welcomed the achievements in promoting social protection, especially for women, children and persons with special needs. It welcomed the efforts to protect the rights of children. It welcomed the establishment of a national committee for the protection of persons with special needs. Morocco also praised the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for its promotion of human rights education, particularly for security personnel.

Pakistan praised the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for measures taken both in terms of legislation and in practice, noting with appreciation that it was a party to most of the core human rights treaties. Pakistan praised the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’s commitment to human rights, in particular the right to health, education and food, even when the country had faced sanctions in the 1990s. Pakistan was encouraged by efforts to address the root causes of illegal migration, and noted the good practice of settling political disputes and developing infrastructure in source countries.

Mexico thanked the delegation for the presentation of the national report and the answers that it had provided. It expressed appreciation for the political will of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to address the human rights challenges facing it. Mexico hoped that the universal periodic review of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya would make a positive contribution to national efforts to overcome challenges to guaranteeing the full enjoyment of human rights.

Myanmar commended the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for its economic and social progress, and recognized efforts in domestic legislation aimed at guaranteeing equal rights. Myanmar noted that the country had acceded to many international human rights instruments and established a national Human Rights Committee. Myanmar praised efforts to realize basic education for all and a free health-care system.

Viet Nam congratulated the delegation on the quality of the national report. It noted with satisfaction the commitment of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the protection and promotion of the human rights of its people, particularly the country’s accession to the main international human rights conventions. It welcomed achievements made in the exercise of human rights.

Thailand welcomed the national report, which presented both progress and challenges. Thailand highlighted efforts made with regard to education, persons with special needs and vulnerable groups.

Brazil noted the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’s economic and social progress and acknowledged the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, the free health care and the high enrolment in primary education. Brazil noted the successful cooperation with international organizations in areas such as migrant rights, judicial reform and the fight against corruption.

Kuwait expressed appreciation for the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’s initiative to improve per capita income and to ensure social justice and the fair distribution of wealth. It praised the measures taken with regard to low-income families. Kuwait called upon the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to continue its efforts to integrate people with disabilities into society while recognizing their positive role.'

The comments from Libya's fellow Arab and other Muslim countries is, whilst despicable,  perhaps not surprising and the comments from Cuba & Venezuela are predictable coming from such unpleasant anti-democratic regimes.I understand Malta's comments being as they are suffering a near invasion of people fleeing North Africa for Europe. However Thailand, Brazil and the rest really should look to their moral compasses before praising the human rights record of a country such as Colonel Gaddafi's Libya.

Disgusting, especially as the most of the above countries frequently criticise the only democratic, pluralist country in the Middle East or North Africa, Israel.


Thanks to UN Watch  for the spot.

Is this called jiyza?

I read in The Guardian that

'Arab countries in transition to democracy are to be offered as much as £12bn in aid, loans and debt relief as a result of pledges being compiled at the G8 group of nations summit on Friday. The money will come from international financial institutions and members of the G8.'

Yes, it seems that the West are going to throw even more money at countries who a) mostly have plenty of oil money that they often prefer to spend on their military or siphon off to their elite and b) whose 'transition to democracy' is very likely to mean the coming to power of Islamists who mean us considerable harm. Why are Western governments and pan-national institutions so stupid? Do they not realise that they are simply throwing money at people who hate us and thus aiding are enemies?

Are the conspiracy theories that Western governments are trying to merge Europe with Arab North Africa and the Muslim Middle East actually onto something? Is there a cunning plan being followed? I only ask because if there isn't then there seems to be a lot of incompetence out there.