The Future of Political Crimes in the Middle East

Saddam's trial is a milestone in the Middle East history.

The monster is in the cage. that is simply rightful and just. Actually, the first comment I wrote was "the dictator in the cage, freedom outside." It is simple but meaningful comment.

My colleagues in the free world have written thousands of pages on democracy's possibilities and deficits in the Middle East. They introduce a lot of status analysis, case studies, historical analysis and policy recommendations. With my respect to their work outcomes, I think it is necessary to make a point clear; in the democratization process the first target is the power (the ruler).

The first wall faces democracy march in the Middle East is the regimes (the de facto political power). This is due to one fact, we perceive a western difficulty in well grasping of, -almost because they did not experience the totalitarian state. This fact is that the political power (the regime) dictates the entire political game with its rules i.e. the regime is constructing the entire political scene in the country and has no participants in doing so because of the nature of totalitarianism.

We understand the nature of the democratization process and its requisites and conditions but we realize that dealing with the current regime is the first indispensable requisite.

For that, I can say "the dictator in the cage and freedom outside."

On the political projections of Saddam's trial concerning the Middle East, I think it a clear sign that the political crime in the Middle East is not tolerated anymore and the despots of the Middle East must coexist with this new reality; if they can, and I doubt it. And when we pay attention to the international investigation into Mr. Hariri's assassination, the message would be clearer.

To get an Arabic dictator from the presidency palace to try him publicly by his long-oppressed people is the end of an era and an overture to a new era in which the United States is leading the international community to make a definite choice. The political crime in the Middle East including the crimes against peoples will not be tolerated anymore and the perpetrators will face justice.

The international commitment to this new deal will put the Middle East in the right course, free of political crimes. Let us hope.

Popular posts from this blog

Netherlands and Canada's ICJ Torture Case Against Syria: A New Era of International Indictment of Sovereign Governments' National Crimes

Image
Netherlands' torture and other ill-treatment case against Syria at the International Court of Justice opens a new chapter in the international order and practice. Although our previous experience with the international order and the international institutions, especially in the Syrian crisis, lets almost no room for any expectations for this case to end torture in Syria or to achieve any difference in the course of action of the Syrian regime, it definitely can lay the foundation for this end by the international documentation, indictment and recognition of these domestic crimes.   In general, this unprecedented ICJ case has a particular international importance as It has a real chance to prompt a beginning of some international system development in terms of the international responsibility and role concerning ill-governance, which is generally fenced by the norm of sovereignty, especially in terms of systematic practice of torture and other kindes of ill-treatment by ...
Read more

The French Arrest Warrants for Chemical Weapons Attacks in Syria: A Precedent with Key Questions

Image
In an unprecedented development, the French judiciary has issued an international arrest warrants for the chemical weapons attacks performed by the Syrian government (regime) against civilians during the Syria war. The warrants target three top Syrian officials including the Syrian president.  Here is all you need to know about the first international (non-ICC) arrest warrant of a sitting head of another state for a grave crime against humanity and/or war crime by the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) .  This international precedent is stating that no sovereign impunity for grave crimes against humanity, as clearly indicated by the issuing judiciary, prompts two questions. First, would it be a followed precedent marking a change in the int practice? And the second question, how the following practice will define the initiating grave crimes?  One explanatory enquiry should follow here is about whether the western powers that practically i...
Read more

Israel's Strategy in Syria: From Enabling Iran to Strategic Loss

Image
Seven months ago, I wrote about the failure of the Israeli policy in Syria, which poses Israel as a main regional loser in the aftermath of the war in Syria. This article has been followed by other articles describing the following changing balance in the Middle East between Israel and Iran to the benefit of Iran and the role of Israeli policies and its traditional strategy and means toward its regional strategic loss. Meanwhile, the Israeli government and intelligence establishment were in quite different place claiming even achievements in Syria as regards Iran's entrenchment there. The academia and research institutions were in-between. Recently, it came to my attention this article by Ehud Yaari, which is the ever best Israeli analysis I have read in months. Finally, there is some scholar in Israel has the realistic and true assessment of the situation in Syria and the Israeli policy there along with the strategic conclusion. This is definitely a useful work, as th...
Read more