News

MP wants citizenship for non-Muslims too

May 08 2013
Kuwait
Source: 
Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: MP Khalil Al-Saleh yesterday submitted a draft law calling to amend the nationality law in a way to allow granting citizenship to non-Muslims, saying taking the religion factor in nationality affairs amounts to a form of discrimination. The Shiite lawmaker said that the Kuwaiti nationality law, first introduced in 1959, did not stipulate religious conditions in granting citizenship to foreigners. However, an amendment introduced in 1982 required that foreigners who may be granted Kuwaiti citizenship should be Muslim by birth or have embraced Islam for at least five years.

‘We will free them’ campaign launches

May 08 2013
Egypt
Source: 
Daily News Egypt

A group of political movements launched on Wednesday a campaign entitled ‘Hanharrarhom’ (We Will Free Them), established to organise popular pressure to release detainees arrested for taking part in revolutionary events.

The launch of the campaign was announced during a press conference held for political detainees. Political movements such as the Al-Tayar Al-Sha’aby (Popular Current), 6 April Democratic Front and the Free Front for Peaceful Change took part in the press conference.

PKK begins withdrawing from Turkey as part of settlement process

May 08 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Todays Zaman
An agreed pullout of militants of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey has reportedly started.
 

Selahattin Demirtaş, leader of pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday that the militants had "started moving." He earlier said the full withdrawal of forces could take three to four months.

Sudan’s parliament suspends activities to push for military mobilisation

May 08 2013
Sudan
Source: 
Sudan Tribune

Sudan’s National Assembly has decided to suspend its sessions next week in order to enable lawmakers to head to their constituencies and lead a mobilisation campaign in support of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in its ongoing battle with rebel groups which have stepped up their military activities in recent months.

The national assembly speaker, Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir directed MPs to go to their states and meet with the local governments in order to mobilise youth to support SAF.

"We want people to defend themselves and offer self-sacrifice” al-Tahir said.

Sudan NCP endorses proposal to extend Bashir’s mandate for 5 years

May 08 2013
Sudan
Source: 
Sudan Tribune

Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) approved a proposal on Tuesday aimed at amending its statute and extending the term of president Omer Hassan al-Bashir from four to five years.

NCP’s secretary of women’s affairs, Samia Ahmed Mohamed, told reporters in Khartoum that the proposal will be submitted to the Shura Council, the only organ entitled to amend the statute of the party.

Such amendment will mean the extension of Bashir’s leadership of the party for an additional year.

Analysts question new transfer of authority law

May 08 2013
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Source: 
Setimes

An amendment to the conflict of interest law in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) transfers authority in the cases to a parliament commission, a change that analysts and NGOs say could open the political sector up to corruption.

Currently, the Central Elections Commission is the authority in determining officials' involvement in conflict of interest.

The amendments have been passed by the state government, but need to be overturned by parliament, analysts said.

Malaysia Opposition to Challenge Election Results

May 07 2013
Malaysia
Source: 
ABC News

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim pledged Tuesday to mount a "fierce movement" to challenge what he called fraudulent election results that kept the country's long-ruling coalition in power, although with a diminished majority.

The opposition's refusal to accept the outcome could complicate efforts to restore political certainty to a country where millions of voters pushed for an end to the National Front coalition's nearly 56-year rule because of accusations of government graft and racial insensitivity.

Malaysian opposition leader calls rally to protest vote

May 07 2013
Malaysia
Source: 
CNN

Malaysia's opposition leader has urged his supporters to wear black at a rally to be held in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday to protest Sunday's vote, which he claims "was marred with unprecedented election fraud."

"Our conscience cannot allow us to accept election results conjured through frauds and cheating. A fight for clean and fair election remains the single most important fight that any Malaysian should relate to," Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement released Monday.

Albania Registers MP Candidates Before Polls

May 07 2013
Albania
Source: 
Balkan Insight

The ruling Democrats of Prime Minister Sali Berisha have included in their list of candidates three former Socialist MPs who switched ranks ahead of the polls.

The defectors were key to securing a majority in parliament for the government, after the Socialist Movement for Integration, the former junior government partner, joined the opposition coalition in early April.

Hopefuls start signing up for Iran’s presidential polls

May 07 2013
Iran
Source: 
Press TV

The registration of hopefuls for Iran’s 11th presidential election, which is due on June 14, has officially begun. The official registration began on Tuesday morning on the order of the Iranian Interior Ministry. Hopefuls have five days, until May 11, to sign up for the presidential election.

More than 20 political figures from across Iran’s political spectrum have so far announced their intention to run for president, with the majority being from the principlist camp.

Ruling coalition wins Malaysian election amid fraud allegations

May 06 2013
Malaysia
Source: 
Australia Network News

Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has won the country's 13th general election amid allegations by the Opposition of widespread fraud.

The ruling coalition faced an unprecedented challenge from the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance in Sunday's election, but ceded just two seats to finish with 133, a firm majority in the 222-member parliament.

The win extends BN's 56-year reign of power, making it one of the world's longest-serving governments.

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