Critical Analysis: Egypt’s Pending Referendum: A step forward or back?

Egyptians headed to the polls on Tuesday to vote on a constitutional referendum for the first day of a two day voting period.  This will be the first vote in Egypt since the military disposed of President Mohamed Mursi, the only president to be voted into office through a democratic election.  It is also the … Read more

Critical Analysis: Egyptians Protest Christian’s Death in Libyan Prison

On March 11, Egyptian protestors burned a flag belonging to the Libyan Embassy in Cairo to protest the death of an Egyptian Christian suspected of proselytizing in Libya. The Egyptian Christian, Ezzat Atallah, died in prison where he was detained in Libya with four other Egyptians – all charged with spreading Christianity.  While the Egyptian … Read more

Critical Analysis: Death Sentences Announced in Egyptian Soccer Riots—Justice, or Continued Injustice?

On January 26, an Egyptian judge sentenced 21 people to death for their participation in a soccer game riot in February 2012. Dubbed the “massacre at Port Said,” the riot last year broke out after the Port Said-based Al-Masry team defeated Cairo’s Al-Ahly team. The riot left 74 dead, and 1,000 injured.  Intended to bring … Read more

Constitutional Crisis: The Similarities Between Egypt’s Past and Present

On November 22, 2012, President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt gave himself broad new powers related to the writing and ratification of Egypt’s constitution.  The most controversial of these powers, which led to mass protests in Egypt, stated that “Morsi’s decisions could not be revoked by any authority, including the judiciary, until the new constitution had … Read more

Critical Analysis: Cease-Fire Stops Fight Over Gaza: Is This The End?

  On November 22, 2012, after eight days of fighting, the Palestine militant group, Hamas, and Israel called a cease-fire. The violence resulted in over 160 Palestinians and six Israelis dead, while many more were injured. Israel’s casualties were less extensive thanks in large part to its Iron Dome defense system, which was able to … Read more

Critical Analysis: Coptic Church Elects New Pope During Times of Uncertainty

On Sunday, November 4, 2012, Bishop Tawadros became the Pope-designate of the Coptic Church after a blindfolded six-year-old boy drew a slip of paper bearing Tawadros’ name from a glass bowl.  The Bishop succeeds Pope Shenouda III, who passed away in March and who served as Pope for over forty years.  Copts believe this ancient … Read more

Critical Analysis: Mubarak Sentenced to Life in Prison as Egyptians Take to the Streets

On June 2nd, an Egyptian court sentenced deposed leader Hosni Mubarak to life in prison over the killing of innocent protesters in the Egyptian uprising of 2011.  Mubarak is the first former leader in the region to be tried in person in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, marking an ignominious end to a thirty-year … Read more

The Arab Spring: Should Americans Care?

The Arab Spring

This Saturday, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law will be holding its annual Sutton Colloquium.  This year’s topic is  “Arab Spring and Its Unfinished Business: Law & Policy Issues.” While the speakers and their academic interests are diverse, I think that all of the speakers should address one underlying and generally unasked question: … Read more