Middle East Focus: Middle East Travel Bans: Keeping Us at Home, Beats Waterboarding……..

Arabia Deserta

Middle East Travel Bans: Keeping Us at Home, Beats Waterboarding……..

Walking on water

“Travel bans are common throughout the Middle East: the governments of Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates all impose them. And Israel curbs the movement of Palestinians inside the territories it occupies and can prevent Palestinian politicians from going abroad. But Syria is the worst offender among Arab states. An opposition report says 400 or more people are affected, compared with only a few dozen elsewhere. Though illegal under international law, the bans are generally applied with impunity. In some Arab countries, however, they have been challenged. In March an Egyptian court quashed a travel ban on Muhammad Badei, the Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide. But Syrian courts refuse to interfere in matters of “national security”……….”

Not completely true, I am not sure if Syria is the worst offender in this case (it is definitely an offender, so it is just a matter of degree). Some other Arab states have thousands of people on their “banned from travel” lists as well. Iran also may have thousands on their list. Syria’s (and probably Iran’s) just get more coverage.
They are basically keeping them at home so they would enjoy seeing the ubiquitous photos and video shots of the leaders all over the place. After a while it becomes like being in a closed room and having someone with you scratching a blackboard with his nails, the whole time. Beats waterboarding; you should try it, but don’t tell Cheney, or Bill Kristol.
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com