A YouTube video calling on the dictator's wife to stand up against bloodshed in Syria has good intentions, but is, unfortunately, naive.

Liberal political systems allow space for personal religiosity. Those based on faith will squeeze personal freedoms.

With a military monopoly, neither political commentators nor ordinary Egyptians are willing to predict the outcome of next week's elections.

Muammar Gaddafi is dead but the women of Libya remain fearful.