Project on Middle East Democracy

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations released its draft Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations bill on Tuesday. The bill includes a number of notable provisions for the Middle East, particularly for Egypt. Most notably, the bill removes democracy conditions on assistance to Egypt that were included in the FY15 Appropriations Act.

• A failure to institute reforms has led Bahrain’s main opposition groups to boycott upcoming elections, undercutting the legitimacy of a parliament that, in any case, has little power. • The Bahraini government has unleashed another crackdown on activists, shutting down the space for opposition in the lead up to the election. • The ongoing repression of peaceful opposition increases the potential for violent groups to exploit widespread disillusionment and take the lead in opposing the government. • The government’s use of sectarian rhetoric to discredit the Shia opposition has also created fertile ground for the growth of Sunni extremism. • The U.S. should speak out against the imprisonment of peaceful activists, which adds to long-term security risks, and should be flagged in the important bilateral dialogue by defense officials as well as by diplomats.