Supporters of the governments of Egypt and Turkey have become adept at telling the world that under presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Recep Tayyip Erdogan respectively, these countries are making progress toward more open and just political systems. In reality, they are nothing more than tin-pot dictatorships.

Over the weekend, Egyptian authorities detained, questioned, and deported Carnegie Endowment for International Peace scholar Michele Dunne as she sought to enter Egypt at the invitation of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs. Michele, who is the most well-respected Egypt analyst in Washington, has not been shy in her criticism of the Egyptian government.

Not to be outdone, yesterday the Turks arrested 27 people including journalists, TV producers, and police commanders on terrorism charges. All of the detainees are either members or suspected members of the Gulen movement.

  The families of captive servicemen burned tires on Monday near the Grand Serail in Beirut’s Riad Solh Square after receiving threats …

  BEIRUT: Lebanon holds several strong cards it could use in negotiations with the captors of 25 Lebanese servicemen, but greater consensus …

  The army announced on Monday the arrest of two suspects linked to unrest in the northern region of Bhannine and city …