By Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies Millions of Egyptians will cast their vote this week for their country’s first president since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 in elections that most of the nation’s public expects to be fair. The big question is whether the strong Islamist showing in December’s parliamentary polls will repeat itself and put an Islamist in the executive post. Gallup’s ongoing tracking of Egyptians’ views throughout its turbulent transition provide valuable insight. Five key research findings suggest Egyptian support for Islamists is more utilitarian than ideological, so an Islamist-dominated parliament may not translate into an Islamist president. Support for Islamists is already declining: If most Egyptians were casting a vote for philosophical rather ... Continue reading →

NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from war-torn Homs showing how parts of the city have been ravaged by fighting while others have been spared.By Ayman Mohyeldin, NBC News HOMS, Syria -- Fighting has ravaged Syria over the past 14 months, as evidenced in parts of the Homs neighborhood of Baba Amr. Nearly destroyed, hollow buildings stand on the side of roads seldom traveled by either cars or people. Once a stronghold of the opposition, the city now sits firmly under the control of the Syrian military.Ayman Mohyeldin, NBC NewsA child rides his bike across the bombed-out main street of Baba Amr. Once the stronghold of the opposition, it's now firmly in the hands of the military and the neighborhood is nearly empty as residents have fled ... Continue reading →

NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from war-torn Homs showing how parts of the city have been ravaged by fighting while others have been spared.By Ayman Mohyeldin, NBC News HOMS, Syria -- Fighting has ravaged Syria over the past 14 months, as evidenced in parts of the Homs neighborhood of Baba Amr. Nearly destroyed, hollow buildings stand on the side of roads seldom traveled by either cars or people. Once a stronghold of the opposition, the city now sits firmly under the control of the Syrian military.Ayman Mohyeldin, NBC NewsA child rides his bike across the bombed-out main street of Baba Amr. Once the stronghold of the opposition, it's now firmly in the hands of the military and the neighborhood is nearly empty as residents have fled ... Continue reading →

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At Qomia School in Aguza polling station ... The line for women voters is twice as long as the men — at Aguza. Continue reading →