Stories about Arabic from September, 2011
Kuwait: After Three Months in Prison, Court Releases Twitter User
Kuwaiti Twitter user Nasser Abul has been released from prison after serving three months for insulting the Bahraini and Saudi regimes. Netizens react after his release.
Arab World: Nobel Peace Prize for Revolution Netizens?
Twitter is abuzz tonight as the names of Arab netizens are being circulated as possible candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for the roles they have played in the Arab revolutions. The names of Global Voices Online very own Lina Ben Mhenni, Wael Ghonim and Esraa Abdelfattah are being mentioned.
Saudi Arabia: Women Allowed to Join Shura Council
Saudi women, who cannot drive in their own country, will be granted the right to become members in their country's 150-member consultative or Shura council, an advisory body which has limited powers in government and legislation. The decision was welcomed by netizens.
Algeria: Football Matches New Venue to Air Dissent
Algerians have discovered a novel way to make their voices heard. Spectators in football matches are using the opportunity to voice political views, in a country which has so far shielded itself from the revolutions of the so-called Arab Spring.
Tunisia: Whistleblower Samir Feriani Set Free
A military court in Tunis temporarily released whistle blower Samir Feriani, who spent 117 days in detention after publishing articles criticising the Tunisian Interior Ministry, on September 22. On September 29, his trial will resume and a verdict will be issued on his case. Netizens react to the news.
Jordan: MPs Wage Battle Against the Youth
This week's House of Representatives parliament sessions in Amman, Jordan, have been the center of public discontent, especially among the youth community. Jordan's young population came under fire during the debate. Nadine Toukan explains.
Tunisia: Bloggers Join Election Race
Tunisians will head to the polls to elect a national constituent assembly which will be in charge of writing their country's new constitution on October 23. Afef Abrougui reports on the seven bloggers joining the race.
Tunisia: Blogger Beaten up by Police for Telling a Joke
Eight months after the fall of the regime of Ben Ali, police in Tunisia have still not given up their brutality and violations of human rights. On Wednesday September 14, Tunisian blogger Azyz Amamy was arrested and beaten up by police for telling a joke on bananas. Bloggers are outraged.
Morocco: Multiple Arrests Against Activists
There has been a sudden surge in arrests among pro-democracy activists and online campaigners in Morocco in recent days. Three have occurred in the past week alone. Little has been reported in the press and it took bloggers to report on the arrests for the mainstream media in Morocco to pick up on the stories.
Saudi Arabia: Human Rights Activist on Trial
Saudi human rights activist Waleed Abu Alkhair has faced the national court in Jeddah for “insulting the judiciary”. Saudi tweeps discussed his case on Twitter to show support and criticize the way authorities function against activists.
Arab World: Remembering September 11
Twitter users from across the Arab world paid tribute to the 3,000 victims of September 11 as the world recalled the horrors committed by Al Qaeda terrorists who flew four passenger jets into buildings in the US 10 years ago.
Egypt: Lebanese Blogger and Activist Denied Entry and Deported
Award-winning Lebanese blogger Imad Bazzi was denied entry to Egypt, detained and interrogated at the airport and deported back to Lebanon on the next flight to Beirut. Tarek Amr checks out reactions to Bazzi's ordeal.
Egypt: Protesters Bring Down Israel Embassy Security Wall and Flag
Thousands of protesters took to Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the Egyptian revolution in downtown Cairo, today in protest against Egypt's military rulers. Soon, crowds of young men swarmed to the Israeli Embassy, where they tore down a security wall built to protect the Embassy, and brought down the Israeli flag, as chaos continued into the night. Here's a snippet of how the events played out on Twitter.
Morocco: Blogger Arrested in Northern City of Fnidaq
According to activists, Moroccan blogger and web programmer Mohamed Douas was arrested on Monday morning in the city of Fnidaq. His supporters say the arrest is related to Wikileaks Fnidaq,...
Morocco: The Twitter Opposition Party
On Monday, the Moroccan government launched a campaign to showcase its "achievements" since attaining power. A website was created to spearhead the campaign which comes only two months before a much expected parliamentary election later this year. Moroccan Twitter users used the platform to mock their government's claims.
Libya: Blogger Jad is Missing
Libyan blogger and programmer Abderrazak al Dokaly Assary (better known as Jad) has been missing since mid-August. According to the blog Made in Libya [Ar], Jad may have been executed...
Egypt: Scuffles Break Out Inside and Outside Mubarak Trial
Ex-Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stood trial yesterday for the killing of protesters in the revolution. This is the third hearing and lasted for 10 hours, with scuffles reported both inside the court and outside, where Mubarak's supporters clashed with the families of martyrs.
Lebanon: What Will be the Fate of Lebanese Prisoners in Syria?
Far from the daily protests in Syria, a group of mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters in downtown Beirut, Lebanon have held a permanent sit-in in a small tent since April 2005, calling for the return of Lebanese political detainees from Syria. Some have been missing for more than 30 years.
Libya: First Football Win as a Free Nation
Libya beat Mozambique 1-0 in the African Cup of Nations qualifier, its first victory since the fall of the Muammar Gaddafi regime. Twitter is buzzing with joy as Libyans taste their first win for a free Libya.
Lebanon: Saad-eddine Al-Hariri the Cab Driver
Salman Andary interviews (Ar) Mr. Saad-eddine Al-Hariri in Beirut! But this interview is with Mr. Saad-eddine Al-Hariri the cab driver and not the ex-prime minister of Lebanon (who is known as Saad Hariri and who has not...
