· August, 2005

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from August, 2005

Blog Day 2005

  31 August 2005

Blog Day 2005 is making waves throughout the global blogosphere. The one-day celebration, which encourages bloggers to introduce their readers to five new weblogs from other cultures or perspectives, has been adding nearly a page of relevant posts to Technorati every hour. Romanian blogger, Carmen Holotescu asks her readers to...

Jordan: IbrahimOwais

  31 August 2005

Ibrahim Owais says that the Royal Film Commission (RFC) in Jordan continues its search for a script or an idea for a script to produce a Jordanian feature film of high international standards.

Labanon: APSA 2005

  31 August 2005

Abu Aardvark is on his way to to Washington for the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, where he will be presenting his “Anti-Americanisms in Arab Politics” paper.

Blogs of the World, Aggregate!

  30 August 2005

Boris Anthony, our good friend and Global Voices’ beloved graphic designer/toolsmith, recently offered this observation: “….In the last 6 months, I have not worked on a single ‘weblog': it's all been various types of aggregators.” As blogging becomes mainstream around the world and journalists, corporations, politicians and non-governmental organizations join...

Iranian bloggers celebrate their fourth Birthday

  30 August 2005

I would like to share with you some important issues about our blogging history. Of course it is a personal way to look to Iranian blogistory: 1- Genesis: On 7 September 2001 Salman become first blogger in Farsi. A few days later Derakhshan wrote simple instructions on “How to make...

Iran: Regional Civil Society Forum banned by Iranian government

  30 August 2005

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information reports that a regional civil society forum in Iran, grouping 40 Iranian and international delegates to talk about the Internet and information society was banned a few hours before the start of the event.

Lebanon: Lebanon in Pain

  30 August 2005

Mustapha says that you could almost smell the tension in Lebanon. Everyone is afraid, afraid from the unknown, from the harm yet to be caused.

Palestine: Memorable Moments

  30 August 2005

As the Israeli unilateral disengagement from Gaza draws to a close Laila from Gaza lists her top ten most memorable moments moments of the past two years.

Oman: Salalah Festival

  30 August 2005

WickeD of ‘Paradise in Me’ blog from Oman, writes a review on the annual Salalah Festival. She says that it needs more than the annually repeated concerts, poetry readings, painting and crafts exhibitions.

Iran: Woman Rights

  30 August 2005

Secular Canuck-Iranic is wondering if Ayatollah Khamenei is beginning to show some moderation on women's position in Islam?

Egypt: Egypt bloggers and Mubarak

  30 August 2005

“In a country where most major newspapers are state-owned or affiliated to a party, the Internet is offering an unprecedented freedom and platform for an increasingly bold opposition to the regime.” This is how Agence France-Presse (AFP) described the present status of Egyptian bloggers, who are setting new standards in...

Iraq: Death Toll for Journalists

  29 August 2005

In reference to the recent shooting of Waleed Khaled, a soundman for Reuters TV, by US military snipers in Iraq, Ethan writes on how dangerous the war has been not just for military and civilians, but for journalists.

Kuwait: Calling Sergei Krikalev

  29 August 2005

Maryam of q80girl, achieved one of her dreams. She talked to Sergei Krikalev on the International Space Station (ISS) while it was passing over Kuwait.

Jordan: Bataranzi

  29 August 2005

Wondering what Bataranzi means? Laith writes the face and reason behind the name “Bataranzi”.

Israel: Blogging

  29 August 2005

Tikun Olam wonders, Blogging and Blog Comments: Freedom to Say Anything or Civil Discourse?

Iraq: Constitution Dilemma

  29 August 2005

Iraq Rising writes ‘A Dangerous Constitution’: It seems that other than the Kurdish and Hakim’s/Ja3fari alliance, everyone else in Iraq is opposed to this constitution. And the reasons are quite clear. The major issue is the nature and powers of the Federal state visa-ve the Federal regions… The constitution, if...

Homeless but Online in Paris

  29 August 2005

Farid Pouya at Iranian blog Webgardian points us to a story in French on Projet Internet du Rue (The Street Internet Project) about a homeless Internet user in Paris who's been able to complete an online job search despite having no permanent address. Farid offers a partial English translation of...

Egypt: Only in Egypt

  29 August 2005

The Egyptian Person is following the Middle East Times, which occasionally has an article called “Only in Egypt“, which has a collection of weird and wondrous news items from Egypt. Chceck some of his collection.

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Mariam A.
Mariam A. is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.