· September, 2005

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from September, 2005

Israel: Widening Campaign

  30 September 2005

Smooth writes a letter to Muslim and Christian Palestinian Neighbors and says: “Your society has made virtually no effort to understand our narrative. Instead, you have developed what can be called a “culture of denial,” that denies the most basic truths of the Jewish story.”

Egypt: Protest

  30 September 2005

Referring to recent presidential election in Egypt, Baheyya writes, “In the name of nine million unemployed, your rule Mubarak is void!.”

Jordan: Albawaba Blogs

  30 September 2005

Ammar announce that the first region-wide (Mideast) Bilingual blogging service is up and running. The service is not officially launched, it's still on beta. Go, test drive Albawaba Blogs.

Bahrain: Governmental Blog

  30 September 2005

Blogging goes governmental in Bahrain. Chan'ad writes that Manama Municipal Council has set up a blog to communicate and receive feedback from the city’s expatriate community (who form 85% of its population). Blog can be found here: http://manama-council.blogspot.com/ Probably this is the first official's blog in the Arab world!

Kuwait: Sport Stepstone

  29 September 2005

Kuwaitism says that in Kuwait, sports are only used as a stepstone by people who don't care about it anymore! Giving example of Sh. Ahmad AlFahad, who used to be head of football federation and now is oil minister.

Lebanon: FBI Help

  29 September 2005

Mustapha of The Beirut Spring blog says that the Lebanese Minister of Interior should resign and the FBI should help with the investigations of recent terrorist attacks on Lebanese figures.

Palestine: Human Shields

  29 September 2005

umkahlil says that Israeli Forces uses brother of murdered victim as human shield to search a greenhouse belonging to his family. After he was released, he said that the Israeli soldiers used him as a human shield to discover the destiny of the persons who were inside the greenhouse. One...

Saudi Arabia: Gender War

  29 September 2005

Farooha writes very interesting posts about what she call a phenomenon that is gradually yet shockingly growing rampant in Saudi Arabia, the war between genders.

Syria: Free Elections

  29 September 2005

Sasa from The Syrian News Wire says that 2007 local council (municipal) elections in Syria will be true test of these promises by Baath Party.

The Kurdish Blogosphere-Identities of Silence

  29 September 2005

Recently on the Iraqi Bloggers Central an epic seven part update on the Kurdish/Iraqi blogs was written. While the summary was excellent (and a highly recommended read!) it also begs the question why were the Kurdish blogs and the Iraqi blogs linked together? It all comes down to the issue...

Jordan: Is BigBrother watching?

  28 September 2005

Firas is wondering why non of Jordan Planet (Jordan Blogs Aggregator) bloggers talks or mention local issue. He says that if you browse JP’s blogs, you will soon come to the conclusion that Jordan is an oasis of democracy where people are enjoying financial ease and prosperity.

Iraq: Referendum

  28 September 2005

Omar asks, because Iraqi intellectuals, artists and writers have taken it upon themselves to monitor the referendum, no one wants to come from outside?

Iran: Sanction

  28 September 2005

Mr.Behi grew up under war and sanctions. He says, “I do not want to see Iran under sanction again. This government cares about it's ideology first and then the people. That is insane. Who said that we should cut relations with US and pay this huge price. This is enough.”

United Arab Emirates: GITEX

  27 September 2005

Secret Dubai says that GITEX in its current form has become an unwieldy, logistically-nightmarish bore. He adds that it lacks relevance and cost-effectiveness for the vast majority of attendees, is far too wide in its scope to give adequate exposure to every segment, so he suggest to split it into...

Saudi Arabia: Official Religious Policeman site

  27 September 2005

The Religious Policeman often get complains that he is not the official site of the ‘Religious Police in Saudi Arabia’. So he decided to give the audience a guided tour through the official Religious Policeman site (which is in Arabic).

Palestine: Beirut? No… Gaza

  27 September 2005

Lama Hourani writes at ‘International Solidarity Movement‘ and says: “So it seems that we are living in Beirut again these days. And it seems that I had forgotten what the sound is of an F16 when it attacks. In any case, they are visiting us several times a day and...

Lebanon: Support May Shidyak

  27 September 2005

In solidarity with the Lebanese Journalist, May Shidyak, who was seriously wounded (lost left leg and hand) when a bomb exploded inside her car north of Beirut a couple of days ago, Lebanese bloggers have a lot to say and ideas to support.

Jordan: Music Morals

  27 September 2005

Sugar Cubes and Sabbah seem to be upset with what they describe as the low level of moral that some Arab artists and Arab Music TV channels are performing and promoting.

Iranian Journalists & Blogging in Iran: An Open Window to Communicate

  27 September 2005

Iranian journalists in their blogs,time to time, provide us first hand information. A couple of months ago Webnameh published Ganji's supporters’ photos in front of hospital before any other site or journal. A few weeks ago Hanif Mazroi, who was jailed last year , wrote about his prison days, his...

Jordan: The Power of Blogging

  26 September 2005

Wondering how powerful love blogging can be and effect of that on business? Well, here is a good example from Jordan. Jad has a very good example which actually hits two birds in one stone. First, as an upset customer, and second as a blogger who shared his feeling in...

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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.