Stories about Middle East & North Africa from October, 2005
Egypt: The Basilica Vigil
Karim posted some photos of the ‘Basilica Vigil‘, which some described as “an experience of a lifetime.“
Iran: Iran vs. Israel
Dokhtarak from Iran writes about anti-Israel demonstration(in Farsi) in Shiraz and says: “Only less than 10% of people have participated by their own desire. 70 percent were school kids, 15 percent military forces and 5 percent officials. She thinks Iranian people have become a joke in the eyes of the...
Morocco: Hoba Hoba
Foulla thinks that these Hoba Hoba – Rai-Gnaoua-Reggae- artists (Moroccan) band, sing about injustice, pollution in Casablanca, freedom… among other subjects; are great.
Jordan: 1001 Nights
Rami adds a story to 1001 nights stories when he describes where he comes from. He says: “Jesus was baptised 45 minutes away from my house, Moses looked upon the holy land 35 minutes away from my house, the temple of Zeus is not too far too, Jerusalem is a...
Lebanon: Lebanese Vacation
Fouad on his vacation in Lebanon. He says: “I put my camera strap around my neck, and slowly walked through the streets and alleys of the lower Basta. Brick by brick, cobblestone by cobblestone, I tried to take as much of it in as I could. From the little piece...
Yemen: Yemen Hit the Media
Abu Aardvark says that the last time Yemen erupted in protests, the government predictably went after the Aljazeera cameras. On the other hand, Stacey says that the attack was on Al-Arabiyya during their crew coverage of workers strike in Sana'a, when police and government strike out at press.
When is Eid?
Mahmood is betting that Saudi will declare Wednesday as the first day of Eid, and most if not all the GCC countries will follow suit. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does to even the light follower of Muslim affairs. But is it right?, he says. Farah has a...
This Week in Palestinian Blogs
Three major issues forced themselves to appear on Palestinian blogs this week: 1) The so called Gaza disengagement, 2) The discriminatory Apartheid Wall (which imprisons Palestinians in the largest jail humanity has ever known) and 3) The ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by Israeli military forces. Before you proceed, I'd like...
Echoes from the Tunisian blogosphere
Adib talks about bird flu, giving a complete explanation of the virus and it's dangers, as well as how much risk there is that it could reach Tunisia through bird migration, the places that would be affected, and what measures should be taken. (in French) He also writes about “Operation...
From the Egyptian blogs
Some bloggers are angry over the news of the 14 years old kid who is facing death sentence in Saudi Arabia. Freedom for Egyptians and Ritzy are pointing that the kingdom ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and that Sharia law does not impose capital punishments on...
First post from the Israeli blogosphere
Israelis who blog in English are mostly native speakers who immigrated to the country as adults. They include non-Jews as well as Jews, represent a wide range of religious beliefs – from secular to Orthodox – and their political opinions run the gamut from right wing to left, with everything...
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
Photography taken in the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan. “Girl Playing the Flute” by Sabri Hakim This week marked two celebrations- Jordan's Al-Faisali brought home the first-ever Asian trophy in the history of Jordanian football, and Jordan's first English daily, The Jordan Times, turned 30. Meanwhile, Ahmad Humeid has...
Morocco: Terrorism Threat in Morocco
Foulla writes that Al-Salafiyah al-Jihadiyah in Morocco Declares Jihad on the Moroccan Government. They issued a statement, declaring that the time has come to announce the “jihad on the government of disbelieving and oppression,” for the heads of government have allegedly “sold the country to the infidels after they cleared...
Jordan: Westernized Ramadan!
Firas wonders: “Well, these decorations are to commemorate Ramadan! Yet they are very westernized! The lanterns are now substituted for a flashing star in a crescent. Some has gone far by decorating their trees with tree lights, but of an Islamic version. So Ramadan now is a season of decorations...
Saudi Arabia: Children's Rights
Sabbah writes: “A 14-year-old Egyptian boy faces execution in Saudi Arabia after a flawed trial in which he was convicted for the murder of another child, Human Rights Watch said today.“
Jordan: University debts
Khalaf has a good analysis on the Jordanian universities debts which seems to be worsening and affecting the universities level of education. There are eight public universities in Jordan, with about 130,000 students studying for their bachelors degrees, 8,700 studying for their masters and 1,400 studying for their doctorate, according...
Iran: Woman's Rights
Fatima the Iranian girl says… when you wish a good future for yourself and your sisters, it means you have to fight for it, and try hard to change this selfish male theory that says “all high things belong to men and low ones remain women”. This wrong opinion exists...
Iran: Israel Off the Map?
Farid Pouya believes that Ahmadinejad and hardliners welcome crisis and sanctions against Iran. Yasser says: “in west everything against Israel and Jewish be censored and is not surprisingly when all condemned Mr. President! For his comments but they are silent when Israel killed Palestinians. But all of this is not...
Egypt: Threats Coptic Christians
Ritzy wonders: “is this heated language going to improve the situation? Did not Pope Shenouda call for reason just a few days ago?”
Bahrain: Survey: ‘Status’ of Women in Bahrain
Global Soul made an online survey for Bahraini males only to vote enable to determine how they view and interact with women in the workspace and home.
Iraq: Who is Mosul's Real Inhabitants?
Truth Teller of A Citizen Of Mosul is wondering, are the American Encyclopedias are so ignorant, that they didn't know the real inhabitants of the city of Mosul are Arab? Did the referendum on the constitution had any relation to that issue?
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
Mariam Abuadas is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
