Stories about Middle East & North Africa from January, 2007
Iraq: Another Terrifying Day
Iraqi blogger Nabil writes about yet another terrifying day in his neighbourhood. “Me and several people ran to the roof of the house, and there was my neighbour lying on the floor with his legs got cut due to the explosion and he was severly bleeding and there was blood...
Iraq: Massacare in Najaf
Iraqi blogger Imad Khadduri reports a massacare in Najaf, which left about 260 people dead.
Israeli Ambassador to Egypt ‘Can't Stand Security Measures’
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia is in stitches that the Israeli Ambassador to her country has left his residence in Maadi Suburb because of the Maadi Slayer. “Oh yes the Israeli Ambassador and his family pack their bags to stay in the Embassy in Giza area near the Zoo because of the...
Egypt: January Bookfair
Blogger Baheya is back from the Book Fair, with three books in tow. “I’ve plucked only three of the most prominent features this year, two worthwhile new novels and a marvellous book lifted straight from the texture of daily life,” she wrote, giving us an interesting review of the books!
Egypt: New head for Kifaya Movement
Egyptian opposition movement Kifaya will have a new activist at its helm after the resignation of George Ishaq, reports Arabist. The new frontman is Dr Abdel Wahab Al Messiri.
Egypt: The History of Nimrod
Blogger Tom Gara gives us a brief history of Nimrod and Zionism following a brief research after the funny looks he got on the metro while singing to himself.
Bahrain Jails Political Activists
A court in Bahrain today sent two political activists to jail for possessing leaflets calling for a boycott of recent legislative elections, reports blogger Mahmood Al Yousif, who describes the sentence as “Disgusting. Another blow for freedom of speech in Bahrain.”
Bahrain: Musical Differences?
Bahraini Rants is trying to get his cousin appreciate some of the music which shaped his generation. “I asked him about Jimi Hendrix, and he told me he wasn’t interested. His disinterest invited me to launch into a full monologue explaining the influence Jimi Hendrix had on my life and...
Syria May Abolish Capital Punishment
Syrian blogger Mustafa Hamido reports that Syria may abolish capital punishment.
Kurdistance: The Kirkuk Referendum
While the Kirkuk Referendum isn't expected to take place until December 2007, it is creating waves within Kurdistan, Iraq and their neighbors. Why the flurry of activity now? The Iraq Study Report recommended that the referendum be delayed, citing the the area as a “powderkeg”. The Republic of Turkey wants...
Iranian Bloggers Talk About Their Prison Experience
Many people for political reasons have been sent to prison in Iran. A few of those former prisoners shared their stories in books, through painting or in their blogs. Some people, including bloggers and researchers, have tried to look at prisons in Iran as an outsider, who was not in...
Ethiopia: Gaddafi won the prize
“Gaddafi won the prize for the biggest entourage – three jets and a smaller cargo – and the best outfit – blue/purple/orange wraparound shares. white and yellow robes, green Africa badge and every military medal you can think of,” writes Meskel Square in a post about the arrival of dignitaries...
China: Out of Libya
It‘s [zh] since been disabled, but there was one especially eye-catching post on Tianya, one of China's most widely-read bbs forum sites last month. ‘Save us!’ it read. ‘We've been stuck in Libya for over a year and we're about to go crazy here!’ Racist attitude, seen further down, might...
Morocco: War between Village Women!
Cory Driver, an American who lives in Morocco, withnessed a hilarious war between the women of a village he was visiting. “All the grown women.. were throwing grown-women-sized-rocks at each other. The men were mostly just standing around watching; occasionally cheering, occasionally trying to talk some sense into rock-throwers… but...
Morocco: Too Many Policemen at Airport
Adil, a Moroccan blogger who lives in Washington DC, US, says there was far too many policemen at the King Mohammed the Fifth Airport. “I believe that airport is overstaffed with police. Passengers need more service oriented ppl to guide them through the arrival than a policeman with a moustache...
UAE: Interrogation Stories at US Border Anyone?
UAE resident SolitudDeGitana questions whether anyone knows what the amount of information you have to/should divulge during airport interrogations. “(T)he woman over at luggage inspection started asking me a string of other questions, namely about whether I had a boyfriend where I'm living in the MIddle East. I answered her,...
Dubai: Seebee Finds Nuns’ Behaviour Hilarious!
Seebee at Life in Dubai is in stitches at the behaviour of a group of Greek nuns, who ran up half a million pounds in debt and then went into hiding after their wool industry failed.
Palestine: Anti-Semites Increasing in Europe
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah wonders why anti-Israeli sentiments are on the increase. He quotes Haaretz saying: “…the number of anti-Semitic incidents rose significantly in Europe last year, according to a joint study released Sunday by the Jewish Agency’s Forum for the Coordination of the Struggle Against Anti-Semitism.” He also links...
UAE: Looking for Picture Purrfect Cats?
BRN who lives in Al Ain, UAE, links to two hilarious sites about cats. They are Cats that look like Hitler and Stuff on my Cat.
Arabisc: Egyptian Bloggers Tie the Knot
Like in Egyptian movies, there is a thin line between imagination and reality in Egypt, where two politically active bloggers get close to each other at an anti-government rally, then fall in love and finally get married. Blogger Albara Ashraf reports this happy story, without failing to conjure some of...
Palestine: Civil War in the Horizon?
Tony, from Palestinian Pundit, posts a poll conducted by Al Jazeera, on whether there will be a civil war in Palestine or not. “With more than 1,500 responding so far, here is the breakdown: Yes……..33% No………67%” he wrote.
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