· March, 2007

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from March, 2007

Bahrain: When ‘moderate’ means ‘acquiescent’

  31 March 2007

This week some Bahraini bloggers took part in an evening regarding the role of blogging in cultural development, and the literary aspect of online writing in particular. Hisham Khalifa has posted his introduction to the evening: Culture is not created by governments, kings, queens or presidents. It’s not created by...

Afghanistan: 800 Years of Rumi

  30 March 2007

Bonnie Boyd notes that Rumi, the famous poet often associated with Sufism who was born in what is now Afghanistan, was born 800 years ago and she reports on a celebration of his work that took place in Washington, DC.

Morocco: Death of a Frenchman

  30 March 2007

Writing in a View From Fez, Moroccan blogger Samir reports that a “Frenchman participating in the 22nd edition of the Sand Marathon died of heart attack in his tent Thursday at a campsite west of Jebl Kfiroune, about 40 kilometres from Rissani, in south-eastern Morocco.” “This is the second death...

Jordan: Car Trouble

  30 March 2007

Jordanian blogger Tololy discovers the advantages of living in a patriarchal society after having car trouble and a total stranger came to her rescue without her having to ask for it.

Jordan: Balancing Eggs?

  30 March 2007

With too much time on his hands, Jordanian blogger Naseem Tarawneh decided to balance an egg on the day of the vernal equinox to prove the relevance of a Chinese legend. Needless to say, it didn't work.

Jordan: Protect Migrant Workers

  30 March 2007

Jordanian blogger Lina Ejeilat calls for tougher laws to protect women migrant workers in her country after reading about yet another conference to discuss their plight.

Palestine: US Spying on Arab Blogs

  30 March 2007

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah believes that the US is spying on Arab blogs. “We are now officially tracked, monitored and harassed by a special team from the U.S. State Department calling themselves the ‘Digital Outreach Team’,” he writes.

Palestine: Blog Aggregator Back

  30 March 2007

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah announces the return of the Palestinian blog aggregator to life – after the performance of a major life-saving procedure!

Bahrain: West Respects Muslims More

  30 March 2007

“I find it really amusing that the laws and teachings of the Islam are respected and abided by as basic human rights more in the West than they are within the Islamic world itself,” writes Bahraini blogger emoodz.

Lebanon: Arab Summit

  30 March 2007

Lebanese blogger As'ad Abu Khalil shares with us his mother's opinion on the Arab Summit, held recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “My mother was telling me about her opinions of the Arab summit. She said that she was happy about the Syrian-Saudi rapprochement but only because it will upset the...

Bahrain: Guard Shot Dead

  30 March 2007

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif says a hotel security guard was shot dead in his country this morning after “..a scuffle broke out between drunks, purportedly American, and hotel security guards. It is reported that one of the servicemen drew his pistol and shot the Bahraini night-shift guard Abbas Ali...

Lebanon: The Plight of Migrant Workers

  29 March 2007

The sad plight of migrant workers in Lebanon comes under the spotlight in an article by Syrian blogger Yaman which appears on Migrant Rights in the Middle East. (Warning: the item linked to in this post contains graphic and upsetting images)

Israel: Is Gaza Crowded?

  29 March 2007

Israeli blogger The Elder of Ziyon refutes the claim that Gaza is one of the most crowded cities in the world here.

Israel: US Aid

  29 March 2007

Israeli blogger The Elder of Ziyon claims that US aid to the Palestinians will be used against Israel. “Of course, this would not be the first time that US weapons are used by Fatah against Israel,” he notes.

Israel: On the Saudi Initiative

  29 March 2007

Israeli blogger Yaeli suggests that her country responds to the Saudi initiative using the analysis being made by a Lebanese. “If Israel’s position is reasonable – and I think it is (the green line needs to be renegotiated, among other things), then these opinions should be put to the Arab...

Libya: End of a Blog

  29 March 2007

Libyan blogger A.Adam announced that he would celebrate his blog's third anniversary by marking its ‘end.’

Tunisia: Small Talk

  29 March 2007

Tunisia-based blogger Sub-Zero Blue discusses what he thinks of small talk. “Small talk, I think, should be reserved for those awkward moments when you're with someone and you have nothing to say to them, they have nothing to say to you, and there's this haunting silence hanging above you; that's...

Qatar: Al Jazeera Forum

  29 March 2007

Qatar-based blogger Kareem links to an article which announces the 3rd Annual Forum, entitled Media and the Middle East: Going Beyond the Headlines, being hosted by Al Jazeera at the Sheraton Doha and Convention Resort from March 31 to April 2, in Qatar. Sessions in this year's forum will explore...

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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.