· April, 2007

Stories about West Asia & North Africa from April, 2007

Iran:Hidden thoughts of Ahmadinejad

Ahmad Shirzad,former reformist deputy in Iranian parliament, writes [Fa]that we can find out about Ahmadinejad's real thoughts if we listen to his speeches during his trips to country's provinces.According to...

30 April 2007

Egypt: Blogger's Wedding Planned

“Egyptian bloggers will hold a “wedding party” in Talaat Harb Sq., Friday 4 May, 6pm, to celebrate the marriage of our future president Gamal Mubarak to the lovely Khadiga, which...

30 April 2007

Iraq: The Sound of Bombs

“If this morning’s blasts have an explanation last night’s explosions remain of unknown origin and nature. Last night there were more than two dozen explosions that could be heard from...

30 April 2007

Egypt: From Fisk to Heykal

A week or two ago The Independent ran a portrait-interview of Muhammad Hassanein Heykal by Robert Fisk. It was a rather odd piece — an ode of admiration and self-admiration...

30 April 2007

Oman: Why No FM Stations?

“If I'm not mistaken the law governing the licensing of private TV and radio stations came out in August 2004 and the license fee structure was agreed by committee overseeing...

30 April 2007

Bahrain: Multi-Cast a First!

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif took part in a multi-cast, the first in the Middle East, in which an Egyptian judge accused of plagiarism was expected to make an appearance....

30 April 2007

Arabeyes: On Selling a Palestinian Kidney and Changing the Israeli Flag

Do you want to know why a Palestinian wants to sell his kidney, or what had happened to the bicycle of a Lebanese blogger on September 10, 2001? What is more difficult: returning home after living abroad for five years or demanding that Israel changes its flag just as the Kurds want to change the Iraqi flag? And last but not least: why does Ala'a Abdulfattah - the Godfather of Egyptian bloggers - say he isn't and was never a blogger? To know more, read on.

30 April 2007

Lebanon: Art, Water and Tensions

This week was marred by the kidnapping and killing of two Lebanese youth, bringing back memories from the dark years of the Lebanese civil war. This was the topic updated and analysed by most Lebanese bloggers. In addition to this sad event, there are blog posts featuring paintings, poetry and political analysis about the expected water crisis in the Middle East as well as the huge billboard with photos of the captured Israeli soldiers that was place on the southern Lebanese borders.

30 April 2007

Iran: Crackdown on Women Again

Iranian police have begun to crackdown on women’s dress. After the Islamic revolution of 1979, women have been obliged to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures and protect their modesty. Thousands of Iranian women were warned about their poor Islamic dress this week and several hundred were arrested in the capital Tehran in the fiercest crackdown in more than a decade for what’s known as “bad hijab”.

30 April 2007

Iran:Disrespect to the Society

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, reformist politician, reminds us that these days ladies are inspected in many streets of Tehran. The ladies who are not wearing proper veil (hejab) are arrested… the...

29 April 2007

Kuwait: When Our Only Tourist Attraction is a Shopping Mall

With the summer temperatures soaring, life in Kuwait revolves around air-conditioned shopping malls, reports Abdullatif Al Omar. Follow the arrows to read bloggers' reactions to why else a foreign head of state is treated to a visit to a mall; friends meet in malls and a boat show is held there.

29 April 2007

Israel: Traffic in Downtown Jerusalem

Israeli blogger Izzy Bee focuses on traffic problems in downtown Jerusalem here. “Bartov has narrowed traffic lanes downtown so no ambulance or fire engine could possibly get to a medical...

28 April 2007

Iraq: The Wall of Segregation

Iraqi blogger Emad Khadduri links to a post by another Iraqi blogger - Riverbend- on the controversial wall being erected around Iraqi towns. “According to plans the Iraqi puppets and...

28 April 2007

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Walid El Houri
Walid El Houri is the West Asia and North Africa Editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.