Stories about Middle East & North Africa from May, 2007
Arabeyes: Short Skirts Looked Down at in Tunisia
From a conversation about her friend Fatima, Tunisian blogger Maheva takes us deep into an argument about education, freedom of choice and personal preferences. Click to read the full translation.
Palestine: The 1967 War
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah gives us a history lesson about the 1967 war between the Arabs and Israel here.
Israel: Underground Sderot
Batya, from Israel, jokingly suggests building an underground Sderot. “‘Sderot Underground’ should be so strong, secure and reliable, that the new “Sderot” will be the most desirable place to live in all of Eretz Yisrael, especially when Iran (G-d forbid) gets the bomb. “I have no doubt that Olmert and...
Lebanon: It's Getting Hot in Here
Sietske, a Dutch expat living in Lebanon, fills us in on the latest developments in Beirut. “The Warden messages from the Canadian and American embassy are arriving more frequent now (Warden messages are messages from embassies to warn their nationals of (imminent) danger that may befall upon them). “I even...
Morocco: Bono in Fez
“The View from Fez has its ear to the ground and can confirm a rumour that has been floating around the Medina (city) for the last two days. Bono is in Fez. Why? Well according to one source he is recording here with U2 – another is that he has...
Interview with Caroline Nellemann, Danish Researcher of Iranian Blogs
Danish researcher Caroline Nellemann has done her Master's thesis on Iranian blogs and was involved for three months with the Berkman Center for Internet and Society in Harvard. In order to meet Iranian bloggers and to be more in touch with Iran she took a trip to Iran recently. Caroline shares some of her ideas, photos and research experience with us in this interview.
Jordan: Who to Trust?
“Who do you trust these days? The tug-of-war between the government and the IAF in Jordan is a traditional center piece of Jordanian politics. It’s a back and forth effort and it has just gotten to a point where one cannot trust either and it merely becomes a question of...
Morocco: Punish YouTube Blockers
“People behind the blocking of Youtube in Morocco have to be reprimanded in proportion with the damage caused from ban. The news has made its way to BBC,New York times, Washington Post and a plethora of other news outlets in the world causing an unwanted negative advertising of a Kingdom...
Saudi: Saudi Jeans Birthday
Saudi blogger Saudi Jeans (Ahmed Al Omran) is marking his 23rd birthday without much fanfare. “As for my birthday, there will be no party: Just me and my beer coke, working on some unfinished projects and getting ready for the tough finals,” he explains.
Kuwait: Paris Hilton Lingerie
“I came across this bizarre news while surfing the net, Inspired by the great Paris debate, Mio Destino, a designer lingerie company, has specially designed “Free Paris” and “Jail Paris” silk panties. The company will contribute 50% of the profits from the ‘Paris Hilton Panties’ sales to an Ovarian Cancer...
Israel: Kuwaiti Weekend
ISRAELITY comments on Kuwait's plans to change its weekly holidays from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday here.
Iraq: Diyala Update
“Diyala has arguably become the most dangerous place for both Iraqis and Americans. The recent crimes of al-Qaeda and affiliated groups in recent months in this province have cost tragic losses among Iraqi civilians, Iraqi security forces and American soldiers,” writes Omar in Iraq The Model.
Bahrain: Electricity Shortages
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif discusses electricity shortages in Bahraini here.
Egyptian Blogger Monem to Be Freed
Jailed Egyptian blogger Abdulmonem Mahmood is being released on Saturday - but Egyptian bloggers are holding their breath and are full of apprehension on their future in a country which has so far conducted a witch hunt on bloggers, reports Freedom For Egyptians.
Lebanon: Questioning Amnesty for Islamic Militants
Frencheagle writes that certain members of Fatah Islam implicated in the decapitation of 27 people on the first night of the conflict with the Lebanese government were not only granted amnesty by parliament [Fr] in 2005, but were arrested last year–and then promptly released–for vandalizing the Danish embassy. “You don't...
Touring Libyan Blogs: Tony Blair, Watermelons, Shock and Awe and a Really Hot Summer
Extreme security measures, the relationship between bloggers and watermelons, shock and awe tactics and what happens to you when the weather reaches 49 degree Celsius are just some of the topics Fozia Mohammed echoes from Libyan blogs this week.
Syria: A Letter from a Syrian Worker in Lebanon
Golaniya posted a letter from a Syrian Worker in Lebanon. “In Lebanon, our hopes are now starting to flee away. We are outcasts. We receive all kinds of cursing and swearing from people. We sometimes got hit and killed. This happens when politicians, deliberately and non deliberately, make their loaded...
Egypt: Monem will be freed and Amr Gharbeia interrogated
Blogger Abdel-Monem Mahmoud appeared today before the Public Prosecutor who ordered to release him after 45 days in custody. “Monem and his group are expected to be release on Saturday after completing paperwork.” said his lawyer. Hossam el-Hamalawy reported that the Egyptian blogger Amr Gharbeia has been interrogated today on...
Syria: Assad for a second term with the “approval” of 97.68%
President Bashar Assad won his second term in office by a landslide. 97.62% voted “Yes” on the presidential referendum this week. Andre of Flight of Ideas, cannot comprehend though how the turnout could reach 95.86% of the eligible voters, as the ministry of interior had said earlier. “in comparison with...
Jordan: Sheehan Quits
Jordanian blogger Hareega, who is based in the US, bids farewell to Cindy Sheehan. “Yesterday she announced that she was tired and she quit her anti-war activism. She said that her son died “for nothing”. About 54% of the CNN readers today agree with her,” he notes.
Kuwait: Heat Lagging
Intlxpatr from Kuwait is ‘heat-lagging.’ “The heat has hit me like a building crashing down around me. It changes everything I do. Somehow I don’t remember last year being so hot, but I know it was, and I think I just didn’t go out very often. Now that I am...