Stories about Middle East & North Africa from March, 2009
Palestine: Land Day
body on the line’s Palestine-based author writes about her experience with Land Day. The blogger visited towns in which Palestinians have resisted as well as the towns and villages of her friends.
Israel/Palestine: Photos from Both Sides
American blogger Cory Driver of 32n5w, who as a Peace Corps Volunteer became an honorary member of the Moroccan blogosphere, has posted a series of photos from a recent observation trip to Israel. Of his trip, the blogger stated: “So, i was officially on a tour of Palestinian deprivation and...
Syria: American Language Centre Re-Opens
Syria News Wire reports that the American Language Centre in Damascus, which closed last year after a US attack on Syrian soil, is set to re-open.
Morocco: Different Names, Same Story
Despite outward progress, Morocco has faced a number of setbacks for press freedom over the past few years. Most recently, it was reported that Ali Anouzla and Jamal Boudouma, managing editor and publishing director of Moroccan newspaper Al-Jarida Al-Oula (الجريدة الأولى) have each received two-month suspended sentences and fines of MAD 200,000 (approximately USD$23,800) for "defamation" and "insulting the judiciary."
Palestine: Commemorating Land Day
March 30 is Land Day, on which Palestinians everywhere, but especially those within Israel, commemorate the day in 1976 when six unarmed Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed by the Israeli army and police during protests against land expropriation. The day has become a way to mark the struggle of the Palestinians to hold onto their land, when demonstrations take place as well as other events. Palestinian and pro-Palestinian bloggers around the world have observed the occasion.
Water: One Take International Video Contest
“Is access to clean, safe water for drinking a basic human right? Why? or Why not?”. That is the question One Take is asking for you to answer in your own language, recording it on a video no more than 2 minutes long, uploading it on their site and on DotSub and having it subtitled in at least 1 other language. Just this month, world leaders met in Istambul, Turkey at the World Water Forum to have this discussion, and although they aren't sure what the result will be, it is our chance to show what we believe about this issue, and make our voices heard.
Palestine: Traditional Dress
Sameh Abo Wadih writes about the traditional Palestinian thobe [Ar].
Palestine: The Changing Face of Jerusalem
Ned, who lives in Ramallah, writes about the changes he has seen taking place in Jerusalem: “Israel is clearly trying to change the whole face of Jerusalem, making it more Jewish than it has ever been. In the process, thousands of Arabs are losing their right to live in the...
Israel: A Letter to Bernard Kouchner
Dr Hatim Kanaaneh has written an open letter to Bernard Kouchner, French foreign minister: “The news that you have preemptively spoken against any official objection to the expected appointment of Avigdor Lieberman to the post of Foreign Minister of Israel distresses me. … (As) a Palestinian citizen of Israel…Mr. Lieberman...
Iran: A new dynamic Green news site
Sepehr Salimi informs[fa] us that Zista, the first Iranian site covering environmental news, in its seven months activity has published around 670 news and articles.
Bahrain: Lightning and Rain
It's raining in Bahrain and Hypnotic Verses captured lightning with her phone camera.
Saudi Arabia: Censoring Skin
From Saudi Arabia, Susie describes the ‘trouble’ censors go through to ‘cover up’ women's skin: “Certainly seeing all that tempting erotic skin, and coloring in all those feminine body parts must have some kind of perverse effect on these men who have been entrusted with keeping the entire country out...
Iran:Iranian football coach sacked
Several Iranian sites and bloggers reported that Ali Daei, Iranian national football coach was sacked after Iran suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in its fifth World Cup qualifier at Tehran's Azadi Stadium. Here is a video film where Iranians insluted Ali Daei and chanted slogans agianst him.
In Love With Syria
Global Voices Online Morocco author Jillian York describes [en] her short visit to Syria in this post, where she explains why she had the time of her life.
Qatar: Rain and Hail
Qatar had rain and hail. Here's the latest buzz from Qatar Living.
UAE: Mystery installations
Samuraisam has spotted strange installations in the middle of the desert in the UAE after a closer look at Google Earth maps. Help him find out what they are.
UAE: Call for censorship feedback
A censorship watchdog is encouraging Internet users in the UAE to submit their feedback over the blocking of photo sharing site Flickr, reports the UAE Community Blog.
UAE: Will VAT be Introduced?
Will VAT be introduced in the UAE? Tune into the discussion at the UAE Community Blog.
Syria: Fruit Juice Envy
Sasa from Syria News Wire says Syria has the best fruit juice in the world.
Iran: “Ahmadinejad, the most active President”
Mosalmane Irani, an Iran based blogger, calls [fa] Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,the most active President in the world. The blogger says Ahmadinejad has visited 32 countires and delivered 950 speeches.
Iran: Iranian nature in photos
In Ariapars,Iranian blog, we can discover several photos from villages and nature in the southern province Khuzestan in Iran.
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.
