Stories about Middle East & North Africa from May, 2009
Syria: Campaign to boycott telecom companies and demand lower rates begins
Cellular networks were licensed to operate in Syria in 2001 and ever since day one, the media echoed the customers' discontent with service rates. Syrian bloggers decided they have had enough, so they organized a boycott campaign against mobile carriers that will take place on June 1.
Iran: Khatami answers bloggers’ questions
On Sunday, Mohamad Khatami, the former reformist Iranian president, who is backing Mir Hussein Mousavi's candidacy in the Iranian presidential election, took part in an internet TV programme launched by reformists called Mowj4. Khatami answered questions from the internet, including from bloggers, Facebook members and Twitter.
Palestine: Report On Use Of Depleted Uranium In Gaza
Moments of Gaza links to a report claiming to have evidence that depleted uranium was used in the Israeli attacks on Gaza earlier this year.
Iran: Khatami answers questions in Internet
Iranian news sites and bloggers such as Sahel Salamt reports that Mohamad Khatami, former reformist president, takes part in an internet discussion via Face Book, Twitter and Yahoo Messenger answers questions. The blogger says [fa] it is the first internet experience in Iran where a high- ranking politician answers directly...
Morocco: Sacred Fez
Collective blog, The View from Fez covers the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music [Fr] in this post. “[O]nce again the Sacred Music Festival began with the arrival of the hugely popular Princess Lalla Salma, who received a standing ovation from the...
Morocco: Campaigning for the Disenchanted
The electoral campaign for the local council (or communal) elections in Morocco, due in June 12 has started amidst widespread apathy and disenchantment. The debate has been raging over the Moroccan blogosphere about the relevance of the process, participation over boycott, and the balkanized political scene.
Iran: YouTube, Broadway music and the Election
Campaigners in the Iranian elections have used YouTube in different ways to promote their favorite candidate or discredit their opponents. Four candidates will be on the ballot for the presidency on June 12, including the current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Qatar: Online Resources
Marjorie in Qatar links to a number of essay collections about Qatar's history and culture that are available online.
Egypt: Cairo Refugee Film Festival
Integrating refugees in society is the aim of a film festival with a difference. Marwa Rakha learns about the Cairo Refugee Film Festival, being held from June 16 to 20 from the event's blog through a fellow blogger, and shares her findings in this post.
Jordan: Twittering Queen and Undercover King
Jordanian The Arab Observer observes on Twitter: “In Jordan: A Queen who twitters and a king who goes undercover! A cool Royal family, no?”
Jordan: King Goes Undercover
Jordan's King Abdullah visited the Health Ministry's Patients’ Affairs Department in disguise to see what services were being offered to citizens seeking treatment. Naseem Tarawnah jots down his thoughts on the visit in this post.
UAE and Saudi Arabia: “It's Gonna Be a Scorcher!”
The Hollywood film Ishtar, about lounge singers in Morocco who get caught up in an international plot between the CIA and the "Emir of Ishtar" is memorable but for one line: "It's gonna be a scorcher!" This past week, Gulf residents have found themselves saying just that, as temperatures in the region rose well into the 40s (Celsius). The Saudi and UAE Twitterspheres have their say.
Iran:Bomb explosion killed 20 people
A bomb explosion killed 20 people in a Shi'ite mosqe in the Iranian south eastern city, Zahedan. Nimroz, a Zahedan based blogger, says [fa] after explosion some Sunni stores and a Sunni mosque were attacked by Basij forces.
Bahrain: Swine Flu Arrives
Earlier this week the first case of the new H1N1 flu, or swine flu, was confirmed in Bahrain, arriving with a Bahraini student who had been in New York. Bahrain's bloggers react in this post.
Egypt: Anti-Male Circumcision Campaign
In 2008 Egypt passed a law that banned female circumcision (FGM). Today a group of bloggers started a campaign against male circumcision. Marwa Rakha picks up the story in this post.
Lebanon: Women in Parliament
“There are actually more men with the first name of Mohammad than there are women in parliament,” writes BabaGannouj et La Zaytouni about the current number of women parliamentarians and about the very small number of women candidates (12) compared to the hundreds of men running for the upcoming elections...
Morocco: The Blogoma's Journey Continues
Blogging has come a long way in Morocco. From a handful a blogs a few years ago, the blogosphere is now growing rapidly, in three languages. In this post, Anas Alaoui reviews the Blogma - the bloggers' very own name for Morocco's thriving blogging scene.
Iran:'Photoland’ and election
Mohammad Ali Abtahi,former vice president, informs[fa] us that Mehdi Karroubi‘s supportes have launched a site named ‘Photoland’ where people can publish the photos. The site has proposed Iranians to send their photos on potatoes. It seems government's free potatoes distribution is still a hot topic in country.
Iran:Presidential campaign in photos
Jomhour,an Iran based blogger, has published several photos of Mir Hussein Mousavi‘s supporters’ activities in presidential campaign in Ahwaz in the southern part of Iran. Mousavi's campaign's colour is green.
Lebanon: Palestinians In Exile
Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad publishes some images of Wavel Camp, a Palestinian refugee camp in Baalbek, Lebanon.
Palestine: The Situation In Gaza Deteriorates
In Gaza, Lebanese activist Natalie Abou Shakra describes what the current situation is.
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