Stories about Middle East & North Africa from September, 2010
Jordanian Bloggers Promote Dialogue With U.S.
Jordanian bloggers advocate for dialogue and moderation rather than extremism in responding to U.S. misconceptions toward Muslims.
Jordan: Introducing the Bitter Khalto
Have you heard of the ‘bitter Khalto’ or an older woman you would call auntie out of respect? Jordanian Rand fills us in.
Iraq: Inside a Hospital
Inside Iraq reports in the daily carnage in Iraq from a hospital corridor.
Iraq: The Little Boy Who Could Not See
Iraqi Layla Anwar writes about the “little boy who couldn't see.”
Iraq: The Endless Suffering of Iraqis
Iraqi Faiza Al Arji describes the situation in Iraq, from health to agriculture, to education and the destroyed infrastructure.
Bahrain: Who is Ali Abdulemam?
Bahraini blogger Hussain Yousif describes his jailed friend blogger Ali Abdulemam in this post. For more details on Ali's arrest, read this.
Bahrain: Access to Political Societies Websites Blocked
Bahrain has blocked access to countless websites, blogs and the websites of political societies, ahead of parliamentary elections. Mahmood Al Yousif comments on the development here.
Bahrain: Human Rights Societies
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif gives us a sneak preview to what has been happening on the human rights societies scene recently.
Morocco: “Why Belle is a Peace Corps Volunteer”
A blog meme is making the rounds amongst female Peace Corps Volunteers in Morocco; though neither of the bloggers who posted the meme disclosed its origins, both women say that they relate to it. The meme in question? "Why Belle, from Beauty and the Beast, is actually a Peace Corps Morocco volunteer."
Egypt: “The Inevitable Mubarak Photoshopping Contest”
In its coverage of the 2010 Peace Talks–the latest round of direct negotiations between leaders from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and the US, Al Ahram newspaper used Photoshop skills to place Mubarak at the front and center in the lineup of heads of states. Bloggers take the cue to launch their own Mubarak Photoshopping Contest!
Russia, Israel, Syria: Missile Agreement
FP's Passport writes about the 2007 Russian-Syrian missile agreement and the Israeli efforts “to dissuade the Russians on fulfilling their contract.”
Iran:Derakhshan sentenced to 19.5 years in prison
According to [fa] Mashregh News Hossein Derakhshan, Iranian jailed blogger, was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison. Read more here.
Bahrain: Unwatchable TV
Mahmood Al Yousif, from Bahrain, is livid that more money is being pumped into Bahrain Television. He writes: “this .. television station must be the most invested in in the history of broadcast and it’s still a completely unwatched and unwatchable station. And when it is watched, on those rare...
Iran:Facebook for Art
Iranian artists have launched Iran's first ever contemporary art competition on the social networking website, Facebook.
Morocco: Human Rights Activist Arrested for Buying Alcohol
“The well-known Moroccan activist Abdullah Zaazaa was arrested in his Casablanca neighborhood of Bouchentou, for buying alcohol during Ramadan,” writes Ursula Lindsey at The Arabist.
Egypt: The US, Sharia Courts and Hysteria
Issandr El Amrani, from The Arabist, shares his thoughts on Islamophobia, Sharia courts and hysteria in this post.
Egypt: The Proposal
Miss SunShine, from Egypt, writes about a marriage proposal here.
Kuwait: Earthquake Question
From Kuwait, Mark asks: “Did anyone feel an earthquake around 2:25PM?” He adds: “Looks like an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 hit near a city called Kazerun in Southern Iran.”
Saudi Arabia: Gay Saudi Diplomats
From Saudi Arabia, John Burgess at Crossroads Arabia has more on gay Saudi diplomats.
Iran: Strike at Bazzar
Part of Iran bazaar closed to protest VAT increase in last two days. Gold bazzar is on strike in Tehran and a film in You Tube “shows merchants in Iron bazzar are on strike”.
Music: CD Brings together banned and censored musicians
Listen to the Banned is a music CD bringing together musicians who have been banned, censored or imprisoned due to their music. It features artists from Afghanistan, Cote D’Ivoire, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Turkey, Uighurstan and Zimbabwe.
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