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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from April, 2012
Armenia: Art, Genocide, Westernization and Identity
Writing on Hyperallergic, Hrag Vartanian explains how he marked the 97th anniversary of the massacre and deportation of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The writer and art critic/curator...
Iran: Street Sweeper Finds and Returns $500,000
An Iranian street sweeper named Ahmad Rabani found 1 billion Toman (about $570,000 US dollars) and returned it to the owner. As thanks, he received a 200,000 Toman ($120 US dollars) reward.
Iran: Cockroaches and New Hijab Crackdown
Iranian bloggers protested against security forces who launched new hijab(veil) crackdown in Tehran. A Balatarin user published a photo of two agents and write they are like cockroaches when the...
Iran: Jailed blogger's open letter to Head of the Judiciary
Jailed blogger and human rights activist,Hossein Ronaghi Maleki,wrote [fa] an open letter to Iranian Head of the Judiciary,Amoli Larijani to protest against his conditions. The blogger says he refuses to...
Tunisia: Clashes Over Future of State Television
On April 25 a sit-in outside the offices of Tunisia's state television network that had lasted almost eight weeks came to an end. Protestors demanded the “cleansing” of the network of Ben Ali supporters, and also opposed suggestions of its privatisation.
Syria: Television “Confession” of Activist Ali Mahmoud Othman
Ali Mahmoud Othman, head of the media office of Baba Amr in Homs, was arrested in March. Now an exclusive interview, which many believe is a forced confession following his torture, is due to be broadcast on Syrian state television.
Bahrain: Where is Abdulhadi Alkhawaja?
For some days there has been no news of imprisoned Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, who has been on hunger strike since February 8. It is feared that Alkhawaja is either being force-fed or is in a critical state.
Iran: Opposition sites under cyber attack
Several blogs and sites reported [fa] in recent days several Iranian reformist and green sites such as daneshjoonews have been under cyber attack.
Tunisia: Uproar at Kiss of President's Hand
On April 26 a video featuring two men kissing the hand of interim Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki made a buzz on the web. Kissing the hand of the president is seen as a relic of the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and against the values of post-uprising Tunisia.
Do Arab Men Hate Women? Mona Eltahawy Faces Firestorm
Egyptian-American columnist Mona Eltahawy has once again sparked controversy with an article in Foreign Policy magazine entitled “Why Do They Hate Us?”, in which she argues that Arab societies are fundamentally misogynistic.
Armenia: Does the world need to recognize the Armenian Genocide?
Following this week's 97th anniversary of the 1915 massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire, vgratian asks its readers “Does the world need to recognize the Armenian...
Accused of Molesting Children, Iranian Diplomat Leaves Brazil
An Iranian diplomat based in the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, was accused of molesting underage girls at a swimming pool on April 14, 2012. While Iran's embassy denied the allegations, and said they were the result of a "cultural misunderstanding", netizens both from Iran and Brazil didn't take long to react.
Turkey: Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Istanbul
April 24 marks the 97th anniversary of the massacre and deportation of around 1.5 million Armenians living in the then Ottoman Empire. An emotive issue for many Armenians and Turks, the anniversary was also commemorated in Istanbul.
Egypt: Time for Televised Presidential Debates?
As the time approaches for the Egyptian presidential election, there have been calls not only in Egypt but also around the Arab world for televised presidential debates.
Iran: Pet Dogs Seized by Security Forces Once Again
The Iranian Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals report that last week about 20 dogs in Pardisan Park in Tehran were arrested as their owners walked them.
Bahrain: One-Woman Demo!
We have become accustomed to seeing million-man protests in Arab countries, but how about a one-woman protest?
Jordan: New Website for Short Stories
Project Pen is an initiative to promote short story writing by Arabs and “encourage a new generation of writers, creating new kinds of stories, for a new kind of readership”....
Bahrain: Tear Gas, Violence Surround F1 Grand Prix Race
Bahrain hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 22 but the run-up to the event has seen huge protests. In clashes police have been firing tear gas and stun grenades at protesters, and one protestor, Salah Abbas Habib, was found dead.
Armenia: A Tale of Two Nations
Security, in the Caucasus and beyond…. comments on the 97th anniversary of the massacre and deportation of 1.5 million Armenians from the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Considered an act of...
Iran: Ahmadinejad's Car, A Woman, And a Hungry Old Man
An online video showing a young woman jumping onto the hood of the car of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while he was visiting Bandar-Abbass on 10 April, is making a big splash. But Iranian bloggers seem more interested in the old man shouting beside the car.
Tunisia: Police Clash with Jobless Protestors in Radès
On April 13 police clashed with a group of young protestors from Cité El Mallaha in the port of Radès, just south of the capital Tunis. The protesters were staging a sit-in, demanding a share of some jobs which had been recently created in Radès port.
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