· February, 2013

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from February, 2013

Egypt: Armed Robbery Caught on Tape

  27 February 2013

A YouTube video of an armed robbery of a mobile phone shop in Egypt is making the rounds online. On Twitter, Ahmed Atia Aboshosha writes [ar]: سطو مسلح..المتهمون وجوههم واضحة جدا..إذا لم يقبض عليهم فليتقدم وزير الداخلية بالاستقالة..أعتذرعن ألفاظ خارجة بالفيديو @AD_Shosha: An armed robbery. The faces of the culprits...

Women Protesters Call for the Fall of the Saudi Interior Minister

  27 February 2013

A group of women and children who are relatives of uncharged prisoners managed to organize a small sit-in in Saudi Arabian city of Buraida, challenging the strict ban on demonstrations in the absolute monarchy. This week's sit-in had an unprecedented, explicit demand: the fall of the Interior Minister.

Turkish Women Speak Up: My Body, My Decision

  27 February 2013

Turkish women protested, and protected their rights by saying 'my body, my decision.' But it seems like they still have a long way to go and fight until it is 100% their decision what to do on their body or their life. Baran Mavzer tells us why Turkish women, though in a better position than many across the Muslim world, have a long struggle ahead of them to obtain and maintain their legal and human rights.

Jailed Iranian Blogger Up for Award

  27 February 2013

Reporters Without Borders and Google announced the name of the nominees for the 2013 Netizen Prize. Shiva Nazar Ahari, Iranian female human rights activist and blogger is among the nominees. Read more about Shiva here.

Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood or the CIA?

  26 February 2013

The Muslim Brotherhood will soon confuse the world, if it decides to go ahead with a name change. Egyptian Bassem Sabry explains: @Bassem_Sabry: My friend @HaniSabra has just noticed the new name being considered by the MB, “The Comprehensive Islamic Authority,” has the acronym “CIA.”

A Monologue of Blood and Bullets Precedes Yemen's National Dialogue

  26 February 2013

Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi finally payed a long overdue visit to Aden on Sunday evening, February 24th, after four days of ongoing bloody clashes, which erupted between police and pro-independence demonstrators on Thursday. How will this effect the National Dialogue, scheduled to take place on March 18? Netizens weigh in as more violence shakes the country.

African Nations Cup Anthem Celebrates Peace

  25 February 2013

On Afrik.com, Mansour Loum discusses “Sela Sela”, the song that was selected as the official anthem of the 29th edition of the 2013 African Nations Cup. The cup took place in South Africa, from January 19 to February 10, 2013. Loum explained that [fr]: With lyrics in English and Bantu,...

Syria: “Lens of a Young Homsi”, Photographs of a City under Siege

  24 February 2013

A group of young photographers from Homs has become an important source of information about the besieged Syrian city. In addition to letting the world know what's happening in Homs, they also receive daily requests from people who had to flee the city and want to know if their houses have been destroyed or not.

Police Torture Continues in Egypt

  24 February 2013

On Egyptian Chronicles, blogger Zeinobia talks about how the police continue to torture people. She shares the story of Ayman Mehana, who was attacked, arrested and allegedly sexually abused at the hands of police. She reminds her readers about why Egyptians took to the streets on January 25, 2011: This...

Lone Saudi Protester Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

  22 February 2013

When a Day of Rage was called for in Saudi Arabia back on March 11, 2011, only a handful of protesters challenged the heavy police presence and protested. Khaled al-Johani was the only one of them on tape. He was arrested on the same day and was held until 25 July, 2012. Many thought that he received a pardon. However, last Monday, the Riyadh Criminal Court held a session to issue the verdict in his case.

Saudi Arabia: Activist Accuses Judge of Conflict of Interest

  20 February 2013

Earlier today, February 20th, the first hearing session for Saudi Political and Civil Rights Association (ACPRA) co-founder Dr Abdulkareem al-Khadr was held at Criminal Court in Buraidah. Among his "crimes" are "calling for and inciting to break the law, spread chaos and disturb public tranquility and safety by writing and publishing a statement that calls for protesting in public squares."

Turkey: Lynch Attempt on Kurdish Members of Parliament in Sinop

  20 February 2013

Kurdish members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Democratic Congress of the People (HDK) faced a lynch attempt by almost 2,000 angry protesters during their visit to Sinop, a city in Black Sea region of Northern Turkey. Baran Mavzer charts netizen reactions.

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Mariam A.
Mariam A. is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.