Stories about Middle East & North Africa from April, 2013
Yemeni General Apologizes for 1994 Civil War on Facebook
Waving flags of a country that once existed, thousands assembled in former cities that used to make up South Yemen on 27 April 2013, to commemorate the day the north declared war on their people and occupied their land, nineteen years ago. The same day, the President's chief military advisor issued an apology on Facebook for all "unjust wars" declared by former President Saleh's regime.
Iran: Investors Swarm Ahmadinejad over Losses
According to Payvand site and several bloggers, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was swarmed by a group of Iranians protesting the loss of their money in the Tabriz Nasr Secured Loans Fund.
Saudi-American View on Boston Bombings
Nora Abdulkarim shares a Saudi-American perspective on the Boston Bombings. She explains: I won't try to simplify what is inherently complex. I will simply present and reflect, and nothing more. No fancy theorizing, no overarching message. This post is only meant to be a glimpse at personal identity – that...
Arabic Hashtag Trending Worldwide on Twitter
Kuwaiti Hamad Al Sabah tweets: @hmalsabah: Twitter is finally allowing Arabic hashtags to trend worldwide #كلام_مصري_مترجم pic.twitter.com/tb84Nkrk94 Netizens are using the hashtag, which translates to Egyptian Talk Translated, to translate Egyptian expressions and idioms.
Saudi Arabia Summons Human Rights Activist for Interrogation
Omar Al-Saeed, a member in the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), has been summoned for interrogation on April 22 and asked to re-appear next week. He is the latest in a series of human rights activists being interrogated and on trial in Saudi Arabia.
“Drone Strikes are the Face of America in Yemen”
22-year-old Yemeni Farea Almuslimi, appeared before the U.S. Senate hearing on America's secret drone war and gave a powerful testimony. The activist and freelance journalist comes from Wesab village, which was hit by a US drone strike on April 18, 2013.
Iran: Facebook is ‘the most disgusting US spyware’
A high commander in Iran cyber police says Facebook is ‘the most disgusting spyware and the most dangerous warfare of the U.S.’ which is also ‘responsible for one third of divorces in Iran’. Facebook and other famous social networking websites are blocked by Iranian authorities. They blame this services as...
Saudi Judge Bars Women from Trial of Human Rights Activist
Just ten days after the first Saudi woman was granted a lawyer's license, a judge prohibited women from attending the public trial of activist Dr. Abdualkareem al-Khudar, founding member of the Kingdom's defiant leading human rights organisation, the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA).
Car Explosion at the French Embassy in Libya
Twitter user @Eh4b10 has posted several photos on twitter of a car explosion near the French Embassy today around 6:50 am local time in Tripoli, Libya.
Your Legal Guide to Digital Security for Arab Human Rights Activists
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, in Egypt, issued a “legal guide to digital security” as part of its digital freedoms programme. The guide was produced for campaigners and human rights activists and lawyers interested in freedom of digital expression and the confidentiality of communications and information stored on mobile phones, computers or any other device used to store or distribute data or information..
Saudis Debate 1,000-Mile Yemen Border Fence
Earlier this month, BBC reported that Saudi Arabia is building a 1,000-mile fence on its border with Yemen. The news was barely reported in Saudi national press, but it was widely and critically reported in Yemeni press. The development was debated tensely in the Saudi Twittersphere. Supporters cited its absolute necessity for the safety of the kingdom while opponents spoke about the tighter siege it will impose on the Yemeni people.
Iran: 60% of Population Online
An organization affiliated with Iran’s government says 60 percent of Iranians are connected to the internet, 40 percent of them are young people in their 20s. Iran’s “Center For Managing National Development Of Internet”, MATMA, says more than 45 millions are connected to the internet,almost 2.5 millions of them through...
Iran: Act Like a Man, Dress Like a Woman!
Kurdish men have photographed themselves dressed as women as part of a Facebook campaign to say, “Being a woman is not an instrument to punish or humiliate anybody.”
Astronaut Tweets Breathtaking Pictures of the Middle East from Space
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, currently in space aboard the International Space Station, is sharing pictures of breath-taking views from around the world on Twitter. Here are a few shots he shares of the Middle East from space.
Egypt's Jewish Community Leader Laid to Rest
Carmen Weinstein, Egypt's Jewish community leader, has died at the age of 82. Zeinobia, at Egyptian Chronicles, collects reactions from the funeral service, which gathered a lot of media attention: There is a huge surprising media presence as well security presence where those invited to the funeral have to show...
Saudis Condemn Boston Marathon Bombings
At Riyadh Bureau, Ahmed Al Omran sums up Twitter reactions from Saudis living/studying in the US following the Boston Marathon bombings here.
Saudi Arabia's First Female Lawyer?
Arwa al-Hujaili has become Saudi Arabia's first female legal trainee – or three years of apprenticeship ahead before she earns her full legal licensure to become a lawyer. Free Arabs has more here.
Muslims Mourn Boston Marathon Victims
Free Arabs’ co-founder Nasser Weddady – representing the American Islamic Congress – spoke today at an Interfaith Memorial Service in Boston alongside President Obama. To read the speech and watch the video, click here.
Give the Egyptian President a Bath!
Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi has left a stench – on Twitter. Blogger and activist Nawara Negm started the hash tag #حموا_الرئيس [ar], which translates to “Give the President a Bath, after reading in a Lebanese newspaper that some German officials complained about Morsi's body odour to the Egyptian foreign ministry.
#Yemen: A US Drone Hits Dhamar
After a three month break in Yemen from U.S drone strikes, a drone last night, April 18th, 2013, killed five Qaeda suspects. Activist and journalist Farae Al-muslimi, from the village of Wessab, in the province of Dhamar, broke the news of the US drone strike, on Twitter.
Saudi Account of Boston Marathon Bombings
Saudi student Wael Omar Moathen shares this eyewitness account [ar] of his experience at the Boston Marathon bombing. Ahmed Al Omran offers a translation here: Like any human being who lives in this city, I picked up my camera and headed to Mile 26, the last mile in the race....
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