Stories about Middle East & North Africa from August, 2013
Egypt Goes Quack Over #SpyDuck
Egypt arrested a “duck” - with a spying gadget. There is more to the duck than meets the eye. On Twitter, netizens grab the occasion to quack up jokes.
A Letter on Syria to Western Narcissists
From Lebanon, Sean Lee, of The Human Province, pens a letter to Western narcissists on Syria: But please, don't let the conflict in Syria be about opposing America. Let it be about Syria, and what might actually help Syrians – you know, the actually existing people who are dying by...
Lebanon: The Smell of Death
On August 23, two bombs exploded in outside two mosques in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. Forty-seven people were killed, and over 500 injured. Joey Ayoub, at Hummus for Thought, shares a must-read testimony of the heartbreak at the hospital of a friend who was in Al Salam mosque...
Iran: Facebook Diplomacy
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, posted a short piece with six questions about Syria on his Facebook page which received 1,100 comments as of Friday, August 30. Some called Zarif on the hypocrisy of criticizing Western intervention as intervention, when Iran has its own presence on the ground.
“Me & My Shadow”: Protecting Data on the Net
The Internet, mobile phones, and other such achievements of progress have become essential aspects of human existence, and have simplified communication between people and integrated them into a new space.
Fight Erupts in Saudi Mosque After Preacher Curses el-Sisi
The fight, uploaded on to YouTube, has gone viral and the tug-of-words continues online.
Jailed Blogger's Mother Begins Hunger Strike
The mother of jailed Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki has now joined him in a hunger strike to raise awareness for his plight.
A Lesson on Dignity from Syria
This post is part of our Special Coverage Surviving in Syria. On his Facebook Page, Rebel Painter of Horan expressed his cynicism towards the silence of Arabs silence following the “chemical weapon attack” on Al Ghouta, a Damascus suburb. He shares a drawing of an Arab giving a Syrian child a pamphlet on...
Syria: Photos of Chemical Weapons
On Brown Moses Blog more evidence illustrating what is believed to be the devices which have been used in the “Chemical Weapons attack” on 21/08/2013 in Damascus suburbs, Syria, has emerged. The blog claims that they are similar to those previously recorded in the conflict and reportedly launched by government...
Lebanese Blogger Beirut Spring Tweets from Tripoli Bomb Explosion
Lebanese blogger Mustapha Hamoui was a few metres away from the second blast, in his own apartment, when it occurred. He reports on the unfolding mayhem.
Photo: Pro-Morsi Supporters Rally in Cairo
Journalist Evan Hill shares this photograph of supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi from a rally at the Arab League Street in Cairo today.
Pro-Morsi Supporters Rally Across Egypt
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia maintains a live blog here for protests and rallies planned by supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi across Egypt today. (August 23, 2013) She adds: There will be not less than 28 rallies in Cairo and Giza alone. The Pro-Supporters today are not going to street...
Egypt: Caught Between a Zombie and a Bloodsucker!
The current situation in Egypt is a challenge for everyone: diplomats, citizens and commentators. The army has used excessive force to disperse sit-ins where Muslim Brotherhood members and sympathizers were camped to support former president Mohamed Morsi. Illustrating this complex situation, Egyptian artist Ganzeer depicts the army as a vampire...
Amina Leaves Femen Because of “Islamophobia”
Amina, the Tunisian activist released from jail early August, left the Femen movement. She accused Femen of “Islamophobia”. Femen confirmed online that: FEMEN confirms its break with the Tunisian activist Amina Tyler because of differences of opinion on tactics in the Islamic countries (…) FEMEN calls for new heroines who are able to...
Assad Accused of Dropping Chemical Bombs on Damascus Suburb Al Ghouta
Horrible footage of dying (and dead) children are plastered across social media, calling for the world to break its silence on the atrocities being committed against civilians in Syria.
Iran: Jailed Blogger on Hunger Strike
Hossein Ronaghi Malki a jailed blogger who is serving a 15-year sentence in prison started his hunger strike last week.A Facebook campaign has been launched to support him.
Churches Attacked in Upper Egypt
David Degner shares photographs from the mobbed and burned churches in Mallawi, Minya, in Upper Egypt here. He writes: Friday two churches in the village of Mallawi, a village in the province of Minya, were attacked and set on fire. After the attack on the pro-Morsy sit in where more...
Saudi Judge to Jailed Activist: You Need a Lawyer? Aren't You a Man?
Umar Al-Saeed is the youngest ACPRA member to face trial and imprisonment for his opinions and activism. He is in jail because he refused to be interrogated without a lawyer.
China: Egypt's Bloody Crackdown Brings Back Memories of Tiananmen
Egypt’s bloody crackdown on August 14 reminded many Chinese of the Tiananmen massacre in 1989. Many condemned the violent crackdown and applauded the courage of the Egyptian people to fight for democracy. But some saw the current chaos in Egypt as a result of a blind promotion of Western-style democracy....
Bodies Pile in Egypt, But Birds Still Singing for Russian Vacationers
Russians living in Egypt to potential tourists: "Don't be afraid."
Iran: More than 200 People Arrested At Rock Concert
Sazmakhfi writes 220 people were arrested at a rock concert in Tehran on Friday. Iranian security forces did not allow Iranian metal band Dawn of Rage performs its concert.
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