Stories about Middle East & North Africa from October, 2013
Meetup with Global Voices!
Throughout the months of November and December, we are organizing six global in-person 'meetups' led and facilitated by Global Voices members.
Yemen: An Owl Outside My Window
Yemeni blogger Abdulkader Alguneid finds an owl outside his window: He tweets the rare occurrence: بومة كبيرة خلف زجاج نافذتي، 1.30 بعد منتصف الليل. A big Owl, behind my glass...
Egypt: Urban Constitution Document
As the “50 member-committee” meets to amend Egypt's constitution, some civil society organizations and urban activists participated in producing what they called the “urban constitution document” [Ar]: We present this...
South Korean Tear Gas Being Used in Bahrain?
Bahrain interior ministry allegedly ordered 1.6 million teargas canisters to use against protesters, and South Korean company DaeKwang is believed to be one of the major suppliers. R. Elgin wrote...
Egypt: Lawsuits Greet Bassem Youssef's Long-Awaited Al Bernameg
How ready is Egypt for Bassem Youssef's latest round of satire? Netizens react to the first episode of El Bernameg (The Programme), which was greeted with lawsuits.
Massive Saudi Police Presence on the Day for Women Driving
Traffic police stopped Saudi women from defying a ban on driving. This action spells out the Kingdom's official position on driving, long blamed on a traditional society.
Iranian Student Leader Majid Tavakoli Is Out on Bail
After 4 years in jail, an influential Iranian student leader was welcomed home by his family and supporters.
VIDEO: “No Woman, No Drive” Stuns Saudi Arabia
Today, October 26, was the day Saudi activists chose to protest against the driving ban on women in the Kingdom. As social networks were buzzing under increasing number of reports...
GV Face: Everything You Need to Know About #SudanRevolts
We talk with our Sudan author Usamah M, and Magdi ElGizouli, author of the influential blog Still Sudan, and ask them if this is the next Arab Spring.
Bahrain: More Tear Gas Than People
With a total population of 1.3 million, Bahrain plans to purchase 1.6m canisters of tear gas. Here's how a group of activists plan to stop the shipment from South Korea.
After Lampedusa Shipwreck, Italy Considers Decriminalizing Illegal Immigration
The tragedy, in which 350 or so African migrants were killed, has renewed debate about illegal immigration in Italy, which is a destination for many African migrants.
Qatari Poet Sentenced for ‘Threatening to Overthrow the Regime’ Loses Final Appeal
Qatar's Court of Cassation upheld a 15-year prison sentence earlier this week for poet Muhammad Rashid al-Ajami. His crime? "Inciting the overthrow of the regime" with his poetry.
Overwhelmed by Syrian Refugees, Bulgaria Seeks EU Aid
Bulgaria, as the closest EU country to Syria, is seeing more than its fair share of the average 5,000 refugees that are fleeing Syria every day. Unprepared and inexperienced in...
Codeshare Request from Serbia's New Airline Met with US, EU Pushback
The oldest and largest airline trade association in the United States called the request bizarre. Serbian media has so far chosen to ignore the story.
Saudi Women Gear Up To Defy Driving Ban
Saudi women are planning to defy a ban on driving on October 26. Many have already started driving, filming themselves doing so and sharing the footage online.
Video: Saudi Girls Blamed for Being Attacked Outside Mall
Girls are being blamed for being attacked by youth in a shopping mall in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, for not covering their faces - and actually going to a mall.
Gulf Cities: Cultural Capitals of the Arab World?
UAE commentator Sultan Al Qassemi argues that “some of the cities of the Gulf were transforming into cultural capitals of the Arab world as the traditional capitals of Baghdad, Cairo,...
Saudi Clerics Protest Women Driving
‘A group of more than 100 conservative Saudi clerics gathered Tuesday at the Royal Court in Riyadh to protest against what they called “the conspiracy of women driving.”’ writes Ahmed...
Saudi Prisoners’ Children Put Into Solitary Confinement
Relatives of prisoners, including children, who were denied from meeting their loved ones during Eid Al Adha, are now being detained in Saudi Arabia, after staging an "illegal" protest.
Egypt: “Morsi is Not Coming Back”
Former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi will not return to power, says Egyptian blogger Alya Gad, on Twitter. To make her message clear, she translates it in different languages: مرسي لن...
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