Stories about Middle East & North Africa from May, 2014
Sisi Wins Egyptian Presidential Elections; Only Opponent Sabahi Comes in Third
General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi won a landslide victory, topping his only oppopent Hamdeen Sabahi, who came in third place. After three days of voting, Sisi won 93.3 per cent of the votes, Hamdeen took 3pc and 3.7pc of the votes were declared void.
When Maya Angelou Lived in Egypt and Ghana
Sean Jacobs writes about American author and poet Maya Angelou, who died at age 86 yesterday May 28, 2014: In 1961, Maya Angelou, already a civil rights worker, and her then partner Vusumzi Make, an exiled activist from South Africa (he was a leading Pan Africanist Congress member), moved to...
What Happens When a Muslim, Jew, Christian, Atheist and Agnostic Travel the World Together?
Victor, Josselin, Samuel, Ilan and Ismael all belong to different religions (or none at all). Together, they created the InterFaith Tour.
PHOTOS: One Palestinian Museum's Artistic Message to the Pope
The Palestinian Museum combined Christian imagery with scenes of Palestinian suffering in large banners to attract Pope Francis' attention during his trip to the Holy Land.
Mauritania and the Presidential Elections
Presidential elections are planned for June 21 in Mauritania. Many opposition groups have already said they would boycott the elections, whose results are evident even before votes are cast.
Syrian Dark Humor and the Elections
It is no surprise to see Bashar al-Assad nominate himself for the Syrian presidency in the upcoming elections on June 3. Syria Untold checks out what cartoonists have to say.
Against All Odds, Yemen Is Happy Too!
The cover video of Pharrell William's viral song Happy was generated with a Yemeni twist, showing the creativity and talent of Young Yemenis as well as their sense of humor.
These Egyptians Say No to Mandatory Military Service
On May 15, a group of Egyptian young men and women started an online campaign against military service. Find out why.
The “Happy” Video That Got Six Young People Sent to Jail
They were jailed and forced to confess on national television that they were tricked into the making of a "Happy" video in Tehran.
PetroPalestine: Another Clash Between Chavez Supporters and Opponents in Venezuela
"What are we gaining with PetroPalestine?", Venezuelans asked on social media after the Venezuelan government announced an agreement to send oil and diesel to Palestine.
Mubarak is a Thief Hashtag Greets his Three-Year Prison Sentence
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to three years in prison for embezzling state funds. Wry bloggers wonder why the sentence is so lenient.
Why are Saudis Kissing their Camels?
Saudis are defying the Coronavirus by kissing their camels and posting their photographs on Twitter and videos on YouTube.
‘Trash Selfies’ for a Clean Tunisia
Tunisia social media users are posting "trash selfies" to denounce the piling up of trash in the country's streets.
Iranian Women Defiantly Remove the Veil
Women activists Iran all over are defiantly removing their veil to protest governmental discrimination against women. See how they break the law and flout their photographs online.
Music Collective Beirut Open Stage Launches Online Platform
“To further its vision of showcasing and promoting as best as it can the local talent”, the Musical Collective “Beirut Open Stage” has launched its online platform. Their new website, which compliments their YouTube channel, allows live viewing of performances as well as staying up to date with their latest...
Stealthily but Publicly, Iranian Women Remove Their Veils Online
Forced for decades to wear headscarves or face arrest, thousands of Iranian women are now sharing photos of themselves unveiled as an act of protest.
Tunisian Activists Call for Revision of Harsh Anti-Marijuana Penalties
Tunisian activists are campaigning for the revision of the country's strict anti-marijuana laws.
Why Chadian Students Braved Arrest and Stormed Their Embassy in Algeria
Hisham Almiraat interviews blogger Makaila Nguebla about student leader Issa Kelei's arrest and the condition of Chadian students in Algeria.
An Artistic Glimpse Into Exiled Iranians’ Nostalgia for the Homeland
Recent moves by moderate President Hassan Rouhani suggest things could change in the future, but returning still remains risky. Iranian-Canadian photographer Saman Aghvami attempted to capture the nostalgia.
From Liberated Aleppo
The citizens of Aleppo, Syria—those eagerly awaiting the liberation as well as those against it—await the details on further areas of their divided city liberated from the Syrian regime.
Murder Trial of Slain Protester in Turkey Live-Tweeted
Netizens live-tweeted the proceedings of the hearing into the murder of Gezi Park protester Ali İsmail Korkmaz to draw attention to the case.
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
Mariam Abuadas is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
