Stories about Middle East & North Africa from August, 2007
Iran:US policy and a web site
Azarmehr says that during his visit to US last Novemeber :”we had a meeting at the US State Department. We were told that the US does not have a policy of regime change in Iran, instead the US policy is changing the behaviour of the Islamic regime! So I asked,...
Tunisia: The Rich and Poor
According to official statistics, there are twice as many rich people than poor ones in Tunisia. Subzero Blue tells us why that really isn't the case.
Israel: Arab and Jewish Refugees
Aussie Dave from Israel discusses the difference between Jewish and Arab refugees in this post.
Jordan: Athletes Health
Jordanian Hareega discusses the untimely deaths of ‘seemingly healthy’ athletes.
Jordan: Urban Development on Facebook
Ahmad Humeid from Jordan writes about a new Facebook group which aims to discuss urban development in the the kingdom.
Morocco: The Upcoming Elections
With the Moroccan legislative elections looming on September 7, Moroccan bloggers share their concerns about the process and its progress.
Israel: Aids Patients Buried Alive in Papa New Guinea
Smooth Stone from Israel links to a story about how Aids patients are buried alive in Papa New Guinea.
Iran:Crackdown on Professors
Kamangir says according to a new law, all state-run universities are obliged to report any trip their faculty members go to outside the country. The trips have to be reported whether or not they are sabbatical or personal and for pleasure.
Israel: Big Brother Watching You
If you are on the Internet, Big Brother is watching you, warns Batya from Israel.
Jordan: Prohibited Items
Charles Levinson, who lives in Jerusalem, compiles a list of all the items banned on flights from Jordan's Queen Alia's Airport.
Morocco: 2 Million Blogs Banned
MoTIC (fr) provides us with statistics on Livejournal, which has been blocked in Morocco for over a year, as well as other blocked sites.
Israel: 19th Anniversary
Savtadotty, from Israel, marks her 19th anniversary in the country.
Iraq: Saudi Bans Al Hayat
Iraqi blogger Ladybird reports that Saudi Arabia has banned pan-Arab Saudi-owned newspaper Al Hayat in the kingdom.
Egypt: Inferiority Complex
D.B. Shobrawy reflects on what he describes as the Egyptian inferiority complex in this post. “..many Egyptians have an inferiority complex in regards to their Egyptian identity. Somewhere in our history during colonialism Egyptians began to believe that European culture was superior to their own, more elegant and prestigious,” he...
Egypt: Moulid Al Haggag
Egyptian Big Pharaoh takes us to the Moulid Al Haggag ceremony, offering us an explanation for the annual event and photographs.
Egypt: Mubarak's Health
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia shares her ideas on Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's health, treatments abroad and rumours of his death.
Egypt: Is Mubarak Dead?
“I got a call late tonight from a friend asking, “is Hosni Mubarak dead?” I dont quite know where he got his information from but supposedly there is a rumor that Hosni..AKA “the Great Dictator” was airlifted to a hospital in Germany and that his fate is unknown and presumed...
Bahrain: Editor in Court
A Bahraini newspaper editor is in court for defamation, writes Mahmood Al Yousif.
Bahrain: Bloggers Meeting Set
Bahrain's bloggers are bracing themselves for their 32nd Bloggers’ Gathering on September 1, announces Mahmood Al Yousif.
Oman: One Ramadhan Please!
Omani blogger Sleepless in Muscat hopes all Islamic countries will mark the beginning of Ramadhan on the same day. “Hopefully, this time around we would stick to one date across the whole Arab & Islamic world instead of fooling ourselves and then stating that we ‘never saw the crescent’,” he...
Morocco: The Death of Butcher Basri
Driss Basri, one of Morocco's most powerful figures during the past 50 years, has died in Paris at age 69. Jillian York brings us the latest reactions from Moroccan bloggers writing in Arabic, French and English.