Stories about Middle East & North Africa from June, 2008
Jordan: A Hushed Up Secret
From Jordan, Naseem Tarawnah writes about a letter “written and signed by a group of ex-politicians, including a past prime minister and head of the GID, Ahmad Obeidat, and essentially it strongly criticizes the government for its liberal economic policies, the way it is being managed, and more specifically, the...
“Qatar's greatest football moment…”
Football fans in Qatar were ecstatic over the Qatari national teams 1-0 win over Iraq in a World Cup qualifier. Greeker described it as “Qatar's greatest football moment…” writing: 75th minute, Said Bachir heads in a goal. A moment frozen in time. QATAR lives its greatest moment in international football....
Morocco: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music
As the 14th annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music comes to a close, bloggers – both Moroccan residents and travelers – share their experience with this year's festival. The View from Fez bloggers, who were fortunate enough to be in the thick of things for all of the festival,...
Iran: Iranian Blog Declaration Against Filtering
Digiactive writes that about 100 Iranian bloggers signed a declaration that condemns filtering and call for freedom of speech.
Iran: Ahmadinejad banned a conservative journal
According to several Iranian blogs and news sites, Tehran Emrouz journal was shut down yesterday because it criticized president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's economic policy. Heiderpix also says the journal published this photo of Ahmadinejad that created government's reaction.
Iran: Citizen Media Sex Scandal
Earlier this month, students at Zanjan University in North-West Iran recorded and uploaded a video of their school's vice president, Hassan Madadi, with his shirt unbuttoned, allegedly preparing to have sex with a female student. Several Iranian websites and blogs say the female student had alerted her university's Islamic Student...
Morocco: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music
As the 14th annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music comes to a close, bloggers – both Moroccan residents and travelers – share their experience with this year's festival. The View from Fez bloggers, who were fortunate enough to be in the thick of things for all of the festival,...
Lebanon: Condoleezza Rice's Surprise Visit
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced, five-hour visit to Lebanon on Monday, June 16. She declared her government’s support for the newly elected Lebanese president, as well as for the Lebanese government, the parliament’s speaker and the democratic system in the country. Rice last visited Lebanon during...
Lebanon: on going clashes
“Last night, three people were killed and four wounded [in Taalbaya and Saadnayel, two tiny villages in the Bekaa] in fighting that lasted from late evening to early morning and included RPGs and mortars…The victims, predictably, are all civilians who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong...
Lebanon: Wilayat el Faqih
MFL wrote an informative study on the controversial issue of Wilayat el Faqih, that is currently taking up much of the political discussions in Lebanon, in an article he titled “Iran, Wilayat el Faqih, and Historical Facts.”
Lebanon: Prostitution
Bech writes about prostitution in the Palestinian refugee camp of Sabra and elsewhere in Lebanon.
Israel: Green Tourism in the Middle East
Looking to leave a green footprint when you travel? Look no further than the Green Prophet for information on eco-tourism in the Middle East. “There’s no absence of environmentally friendly vacation options in Israel… But what’s a green tourist in the Middle East to do outside of Israel? Well, he...
Israel: Keffiyah Seen as Symbol of “Terrorist Chic”
Israellycool blogger Aussie Dave responds to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's image of Che Guevara wearing a traditional Arab headdress that “the keffiyeh [is] the latest symbol of terror chic.”
Israel: New National Bird Good for a Laugh
Embarrassed about your country's national bird? Don't be. Israel has one far more comical. Comedy Central's hit television show “The Colbert Report” cites Israel's choice of the long-billed hoopoe as evidence that, “Countries don't make passes at birds that wear glasses.” Isrealli, who has the video clip, says: Last night,...
Europe: Football and Politics
Desmond McGrath of A Fistful of Euros writes about football and politics: “Part of the fun of football is the way in which it overturns the international order of power politics.”
Jordan: Online Initiative to Support Art
Palestinian Sugar Cubes draws our attention to JoCr8 – a new online initiative to support art and connect creative people in Jordan.
Iraq: Hospitals Getting Better
Iraqi hospital care is improving, notes Inside Iraq in this post.
Iraq: Breaking Stereotypes
Iraqi Khalid Jarrar is in stitches that his brother's Canadian fiancée had ridden camels twice before his Arab brother.
Jordan: Queen's Message
Jordanian Jad posts a YouTube message featuring Queen Rania of Jordan, who calls upon people to dispel some of the stereotypes people have on Arabs.
Jordan: Attacks which will not happen
Jordanian blogger Hareega asks how come the UK is able to warn of terrorist attacks in the UAE — but not when they happen on its own turf. “Do they just warn us from the attacks that will not happen?” he asks.
Kuwait: Twitter Addict
Kuwaiti blogger Angelo is now a self-confessed Twitter addict.
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
