· February, 2010

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from February, 2010

Syria: Happy fifth birthday

  16 February 2010

Sasa celebrates his 5th year blogging in “Syria News Wire” – a fresh, independent news from the streets of Damascus and beyond.

Egypt: Nadia the flying fish

  16 February 2010

Egyptian journalist and blogger, Nadia El Awady, blogs her experience with Scuba diving in Hurghada, a popular sea resort on the Western limb of the Red Sea. She also shares some of her pictures taken from under the sea.

Saudi Arabia: Beware of Flirtation Charges!

  16 February 2010

Blogger American Bedu wrote about a new trend for flirtation in Saudi Arabia by sharing the PIN of Blackberry devices between boys and girls. She further mentions that the Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice (Muttawa) are now learning about Blackberry and have been given the authority to apprehend...

Kuwait: One Year, 188 Questions

  16 February 2010

Yasmine Gamal, Egyptian blogger living in Kuwait, shares her 188 questions of the day (Q.O.D) she posted on her Facebook and Twitter accounts over the past year. She initially started this idea as a way to avoid the dullness of the status update or negativity and to start a conversation...

Egypt: Independent Single Women

  16 February 2010

Egyptian blogger and feminist activist, Fatma Emam, celebrated this Valentine with some of her friends being “independent, mature, well educated, professional and single women.”

Lebanon: GeekFest Beirut

  16 February 2010

Jessica at the “Social Media Exchange(SMEX)” covered in this post the “GeekFest Beirut” event, which was held on Febraury 6th in the capital Beirut, where Lebanon’s online community emerged offline.

Macedonia, Turkey: Connected, not Divided by History

  15 February 2010

Chris Deliso, a travel writer and founder and director of Balkanalysis.com writes in an oped in Today's Zaman about the mutual fondness between citizens of Macedonia and Turkey, which is there despite the fact that one century ago, “Macedonia suffered tremendously during anti-Ottoman rebellions.” He sees potential for using the...

Egypt: Valentine's Day Dilemma

  15 February 2010

Forget about anything you know about the Valentine's Day, as you are going to experience so many contradicting reactions and thoughts regarding this day, after paying the Egyptian blogosphere a visit.

Egypt: Blogger loses job for uncovering fake virginity story

  12 February 2010

Egyptian blogger and journalist Amira Al Tahawi got fired for blowing the whistle over a fabricated story on the Chinese artificial hymen kit in a post she wrote on her blog, claim bloggers. Here are reactions from the Egyptian blogosphere on the incident.

Lebanon: Bloggers push for Daily Star revamp

  12 February 2010

Lebanese bloggers are waging an online campaign to push the country's only English online newspaper to revamp its website. One blogger even takes the effort to redesign a mock - which his colleagues hope will prompt a change at The Daily Star, turning the "1920's Russian steam boat" into a 21st century cruise liner.

Iran: Clashes in Tehran

  11 February 2010

A video film showing clashes in Tehran between anti regime protesters and security forces today on the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Iran: Demonstration in Isfahan

  11 February 2010

A film showing the Iranian opposition in the streets of Isfahan on the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Here are some photos of pro government demonstrations in country.

Iran: Protesters ask for referendum

  11 February 2010

While President Ahmadinejad spoke to a crowd of thousands at Azadi, or Freedom Square, in central Tehran on the anniversary of the revolution, anti regime protesters demonstrated and called for referendum in Tehran. Watch the video here.

Open Video: Worldwide Wireside chat with Lawrence Lessig

  10 February 2010

What is fair use, how does copyright fit into the digital age and how can commentary, teaching, remixing and research with video be freely developed? Tune in on February 25th 6:00pm US Eastern time (GMT -5) to watch and listen to Lawrence Lessig as he discusses these topics at the Open Video Alliance website or check out for screenings in your city.

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Mariam A.
Mariam A. is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.