Stories about Middle East & North Africa from April, 2011
Syria: Defamation Campaign Against Human Rights Activist
From Syria, human rights activist Wissam Tarif tweets: “Sorry guys but I had problems with my twitter account, email, and website. And a defamation (hate) campaign in #Syria”
Armenia-Turkey: Suffering on both sides
Journalist in Turkey comments on the anniversary of the 1915 massacre and deportation of ethnic Armenians in Ottoman Turkey and says that it was commemorated for the second time in Istanbul this year. It also criticizes the approach taken by activists in the Armenian Diaspora towards the WWI events which...
Arab World: On Revolutions and Capitalism
For days, my tweeps have been retweeting thought nuggets from the Twitter account @_Capitalism_. Here, I will select a handful of reactions to the on-going Arab revolutions.
Syria: Blog Interview with Opposition Activist Ammar Abdulhamid
American blogger and Syria expert, Joshua Landis, conducted a video interview with exiled leading Opposition activist Ammar Abdulhamid on the Syrian unrest. Speaking on Landis' blog, Syria Comment, Abdulhamid was questioned on a variety of topics concerning the Syrian revolution, from the dangers of a sectarian breakdown, to the regional implications of a potential collapse in regime.
Yemen: Millions Protest on Last Chance Friday
Millions of protesters thronged the squares of Sanaa and Taiz in Yemen, calling for the end of Ali Abdulla Saleh's regime. Dubbed Last Chance Friday, protesters are keen to boot out Saleh, who has ruled the country for 32 years. The whole week saw support pumped up for today's massive protests, which didn't fail the expectations of observers.
Syria: The People Want to Overthrow the Regime
Syria is heating up this Friday, with news of fresh protests in many provinces, and more violence as the regime tries to crackdown on the unrest, which started on March 15. Netizens keep us updated on Twitter and YouTube.
Libya: Remembering Photojournalists Hetherington and Hondros
Award-winning, renowned war photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were killed in action on April 20, 2011, in Misrata, while covering the chaotic frontline of the Libyan conflict. Fellow professionals mourned their slain colleagues, and reminisced on two lives lived in full, and in peril, in the pursuit of truth, while all major photography outlets paid tribute to their work.
Lebanon: Seven Estonian Hostages Appeal for Help
On March 25, Estonian YouTube user HelensVlogs reported on the kidnapping of seven Estonian tourists two days earlier, as they were cycling in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. On April 20, the seven hostages appeared in this video, pleading for help. (More info, on BBC News – here and here.)
Syria: Homs Protests Attract Thousands (Video)
Despite the security crackdown, protests are continuing in Syria, with countless of videos surfacing online showing thousands of protesters calling for the overthrow of the Assad regime. Here is a selection of videos from Homs.
Algeria: A Sit-In for Reporter Khaled Sid Mohand, Detained in Syria
A group of journalist, members of the MJIC and a few leaders of the FFS organised a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Algiers in solidarity with reporter Khaled Sid Mohand currently detained in Syria (fr). The Embassy PR officer stated that the embassy : “.. did not...
Global: Bloggers Take Issue with Anti-Niqaab Punditry
On April 16, 2011, France's ban on the niqaab and burqa went into effect, re-stirring emotions on the subject and sparking protests in the European country and beyond. In cyberspace, bloggers are taking issue with popular pundits on the subject, focusing particular attention on Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy's pro-niqaab ban stance.
Saudi Arabia: Mapping Human Rights Violations
Amnesty International has set up a crowd sourced map (Ar) on human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. The aim is to allow users to report and map human rights violations taking place.
Syria: Emergency Law Lifted as Protests Continue
There were mixed feelings in Syria today as President Bashar Al-Assad announced an end to the emergency law that has been in place in the country since 1963. The country has seen weeks of protests, many of which have been met with deadly force from security officials.
How China reports the Arab world
David Bandurski from China Media Project has translated al-Jazeera‘s chief correspondent, Ezzat Shahrour's excellent blog post raising questions on Chinese media's reports on the Arab world.
Iran:Persecuted blogger won Theodor Haecker prize
Shiva Nazar-Ahari, a persecuted Iranian human rights activist and blogger, awarded Theodor Haecker prize.
Kuwait: The Prime Minister Wins Again
Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah has broken a new record with his appointment as prime minister of Kuwait for the seventh time in five years. Some bloggers and Twitter users have been campaigning, alongside political groups, demanding his departure. Kuwaiti bloggers speak up, discussing why they need a new prime minister to steer their country forward.
Tunisia: Bloggers Debate Secularism
Tunisia is a country of a large Muslim majority and the Tunisian Constitution states that Islam is the state's religion. However, the Tunisian society is one of the most secular ones in the Muslim world. After the Tunisian revolution, secularism has been the centre of heated debates on blogs. Here is a review of the debate.
Morocco: Controversy Over International Music Festival
Each year the capital Rabat is the epicenter of a major music festival, Mawazine. Since its modest launch in 2001, Mawazine has grown, and in the last decade has become the top national entertainment gathering. With the backdrop of political protests and calls for change though, controversy is rising in the Moroccan blogosphere around the use of public money for sponsoring the festival.
Iran: Top Fashion designer and Green Movement
Tahriyeh Khamosh has published a video where Bijan Pakzad, top fashion designer who passed away this weekend, talks about his participation in a demonstration. The blogger says the film is a “proof he was green”.
Iran: Fashion designer died
Several bloggers such as Neghae Man remembered Bijan Pakzad, fashion designer icon who passed away this weekend. He dressed President Obama, the Queen of England, Ronald Reagan, the Sultan of Brunei, Prince Charles and Bill Gates.
Iran: Halal internet
Donyae Eghtesad writes Iranian State anounced that ” islamic halal internet will be launched soon.”
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