Stories about Middle East & North Africa from March, 2012
Egypt: Baheyya Weighs in on Khaled Ali
Renowned Egyptian blogger Baheyya writes about Egypt's youngest presidential candidate – Khaled Ali, who turned 40 last month. “In this maiden presidential race, electability is hard to gauge. But if credibility is a criterion, then Khaled Ali has it in spades,” writes the blogger.
Egypt: Pope Shenoda's Funeral
From Egypt, Zeinobia covers Pope Shenoda's funeral in Cairo in this blog post.
Israel: “We Love Iranians”
Paul Mutter blogs about the newest permutations of a social media campaign started over the weekend by two Israeli graphics designers that is called “We Love Iranians,” aimed at raising public awareness against the steady march to war the Likud government has been taking Israel on towards Iran. The meme,...
Turkey: Riot Police Continue to Clash with Kurds Celebrating Newroz
Kurdish people are the largest ethnic group in Turkey. They have been subject to state-sanctioned discrimination and human rights violations. Today, in Yuksekova, which is a district in the Hakkari province of Turkey, Kurdish people were attacked for gathering to celebrate Newroz - the Kurdish new year.
Bahrain: When is a Molotov Cocktail Acceptable?
Marc Owen Jones collects videos allegedly showing Bahrain police forces throwing molotov cocktail (petrol bombs) at protesters and property in this post. Meanwhile, Bahrain has just charged 28 civilians with “attempted murder” for throwing molotov cocktails at policemen.
Egypt: A Stranger in my Own Country
Dr. Nadia El Awady, Egyptian blogger and Science journalist, discussed the different dreams people had when they participated in the 25 January, 2011, Egyptian revolution, and how she is shocked that these dreams turned out to be different than hers.
Iran: A poem dedicated to a blogger who died in prison
Leila Farjami has dedicated a poem to Omid Reza Mirsayafi,a blogger who died in prison three years ago.Read more here.
Turkey: Police Attack Kurds Celebrating Newroz
Thousands of Kurds took to the streets in celebration of Newroz across Turkey today but were dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The celebration marks the first day of Spring. Kurds in the past were not allowed to exert their Kurdish identity in public, but since the 1980s, Newroz has become a symbolic event in highlighting Kurdish culture, and identity.
Syria: When Assad Falls
Like all Arabs protesting against their dictators, Syrians have many hopes and aspirations for life after the toppling of their dictator Bashar Al Assad. On Twitter, Syrians are sharing their dreams under the hash tag #WhenAssadFalls
Yemen: Remembering the Friday of Dignity
A year ago, around 52 protesters were killed and close to 100 were reportedly injured in Sanaa. Netizens remember the day, March 18 - a turning point in Yemen's revolution, which made many people, statesmen, diplomats, and soldiers defect and join the ranks of the protesters.
Brazil: Solidarity March for Syrian Revolution
Syrian revolution support reached Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 18. Hundreds of activists in Sao Paulo rallied to show their solidarity with the Syrian struggle on its first anniversary.
Egypt: RIP Pope Shenouda III
Yesterday, the sun set on Egypt with a somber note - Pope Shenouda III, the Head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, had died after a long severe battle of illness at the age of 89. Netizens react to the news.
A Love Letter From Israel to Iran
A message of love from Israelis to Iranians sounds stranger than fiction in these tense years where Iranian and Israeli governments threaten each other constantly. But we see examples of just this in a new Facebook campaign.
Iran: I repent that I voted for Ahmadinejad
Omid Hosseini, An Iranian blogger who has been actively supporting Mahmoud Ahmadienajd in 2009 presidential election and rejecting the post-election protests, writes [fa] in his blog: ‘I'm sorry that I voted for Ahmadinejad in last election. I repent for that. I'm sorry that I voted for him to justify his...
Iran: Authorities ‘worried’ about social networks
Hamid Shahriari, a member of newly-formed Iranian National Council of Cyberspace says [fa]: “Social networks have presented so many threats to the country and we are worried about some parts of these networks”. In recent weeks Iranian authorities have asked some users to ‘stop or reduce’ their online activities. In...
Iran: ‘The button’ in Ahmadinejad remarks
Iran's parliament questioned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over a list of accusations, including that he mismanaged the nation's economy and disobeyed the parliament's legislation. Ahmadienejad humiliated those members of the parliament who have signed this questions, saying that they ‘may have received their post-graduate degree just by pressing a button’. Iranian...
Ethiopia/Lebanon: Online Outrage Over Death of Domestic Worker Turns into Activism
Alem Dechasa, the woman seen in a mobile phone video footage circulating online being beaten and dragged by force into a car outside the Ethiopian consulate in Beirut, has committed suicide. The video sparked anger amongst Ethiopians netizens. Following her death, netizens are organizing online to call for justice and draw attention to abuse of Ethiopian domestic workers in the Middle East.
Syria: Friday's Demonstrations on Video
Saudi blogger Ahmed Al Omran complies a Storify collection of videos allegedly leaked from Syria today. Many show protests which happened this Friday. [Warning: Some of the videos contain graphic material)
Morocco: A Protest to End Forced Marriage After Rape
Moroccans are taking a stand tomorrow (March 17) in protest against the plight of 16-year-old Amina Filali, who committed suicide after being forced to marry the man who raped her. Amina's marriage to her rapist was approved by a judge. Her suicide has raised a storm of reactions both on social networks and on the ground.
Saudi Arabia: Tweets for Jailed Saudi Activist Draw Global Attention
Saudi Twitter users have joined forces to highlight the plight of a political prisoner Shaikh Yusuf Al-Ahmad on the micro-blogging site. Their effort has made the Islamic scholar's name become a worldwide trend, raising awareness about his imprisonment without charges and access to a fair trial.
Egypt: The Plight of Rural Women
Egyptian blogger Ahmed Awadalla writes about rural women in Egypt in this eye-opening post. Such women, he says, suffer the “highest rates of illiteracy; bear the heavy burden of utmost poverty; lack essential healthcare greatly jeopardizing their lives; and is not represented in our new parliament.”
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
