Stories about Middle East & North Africa from August, 2014
Iranian Minister Says Government ‘Never Promised’ to End Web Censorship
ICT Minister Vaezi's words contradict President Hassan Rouhani's pledge to lift bans on popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Advocates Petition UN for Action on Jailed Egyptian Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Media Legal Defence Initiative asked the UN to intervene immediately in the case of Abd El Fattah, who began a hunger strike this week.
Indian Broadcaster NDTV's Report on Gaza Rocket Launch Becomes Fodder for Propaganda
NDTV journalists caught militants assembling a rocket in Gaza on camera, but the story has been "distorted by the twin forces of internet virality and the Israel-Palestinian spin machine."
Why Bahrain's Largest Opposition Bloc Wants People to Have More Babies
Al Wefaq says native Bahrainis could become a minority. Bahrain's Sunni Muslim monarchy has been accused of naturalising foreigners to prop up their own rule of the Shia Muslim-majority country.
One Year Ago Today, Assad Attacked Al Ghouta with Chemical Weapons
If only today, writes Hiba Dlewati, let us spare a thought for the nearly 1,000 Syrians who were gassed to death by the Assad regime.
Iran's Hardliners Impeach Moderate Minister Over 2009 Green Movement Protests
Minister of Science, Research and Technology Reza Faraji-Dana was blasted by conservative members of parliament for allowing university students who were expelled because of the protests to return to school.
Another Ceasefire Collapses in Gaza, Death Toll Rises Above 2,000
Yet again, both Hamas and Israel exchanged blame for the failure of the so-called peace talks.
“I Don’t Love You Death, But I’m Not Afraid of You”: Palestinian Resistance Poet Samih Al-Qasim Loses Battle to Cancer
Given his importance, it seems only fitting that upon hearing news of his death, Palestinians immediately took to social media to mourn their “resistance poet.”
The Egyptian Government Asks the U.S. to “Show Restraint in Ferguson” and Twitter Users Respond With This Brilliant Hashtag
Through the sarcastic hash tag #EgyPoliceTipsToUS, Twitter users are advising US police on how to respond to protestors in Ferguson, Missouri.
How ISIS Came to Leave Its Black Stain on Syria
If Syria bears responsibility for the rise of ISIS, the country has also borne the initial brunt of the group's aggressions, writes Marcell Shehwaro.
Not Human by Default: Humans of New York Takes on the Middle East
Responses to popular photo project Humans of New York's tour of the Middle East uncovers some unfortunate trends around perceptions of other cultures, writes Hiba Dlewati.
Prominent Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah Goes on Hunger Strike
Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah has entered an open-ended hunger strike until he is released from prison, his family said in a statement posted on Facebook today.
ISIS Beheads Kidnapped Photojournalist James Wright Foley in Horrific Video Message to the US
A video allegedly showing the beheading of American photojournalist James Wright Foley, missing in Syria for 636 days, by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was released today.
Armed Egyptian Group Hilwan Brigades Blasts State Violence and Muslim Brotherhood's ‘Pacifism’ in YouTube Debut
It's been one year since security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters opposed to the ousting of Egypt's first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, killing hundreds.
Abuse of Syrian Child on Video Sparks Outcry and Arrests
“Beat his face and head,” says a voice off-camera. “No,” pleads the boy, a nine-year-old Syrian refugee. The video has sparked intense public debate about discrimination against Syrians in Lebanon.
Mother-Daughter Duo Walk the Sarajevo Red Carpet in Palestinian Flag Dresses
Sabina Šabić, executive producer of Sarajevo War Theater, stirred comments when she appeared with her daughter at the famed Sarajevo Film Festival in gowns made from the Palestinian flag.
VIDEO: Is the IDF Glorifying Its Air Bombings of Gaza?
Israeli blogger Elizabeth Tsurkov challenges the IDF to make an English version of a video it had released in Hebrew, which she describes as “glorifying air bombings of Gaza.” She tweets: Hey, @IDFSpokesperson, why didn't you make an English version of this snazzy video glorifying air bombings of Gaza? http://t.co/R651aWr0uC...
A Syrian in Brazil: An Interview With Global Voices Contributor Rami Alhames
From Syria to Brazil, from engineering to activism and finally Global Voices, Rami Alhames has an interesting story of his own to tell.
Iran Vows to Block All “Unlicensed” Websites
On the day to recognize journalists, Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance announced that all news websites must henceforth obtain a state license -- or face automatic censorship.
Jewish-American Journalist Max Blumenthal Visits Gaza and Tweets Images of a Devastated City
Jewish-American journalist, author and blogger, Max Blumenthal, visited Gaza's Beit Hanoun, accompanied by Palestine-based journalist Dan Cohen. They share photographs of the "completely flattened" town.
#ISISmovies Trending on Twitter as the Islamic State Killing Machine Moves Across Syria and Iraq
The Sound of Music could become The Sound of Music is Haram, if ever the Islamic State achieves its goal of occupying the Islamic world and beyond.
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