Stories about Middle East & North Africa from February, 2015
#SaveSaman: A Final Effort to Save Iran's Saman Naseem from Execution
There has been an urgent call to action to stop the state execution of juvenile prisoner Saman Naseem, arrested at 17 years of age (now 22), for his membership in an armed opposition group. Amnesty International has been leading a call to action to stop the execution slate for today (February 19th).
Cyber Sex Did Not End Well For These Syrians Fighting Assad's Regime
Cyber sex is changing the war grounds in Syria as a Fireeye report reveals. Hackers have stolen 7.7 GB of opposition data via malware installed during chats on Skype.
2015 Presents an Opportunity for Free and Fair Elections in Africa
Wekesa Sylvanus hopes that 2015 will be a year of free and fair elections in Africa: https://wekesasylvanus.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/will-2015-be-a-year-of-free-and-fair-elections-in-africa/ Since the advent of multi party democracy in Africa, electoral contests have become a do or die affair in majority of African countries. Elections in Africa are a high risk affair and in...
Suffocating Sandstorms Hit Iran
Arseh Sevom speaks to environmental researcher Sam Khosravi to discuss the origin and solution of the sandstorms plaguing Iran.
For a Cleric From Saudi Arabia, Earth Does Not Spin. For Others, the Sun Rotates Around Earth
Saudi cleric Sheikh Bandar al-Khaibari is adamant the Earth does not rotate. How then, if the Earth rotates, and China rotates, would anyone get from Sharjah to China?
Bangladeshi Publisher Faces Death Threats Over Translation of Controversial Iranian Writer's Book
Riaz Khan pulled the Bangla translation of "23 Years: A Study of the Prophetic Career of Muhammad" after its publication sparked outrage from hardline religious groups, but the threats continue.
10 African Children’s Illustrators You Should Know
Jennifer Sefa-Boakye highlights 10 of Golden Baobab Prize for African Illustrators’ finalists: Late last year Ghana-based pan-African literary organization Golden Baobab introduced us to a shortlist of talented illustrators, whose work ranged from 3-D Ashanti folktales to intricately drawn Moroccan cityscapes and African barbershop-inspired murals in Durban. Awarded in November,...
Moroccan Forces Accused of Abusing Sub-Saharan Migrants
"There were six buses waiting for us, we were ordered to climb. Then we drove for several hours into the desert. We had no indication where we were going."
Egypt Bombs ISIS Sites in Libya in Retaliation for the Beheading of 21 Egyptian Copts
"#ISIS will have hoped to provoke #Egypt airstrikes in #Libya - this fits perfectly its vision of escalating conflict & chaos in the region," tweets Doha-based Charles Lister.
Turkey Mourns a Female Student's Brutal Death
News of the horrific murder of a female student last week opened up the discussion about gender-based violence in Turkey, and public anger came steaming out.
Egypt in Mourning Over Brutal Execution of 21 Coptic Christians by ‘ISIS in Libya’
Egyptians mourn the loss of 21 Coptic Christians after Libyan branch of ISIS posts gruesome video of their beheading.
Emerging Threats in Cybersecurity Legislation in Africa
Access, an international human rights organization is troubles by emerging threats in cybersecurity and data protection in Africa. Ephraim Kenyanitto explains: The Convention was originally scheduled to pass in January 2014, but was delayed for modifications after protests by the private sector, civil society organizations, and privacy experts—all of whom...
Teddy Bears Face Off with Police as Bahrain Marks its Fourth Anniversary of Anti-Regime Protests
Copycat teddy bears soon popped up across villages in Bahrain, and were placed at barricades put up by the protesters to protect themselves from police attacks.
Tragedy in Chapel Hill: ‘If the Murderer Were Muslim the Story Would Have Been Different’
"We may not know all the details about the white shooter and Muslim victims, but we know how the media would cover it if roles were reversed."
More Than 20 Zamalek Fans Die Trying to Enter a Football Game in Egypt
Egyptians took to social media to express outrage at the death of Zamalek football fans in front of the Air Defense Stadium entrance. Here's how the story played out online.
Could Bahrain’s Student Movements Find a Solution for the Country’s Political Problems?
Bahrain Debate looked at alternative solutions for the political crisis in Bahrain. Mohamed Hassan takes a look at the student movement in Bahrain and the role it plays.
Yemen Marks 4th Year Revolution Anniversary Rallying Against Houthis
"Hundreds are marching today in #Yemen the same they were marching 4 years ago…Today, there are new players, but same demands remain ignored," tweets a journalist covering Yemen.
#Douma_Exterminated as the World Turns Its Back on Horrific Attacks on Ghouta in Syria
Over five days, Assad forces killed about 143 civilians in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta province in Douma as the world watched in silence.
Latest ISIS Propaganda Video Features Some Curious Reporting by British Hostage John Cantlie
Cantlie takes viewers outdoors, where he points to drones hovering above, saying the "mujahideen really don't care how many eyes in the sky are looking down on them."
Iran, Beyond The Headlines
It's the 36th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, and six years since the 2009 Green Movement. Mahsa Alimardani reflects on her last visit to Iran in 2010.
Who Killed the Zamalek Football Fans in Egypt if it Wasn't the Police?
Photographs shared by netizens on social media show the police shooting at the spectators, who were crowded behind metal barricades.
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