Stories about Middle East & North Africa from June, 2010
Iraq: A Series of Explosions
Iraqi Pundit comments on the series of explosions that rocked Baghdad yesterday. “Whoever attacked wanted to remind us they're still around,” he remarks.
Israel: iPhone Weather App Divides Jerusalem
If you want to know the weather for Jerusalem on your iPhone, you're going to have to get specific, reports Jewlicious‘ CK. You will now have to choose between East and West Jerusalem. “On the Yahoo weather page East Jerusalem’s weather is in Palestinian Occupied Territories >West Bank >Jerusalem and...
Israel: Politics and Protest with Humor
I see your protest and I raise you one. Jameel of the Muqata gives us politics with a much needed sense of humor. Last Saturday, a left-wing demonstration protesting 43 years of Israeli occupation in the West Bank was infiltrated by counter protesters holding signs such as, “We believe in...
Israel: Violence, Non-Violence, and Palestinian Solidarity
In “7 Reasons I'm Conflicted about the Fredom Flotilla” Daniel Sieradski writes: “By engaging in violence…[the activists] have demonstrated succinctly to Israel's supporters and allies that they, and by extension all Palestinian solidarity activists, are neither non-violent nor pro-peace. This hampers their cause and the greater cause of Palestinian liberation.”
Israel: Barred from Spain's Gay Pride Parade
In an entry entitled “You Know You're an Outcast When…” Israeli blogger David Bogner remarks on Spain's barring of Israel from its gay pride parade. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv celebrated its largest parade ever with 100,000 participants, Isrealli reports.
Iran: Repressed at home, Iranians protest worldwide
While several witnesses in Tehran said that scattered clashes erupted between Iran's security forces and demonstrators marking the first anniversary of a contested presidential election on 12 June, protests also occurred in many different cities of the world.
Global: Tweeting the USA/England Match
The Twittersphere was abuzz during the USA/England #worldcup match on June 12. The game was highly anticipated in the United States, where TV ads touted it as the "most anticipated" match of the World Cup, whereas in England, fans were nearly certain their team would win.
Iran: WordPress got filtered
BlogNews reports [fa] that WordPress got filtered in Iran on Sunday.BlogNews adds that it seems a mistake happened because all blogs using WordPress got filtered.
Iran: Protesters Clash with Security Forces on Anniversary of Election
Witnesses in Tehran said scattered clashes erupted on Saturday between Iran's security forces and demonstrators gathering at key sites to mark the first anniversary of a contested presidential election.
Egypt: Scheherazade must Die
Freedom of Expression is taking a beating in Egypt. In a series of lawsuits against writers, Scheherazade of 1001 Nights is now being accused of immorality and some lawyers want her dead - in their call for banning the book!
Iran: To Demonstrate or Not, on Anniversary of Election
On the anniversary of the contested Iranian election on June 12 the question circulating online is: whether to face authorities and demonstrate or not.
Global Voices: We are listening
Soon after Israel's deadly raid on a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, one post on Global Voices sparked furious critique on Twitter. Tarek Amr in Egypt summarizes the debate.
Brazil/Israel: Open letter to the Israeli government
“Now, after the coward attack in international waters carried out by Israeli military against the fleet of humanitarian aid to Gaza” says Maria Frô [pt], “again [the movie-maker Sílvio] Tendler manifests” in an open letter to the Israeli government.
Arab World: Where the Streets are Quiet During Football Games
Millions of people around the world are glued to their television screens, watching the World Cup's opening ceremony from South Africa - and the scene is not that different in the Arab World.
Brazil/Palestine: The Rose of Gaza
Georges Bourdoukan presents [pt] us with a beautiful poem in honor of the victims of the war and continuous violence in Gaza.
Egypt: Should Coptic Divorcees Remarry?
The Egyptian Supreme Administrative Court has issued a ruling obliging Coptic Pope Shenouda III to allow Coptic divorcees to remarry. The pope has rejected the ruling. Supporters of the church and promoters of a secular state blogged their opinions.
Egypt: The First Starbucks Protest in Egypt
The Gaza-bound Flotilla Raid has sparked an uprising in Egypt. Zeinobia covered the first Starbucks Protest in Egypt; A video and photographs were also posted by Sarah Carr and Mostafa Hussein.
Egypt: Khaled Said – An Emergency Murder by An Emergency Law
Khaled Said, a 28-year-old Egyptian from the coastal city of Alexandria, was allegedly tortured to death at the hands of two officers who wanted to search him under the emergency law. The story goes: he asked for a reason or a warrant - they killed him.
Oman: The Aftermath of Cyclone Phet
Oman was hit a few days ago by cyclone Phet, a tropical cyclone originating from the Indian Ocean. This is the second major cyclone to hit Oman in three years. Bloggers report on developments in this post.
Kurdistance: The Hypocrisy of Defending Turkey
As there is an increase of support for both Turkey and Palestine in the wake of the Israeli raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Kurdish bloggers caution against supporting a country whose human rights record leaves much to be desired.
50 Years Later, Independence and the Resource Curse in Francophone Africa
Francophone Africa is celebrating 50 years of independence in 2010. Many Africans voices are wondering out loud what is there to celebrate, given the mediocre level of human development achieved since independence.
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