Stories about Middle East & North Africa from June, 2012
United Arab Emirates: Anger at Risqué Madonna Concert
Madonna kicked off her MDNA Tour on June 1, performing her debut concert in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The concert prompted controversy for the sexual themes and Madonna's revealing costumes. Netizens slammed Madonna on Twitter.
Saudi Arabia: The Death of a Crown Prince
Saudi Arabia buried Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud today. Here are reactions from the Saudi blogosphere following his death.
Lebanon: Protest to Re-Open Beirut's City Park
“Personally I do not understand how a park can be kept closed for the public, letting only the privileged few enter upon a permit,” wrote leelouz in a post about the protest held to raise awareness to the insignificant amount of public green space and to demand the re-opening of the city's park.
Lebanon: Beirut Most Expensive City in Middle East
Blog Baladi shares this advice: “Beirut has become so expensive that even expats no longer can afford it. Maybe we should stop building 1000 square meters apartments for Arabs to rent/buy and start building reasonable flats with rational prices for Lebanese and the average tourist.”
Bahrain: Cursing Neutrality
“I think that it’s not only the killer that should be held responsible for his crime for silence isn’t any lesser of a crime, and that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality,” writes Bahraini blogger Mohammed Hassan.
Saudi Arabia: The Repercussions of Nayef's Death
The death of Saudi Arabia's Crown prince and Minister of Interior Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 78, was announced today. Netizens react to the news.
Yemen: Who Will Handle Yemen's Portfolio After Prince Nayef's Death?
Yemeni netizens react to the death of Saudi Crown Prince and Minister of Interior Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The strongman handled the Yemeni portfolio, and is alleged to have moved Al-Qaeda from Saudi Arabia to Yemen. He has also been quoted in Wikilieaks saying that Yemen is a failed state.
Egypt: Documentary on Female Journalist of the Revolution going on US Tour
Words of Witness, a documentary on a young female journalist reporting the Egyptian revolution is going on tour in the USA. First in film festivals in California and in New York, then through a crowd-funding initiative they hope to raise funds to go to even more university campuses to share the story of youth, revolution, gender roles and new media.
Bahrain: Plea to Police to Return MacBook Pro
On Twitter, Bahraini Mohammed Al Maskati, complains: “It's been 443 days since masked police confiscated my MacBook Pro, 2 Hardrives, 3 Blackberry phones, camera AND wifey’s Friend's collection.” Al Maskati was arrested last year after he was threatened with arrest on Twitter.
Egypt: Right to Housing initiative
Egyptian blogger and urbanism researcher Yahia Shawkat, in association with Mosireen, a citizen-journalism collective, and the Arab Digital Expression Foundation, ADEF have recently launched the “Right to Housing, a Socially Just and Sustainable Built Environment” initiative. This video, subtitled in English, entitled “No sir these are self-built communities” is the first episode...
Tunisia: Baccalaureate Exam Leaked
Netizens were struck by the leak of the Arabic test of the national baccalaureate examination, criticising the government for the fail. Salah Almhamdi rounds up reactions on Twitter.
Yemen: $audi Influence Explained
The influence of Yemen's rich and powerful neighbor on it's internal affairs is no secret. Saudi Arabia's interference has been felt among Yemenis for decades. Now Yemenis have a list of politicians and tribal leaders said to be on Saudi Arabia's payroll. See how Yemeni netizens react in this post by Noon Arabia.
Iran: Jailed lawyer plays with her son
In social networking websites Iranian users are sharing a video footage of jailed lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, when she tries to play with her 4 years old son through a cabin window in a prison visit. Mrs. Sotoudeh, a human rights activist in Iran, is sentenced to 11 years in prison...
Palestine: Gaza's Terrorist Chickens Trend on Twitter
On June 5, an Israeli airstrike hit a poultry farm in the southern Gaza Strip, ending the lives of dozens of cackling chickens. In response to this attack, Twitter users were quick to come up with a humorous hashtag, #JihadiChickenBrigade, which soon trended worldwide.
Yemen: Famine
Lebanese Ramy Zurayk writes about the famine facing Yemen.
Jordan: Punish Rapists
Jordanian Mohammad Al Qaq, at Khobbeizeh, calls for no leniency in the punishment of rapists.
Egypt: A Legal Tangle
The Arabist sheds light on a legal tangle in Egypt, which could force fresh presidential elections. “All of this is to say that the situation is extremely confusing […] the elections could be cancelled. In fact, if parliament is dissolved as well, the transition would essentially go back to square...
Egypt: The Ultra's Song
Egyptian blogger Mostafa Hussein shares a video featuring a song by the Ahli football club supporters The Ultras on current events in Egypt.
Egypt: Recognising Catastrophe
Writing from Egypt, Maryanne Stroud Gabbani shares her thoughts on the Egyptian presidential elections here. “I wish I could really say that I've gained some understanding of what is happening in Egypt right now, of what we can expect, but I can't,” she confesses.
Egypt: Presidential Candidates from Outer Space
Zeinobia, from Egyptian Chronicles, discusses the Egyptian presidential elections runoffs and how both candidates are related to “outer space” in this post.
Bahrain: Free Ebrahim Sharif
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif expresses his views on opposition leader Ebrahim Sharif, who is in jail. “I feel so powerless and so ashamed of what is happening here. Especially when to me, the solution is staring everyone in the face,” he writes.
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