Stories about Middle East & North Africa from September, 2012
Lebanon: Angelina Jolie supporting Syrian Refugees
American Actress and UN Ambassador, Angelina Jolie is in Lebanon today [September 12, 2012] as part of her tour to support Syrian Refugees in Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. Commenting the event, Ivy from Lebanon tweets: @ivysblog: Angelina Jolie's in Lebanon today visiting refugees – not only is she the world's...
Arab World: Outrage Over Killing of US Ambassador in Benghazi
Arab netizens have condemned the cowardly attack on the United States Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last night. Four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens were killed when militants fired rockets at them as they were being driven to a safer location after protesters surrounded the consulate building.
Palestine: Demonstrations Against Rising Living Costs Continue
Protests against high prices and unemployment that started almost a week ago are continuing in major cities in the West Bank. Ola Anan updates us in this post.
Tunisia: Not a Twitter Revolution?
On Tunisian blogging portal Nawaat, Christopher Barrie writes: It is surely not unreasonable to argue that the 2011 revolution which followed this period of unrest could well have happened in the absence of new media. … It is therefore clear that the existence of Twitter was not a decisive element...
Syria: Free Syria in Sign Language
Even the Deaf should see what Syria wants This is what YouTube user Zazo22 writes under a video showing how to say “Free Syria” in sign language in support of the Syrian Revolution.
Iran: “Soldiers of Islam” Hack Cartoonist's Facebook Page
The Facebook page of a leading Iranian leading cartoonist, Mana Nayestani, was hacked on Tuesday, 11 September 2012, by pro-regime hackers who call themselves “Soldiers of Islam”.
Kosovo: Prizren Comic Book & Cartoon Festival
Macedonian artist Vesna Nichevska-Saravinova blogged about her participation in the Prizren Comics Festival, organized by the Kosovo Comic Book Artist Association, Xhennet Comics [sq]. Four out of 15 featured artists at the festival were from Macedonia, Eddie Rebel reports [mk], alongside colleagues from Italy, Turkey, Cyprus, France, Kosovo, Bulgaria, and...
Egypt: Teenager Confronts Militarization of Schools
As criticism of the military institution grows in Egypt, a young man takes a brave step to confront military interference in the education system. Ahmed Awadalla speaks to Ahmed Hassan, who has stood against the militarization of schools.
Libya: A Project to Support Blogging
Libyablog is a website that shares what Libyan bloggers write. The group blog is run by a team, from France24, along with l’Atelier des Médias. Some Libyan bloggers are also involved in editing. The first phase of the co-operation extends for six month, from July 2012 to January 2013. During...
Egypt: Hero's Welcome for Paralympics Squad
On Twitter, Ahmed Morgan shares a photograph taken minutes ago from Cairo International Airport, where hundreds of people gathered to welcome home Egypt's squad from the London paralympics.
Egypt: Welcoming Paralympics Heroes
@MonaMcloof: Im taking these n going to greet our #egyptian delegation coming bk frm london #Paralympics
Egypt: Women on Hunger Strike for Syria
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia visits Syrian women activists on hunger strike in Cairo to draw attention to the plight of their people back home. She blogs her observations and interviews in two parts – here and here.
Egypt: Going Hungry to Draw Attention to the Plight of Syrians
Syrian activists and artists abroad have been on hunger strike for almost two weeks, to draw attention to the atrocities being committed by the Syrian regime against their people.
Egypt: NGO Trial Adjourned
On Storify, MaliciaRogue shares tweets on the trial of 43 foreign and Egyptian non-governmental organisation workers, accused of receiving funding from foreign sources and operating in Egypt without permission. The trial was adjourned until October 2, 2012.
Mauritania's Online Journalism Director Hires Hackers
Mauritanian activists on Facebook and Twitter uncover the attempt of the electronic journalism director, who is close to the political regime, to hire hackers to counter activists who oppose the Mauritanian regime. Dedda Weld Sheikh Ibrahim reports
Bahrain: Despite the Ban, Opposition Protests in the Capital
Despite a ban which prohibits Bahrainis from protesting in the capital Manama, demonstrators braved police and turned out for a call to protest led by opposition societies. Elias Maki takes a look at citizen media comments in the run up, during and after the protests.
Syria: With Guns and Tanks
On Twitter, Emma Suleiman, who lives in France, shares a photograph holding a gun, near a tank, taken during a recent visit to Syria. She tweets: @emmasulieman: More photos with FSA in the free Syria:) they have tanks now :)))
France, Yemen: Vanishing Women
Eloïse Lagrenée [fr] has posted on her Facebook page a picture by Yemeni photographer Bushra Almutawakel, illustrating how women could vanish into darkness and invisibility, step by step, under fundamentalist pressure and the full niqab. It has been shared over 1,500 times.
Saudi Arabia: Reformist Figures Refuse Secret Trial
The third hearing session in the ongoing trials of two prominent Saudi human rights activists was held earlier today, September 8. Mohammad al-Qahtani and Abdullah al-Hamid, who are among the co-founders of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, are facing charges that include inciting the public to protest and impeding the country’s development. When the judge insisted on holding the session behind closed doors, the activists decided to leave.
Jordan: What Happened to Education?
Roba Al Assi shares a video of the opening of the University of Jordan in 1962 on her blog And Far Away. She writes: As a graduate of the the institution myself, it is funny looking back 50 years, at a time when education actually mattered in Jordan. How did...
Lebanon: A Virtual Museum for Censorship
Lebanese non-governmental organization MARCH has launched the country's Virtual Museum of Censorship, which seeks to document censorship cases in Lebanon from the 1940s to date.