Man’s Death Inspires Solidarity in Midst of Devastating Storm in Lebanon

As a devastating storm rages in Lebanon, the death of a homeless man inspires a wave of solidarity. Few people knew his name before he was found dead near the American University of Beirut. But on January 7, 2012, Beirut mourned the death of Ali Abdallah, a homeless man who was a familiar face for the AUB community, often found on Bliss Street, where the university is located.

How Many More Syrians Must Die?

How many Syrians must die for the world to act? Syria Deeply catches up with Bessma Momani, a senior fellow at CIGI and Brookings Institution and an associate professor at the University of Waterloo, who shares her thoughts on this pressing issue.

Social Media Buzz: The Fallout of Assad's Speech

President Bashar Al Assad gave a rare speech on Sunday, his first since June, igniting Facebook and Twitter discussions that provided a jolt to both his supporters and opponents. The online discussion followed a predictable flow. Assad opponents dismissed the speech, pointing out that nothing new was said, while Assad supporters were invigorated, gleeful at the defiance of their embattled president.

Conversations: A Road Trip to Idlib

As part of our effort to highlight civilian stories, below is a conversation between Syria Deeply and a Syrian university student. She’s from a conservative Sunni family in Aleppo. She hopes to leave the country, but first had to get a passport from her family’s registered home address in Idlib. She told us her observations about the road between Aleppo and Idlib.

Jordan: Good White Morning from Amman

Amin Amin shares this photograph from the Jordanian capital Amman this morning:

Public Prosecutor Seeks Flogging for Saudi Women Protesters

Last Saturday, January 5th, relatives of uncharged prisoners managed to organize a small protest in Saudi Arabian city Buraida to demand the release of the prisoners. The protesters, all of them were women and children, were quickly surrounded and arrested by police forces since all methods of public dissent are strictly prohibited and harshly crushed in the absolute monarchy.

Kuwaiti Twitter User Jailed for Two Years for Insulting Emir

Kuwait slapped a two year prison sentence to yet another Twitter user for using the microblogging site to insult its ruler. Netizens react.

An Alawite Nurse in a Sunni Hospital in Syria

Traveling through rebel-held parts of Latakia province, in the Jebel Turkman region, we met 34-year-old Umyara, an Alawite nurse working in a field hospital. In Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad, Sunnis and Alawites have lived side by side for centuries. Now, with intense fighting in the Alawite-led regime and the mostly Sunni-led Free Syrian Army, many fear the animosity could spread to civilians across the religious divide.

The Last Survivors of Aleppo’s Infantry School

Adel and Ahmad, two 24-year-old college graduates from Idlib, are survivors of a showdown between the rebels and the regime. When the battle began for a military school near Aleppo, they were inside, serving time in the Syrian Army. They had been on both sides of the revolution, joining in peaceful protests against the Assad regime, but they had refused to join in the armed conflict against the government.

Social Media Buzz: The Crimes We Don’t See in Syria

Millions of Syrians are using social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Skype to disseminate and discuss the conflict. Each week our Mohammed Sergie monitors the online conversation in English and Arabic, pulling out the highlights in a feature called the Social Media Buzz. Apart from the relentless rounds of global diplomacy, recent headlines on Syria have focused on the rise of extremist brigades calling for an Islamic state and fears about the fate of Syria’s minorities.

Assad's Delusional #DonkeySpeech Scorned

Bashar Al Assad's latest speech, 21 months into Syria's uprising, drew scorn from netizens around the world. Many are also dismayed that not much is being done to alleviate the suffering of Syrians. Around 60,000 people have reportedly been killed, food and fuel are scarce and millions are homeless, either internally displaced by the crisis or living in refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

Yesterday, I Defected from Assad's Army

As part of our collaboration with Syria Deeply; we are cross-posting a series of articles that capture civilian voices caught in the crossfire, along with perspectives on the conflict from writers around the world. Below is a conversation between News Deeply and a 20-year-old man who defected from the Syrian Army’s Sulas...

Female Yemeni Writer Harassed for “Disrespect of Religion”

Tunisian Army Critic Gets a One-Year Suspended Jail Sentence

A military court increased Ayoub Massoudi's suspended jail term from four months to one year. Massoudi, a former advisor to Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, was charged with “defaming” the army and “undermining senior officials in the military”, over his declarations regarding the army's role in the extradition process of Muammar Gaddafi's Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmoud from Tunisia to Libya.

Iran: Police Looks For ‘Smart Control’ over Social Networking Sites

Iran's police Commander in Chief, Esmaeil Ahmadi Moghaddam says police is looking for ‘smart control’ over social networking websites. He believes this ‘smart control’ is better than a full blocking and people may use their ‘useful parts’.

“Some Hope for a Solution in Syria” – Michel Kilo

Michel Kilo is one of Syria’s famous dissidents, a political opponent of President Bashar al Assad. He rose to prominence inthe Damascus Spring, a brief flourishing of political freedom and expression in 2000. Kilo left Syria eight months into the revolution and now lives in Paris with his family. He answered questions from Syria Deeply via Skype.

An Alawite Outcast: How One Syrian Girl Lost Her Mother

Loubna Mrie paid a steep price for her place in Syria’s revolution. As an Alawite who took a stand against President Bashar Al Assad, she pitted herself against her community; many Alawites have remained staunchly behind Assad, as the leader of their sect and the protector of their privileged position of power.

A New Year of Syria’s Turmoil

As the world celebrated the dawn of 2013, in Syria, the regime and the rebels were fighting for the suburbs of Damascus. On Twitter, netizens spell out their anxiousness and hopes for the year ahead.

Arab World: Al-Andalus: Fall or Reconquista?

While people in Spain celebrated “El día de la Toma de Granada”, those in the Arab world debated whether it was an Arab occupation of Iberian Peninsula or not.

Graffiti in Tehran

Iran is not known for its freedom of expression or popular demonstrations in the public. But urban art is not nonexistent there.Frescoes, mosaics and other 'approved' art adorns walls in certain cities, underground art, although not as apparent as in Europe, is still visible in Tehran.

New Year and Old Habits in Bahrain

While countries around the world ushered in the New Year with fireworks and celebrations, a special line-up of treats from the authorities was awaiting Bahraini protesters. Luckily, netizens were up and running, and documenting some of them for the rest of the world to see.