Stories about Middle East & North Africa from June, 2013
Saudi Prisoners On and Off Hunger Strikes
The Twitter account dedicated to Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA ) member, Mohammed Al-Bjadi, @FreeAlbjadi, published two letters written by Mohammed Al-Bjadi in prison last year. The letters were published after the Saudi Ministry of Interior denied that Al-Bjadi has gone on hunger strike. We share translations of the letters, that have been making the rounds online. Also read about the plight of prisoner Sayyed Aqeel Al-Shakhouri, who has been detained in October 2011, and is still awaiting trial.
Turkey: A Social Media Chronology of Occupy Gezi
On April 10, a hashtag on Turkey's Twitter proclaimed, #ayagakalk ("stand up"). This came from a small group of activists trying to preserve the standing park, Gezi Park in Taksim Square, against plans to build a mall on the area. Nobody expected to this little incident to turn into biggest protest in the country’s republican history
Video: Thousands Rage Against Iran's Regime at Funeral for Ayatollah
Thousands of people in Isfahan, Iran took part in funeral procession for Ayatollah Jalal Al-Din Taheri. He was a senior religious figure and a critical voice against regime hardliners
Saudi Youth Arrested for Allegedly “Insulting Religion”
Two young Saudi men were arrested in Riyadh by the Committee of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) for allegedly insulting religion. One of them, Bader Al-Rasheed, shares his ordeal in a series of tweets.
Istanbul Protests Through the Eyes of a Ukrainian Journalist
As the anti-government protests and police brutality in Turkey are making top headlines globally, many Ukrainians have started to follow the situation there with much interest, expressing support and admiration for the peaceful protesters. Their primary source of updates, photos and insight from Istanbul is Ukrainian journalist Osman Pashayev, the Istanbul bureau chief of the Crimean Tatar ATR TV channel.
Turkey: “A Tree Dies, A Nation Rises”
The situation in Istanbul turned violent when police cracked down on peaceful protesters on Friday, May 31. The peaceful sit-in started five days ago where several tens of people gathered to oppose plans by the government urban reorganization of Istanbul's only green spot: the Gezi Park. The brutality used by police forces — teargas, water cannons, fists and batons — to expel protesters from the park generated a national outcry.
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