· December, 2006

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from December, 2006

The week that was in The Moroccan Blogosphere

  6 December 2006

Marrakech celebrates the stars The red city of Morocco looks more beautiful with all the glamorous actors taking part in its sixth edition of the International Film Festival. The very good Laila Lalami posts about the event and points a very interesting statement said by Mohammed Majd a Moroccan actor...

Israel: Rachel Corrie's Legacy Lives On

  6 December 2006

“Despite the murder of Rachel Corrie almost three years ago in Gaza, international volunteers continue to arrive in Palestine to help bring justice to the people living there. These are wonderful, brave young people who have no fear for their lives, standing up to the very forces that killed Rachel,”...

Israel: U.S. aid to Israel

  6 December 2006

“What do we get from the United States? What is this aid? And what are the conditions? A high percentage are loans, and of the “aid” most must be spent in the United States. This strengthens the Unites States economy, weakens Israel's military industries and gives the US the tools...

Jordan: ICT Forum

  6 December 2006

Ahmad, Roba and Lubna are attending Jordan's ICT Forum (kingdom's premier international information and communications technology industry event). Keep an eye for updates and latest news from these bloggers.

Israel: Municipal employees strike update

  6 December 2006

“Last week's strike was over quickly after promises were made by the government offices, to transfer money to the municipalities who have not been paying their employees’ salaries for many months now due to their dire financial situation. Some municipalities indeed paid, but the majority never received money and 12.000...

Palestine: Cleaning up the beach

  6 December 2006

“My mother saw a group of men collecting some wood off the beach the other day. She assumed they were custodial workers and thanked them for their work, asking why the Municipality didn't send people out to clean up the beach more often. It was then that she realized they...

Lebanon: When death becomes a way of life

  6 December 2006

Hizbullah’s people are turning other Lebanese into enemies. Angry mourners chanting “death” to Premier Fouad Saniora buried Tuesday a young Shiite man “Death to Israel”, “Death to America” and now “Death to Siniora”. Somehow, these death threats always backfire and countless Shias under the spell of the lords of jihad...

Tunisia: American Occupation Of The Moon

  6 December 2006

“Predictions: One week after the establishment of the moonbase the American media will declare the moon effort a quagmire. The European Union will complain that the USA is using 100% of the moon’s resources. Commentators on El Jazeera will report the moon is controlled by the Jews. China will provide...

Egypt: Forbidden games

  6 December 2006

As though the Middle East needs more violence; a video game where the player controls a suicide bomber in a crowded street has gone on display in Israel. Among the other games was a Syrian-made game showing Palestinian gunmen shooting at IDF soldiers, and plotting to kidnap Bush. Some of...

Latin America, Turkey: Reggaeturkaton

  5 December 2006

Get this: “a Turkish percussionist who's a veteran of New York's salsa scene.” Don Ball Carbajal introduces Ayhan Sicimoglu and his fusion of Turkish-Latin rhythms.

Iran:A history behind a Pulitzer winner Photo

  5 December 2006

Kamangir writes about Iranian photographer Jahangir Razmi who took 70 pictures of an execution in Kurdistan on Aug. 27, 1979. One picture won the Pulitzer Prize.The blogger adds It was, however, awarded to an unnamed photographer – the only anonymous recipient in the 90-year history of the award.On his blog...

Iran:Requested page is Forbidden

  5 December 2006

View from Iran reports that New York Times site got filtered too. Reporters withour Borders expressed its deep concern for the future of internet in Iran where censorship is the rule.

Syria: Pity Us!

  5 December 2006

“Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion. Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, and drinks a wine that flows not from its own wine-press… Pity us, Pity Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine… The...

United Arab Emirates: Fashion Police

  5 December 2006

If you have spiky hair and intend to visit Dubai, read this first: “One of my friend's cousins was recently pulled aside by Dubai Police at Mall of the Emirates. He had a spiky hair style. They asked him to wash his hairstyle out, he told them that he wasn’t...

Iran:Prisoner of Colour

  4 December 2006

Pouya has presented on his blog, paintings of Derlara Darabi, a 20 year old girl, who has been in prison since she was 17. She was sentenced to death for confessing to a murder. Although she later stated her confession was false,this was not accepted by court.

Arabisc: Asian Games, Democracy and Models

  4 December 2006

Why was there no celebration of the Arab heritage in the opening of the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and what is the relationship between democracy and models and why is an Egyptian blogger asking his readers to watch award-winning movie Good Night and Good Luck? These are some of...

Lebanon: The Babes of Hizbullah

  4 December 2006

Are Hizbullah babes as photogenic as Hariri's? A debate has broken out about whether the most recent crop of demonstrators are as telegenic as those of the March 14 crowd. Joshua Landis has some photos and links highlighting the Babes of Hizbullah.

United Arab Emirates: Skiing in the rain

  4 December 2006

“Dubai cannot cope with rain. It is a city built only for desert, with flat roofs, limited drainage and few umbrellas for sale. A small amount of water turns highways into slimy, skidding death traps. A downpour floods roads, pavements and car parks, creating gleaming lakes in the desert that...

Egypt: Miss Earth

  4 December 2006

Freedom for Egyptians reports that Miss Egypt Meriam George was selected among the top 8 in Miss Earth pageant, held recently in Manila. Meriam was competing with another 84 contestants from all over the world. The Miss Earth contest promotes environmental preservation and contestants are called “beauties for a cause.”

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Mariam A.
Mariam A. is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.