Stories about Middle East & North Africa from November, 2011
Iran: Greens vs. Greens
Jaras, an Iranian Green site, was criticized by several bloggers over quoting unidentified sources in Tehran saying: “Since October 22, Mehdi Karroubi [a Green Movement leader] has no spokesperson outside the country.” Meanwhile, Saham News, the website of Mehdi Karroubi's National Trust Party, rejected the report published by Jaras. Farshad...
Yemen: Taiz is Bleeding while the UN Envoy is in Sanaa
Yesterday's arrival of the UN envoy Bin Omar to Sanaa didn't seem to deter president Ali Abdullah Saleh or his forces from defiantly committing more violence and atrocities in Taiz. The continuous and random shelling by Saleh forces on Taiz's residential areas has caused many deaths and injuries to civilians and destruction of many homes. Noon Arabia takes us to the heart of the suffering of Yemenis in this post.
Lebanon: Jeita Grotto… To Vote or Not to Vote
Will the Jeita Grotto in Lebanon be named as one of the New7Wonders of Nature today? Layal Al Khatib sums up the discussion between Lebanese netizens in favour and against the voting contest.
Tunisia: Army Critic Sentenced to Two Months in Prison
On November 9, Nabil Hajlaoui, from Sidi Bouzid, was sentenced to two months in prison following his criticism of the Tunisian military institution. He was arrested after writing an article, in which he blamed the army for the recent riots and acts of vandalism which took place in Sidi Bouzid following the elections.
Africa: The 4th edition of the African Media Leaders Forum
Writing about the 2011 African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) held on November 10-11 in Tunis, EVINA in the africapress.over-blog.com provides possible reasons [fr] for the increase in the number of participants: 55 people attended the first edition that took place in Dakar (Senegal) in November 2008, and 250 participants gathered in...
Global Campaigns in Solidarity with Syria Keep Growing
There has been a global outpouring of initiatives in solidarity with the Syrian people. Social media and older technologies, like the telephone, are being used to let Syrians know that they have not been forgotten, especially during the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha.
Egypt: Global Online Protest Against Military Planned Today
A global online protest is being held today to protest against the unjust imprisonment of thousands of Egyptians since the beginning of the Egyptian revolution. Click here for more details.
Iran: Referee gets beaten up
Khakestar writes [fa] that several English newspapers published the story how a referee in Iran beaten up in Iran League the match between Chooka Talesh vs Shahrdari Dezfool. Here is the film.
Iran: Remembering Joe Frazier
Several bloggers shared their childhood memories where they watched Joe Frazier and Mohammad Ali's match. Mohsen Kordi says [fa] sometimes people were so excited about the matches that they did not go to work and watch TV.
Tunisia: The Day Ben Ali Became President
November 7 marks the day when former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali took over the country's presidency through a bloodless coup in 1987. This year, Tunisian netizens are sharing their views and feelings of a November 7 without Ben Ali.
Israel: Whistleblower Anat Kamm Jailed for Exposing IDF Assassinations
Anat Kamm is an Israeli journalist who was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for leaking thousands of classified military documents to another journalist. Information from the documents suggests the IDF defied a court ruling against assassinating wanted militants in the West Bank.
Iran: Bloggers React to Rumors of Military Strikes
The rumor of an impending Israeli or American millitary attack on Iranian nuclear facilities has become a top news story for both mainstream media and Iranian netizens.
Egypt: All Set for Parliamentary Elections 2011
Voting for Egypt's parliamentary elections begins on November 29. Get up to date with the process and some of the issues netizens are discussing about the country's first elections since the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak.
Bahrain: Reports of Military Personnel Tortured, Imprisoned, and Killed by Regime
Bahraini Twitter users joined hands to draw attention to the cases of scores of military personnel - soldiers and policemen - detained, tortured and said to be killed by the regime, since pro-democracy protests started in the country on February 14. Here is a collection of tweets which tell us more about their cases.
Armenia: Impressions and reflections on Turkey
Back in Armenia from his motorcycle ride through Turkey, Areg Harutyunyan reflects on the journey and shares his impressions of the country. Despite its political and historical problems with Armenia, the motorcyclist and blogger says Turkey is fascinating, hospitable, complex, and diverse.
Palestine: Israeli Commandos Intercept Gaza-bound Flotilla and Arrest Activists
Israeli soldiers boarded two ships heading to Gaza earlier today. The Canadian ship Tahrir (Liberation) and Irish Saoirse (Freedom) were en route to Gaza in an attempt to break the Israeli siege on it.
Catalonia: From Arab Spring To Islamic Autumn
Pepe Nieto from SODEPAU, a Catalan international aid organization, published a post entitled: “From the Arab Spring to the Islamic Autumn” [cat]. Nieco forecasts that political Islam will be the great benefactor of the recent events unfolding in the Arab world, after the elections in Tunisia and the statements from the...
Tunisia: Netizens Turn to Facebook to Criticise Islamists
The question of the power of Islamic movements has become a hot topic since the so called Arab Spring started in Tunisia last December. Mona Kareem takes a look at how Tunisian netizens are turning to Facebook to criticise and mock this movement and draw support to Tunisia's secular way of life.
Kuwait: Twitter Users Arrested then Released for “Insulting” Amir
Kuwaiti Twitter users Hamad AlOlayan and Tariq Al-mutairi were arrested and then charged with insulting the country's ruler on the social networking site. They have since been released but the investigation against them continues. Here are reactions to their arrest.
Egypt: Men Should Wear the Veil!
With Islamists rising in post-revolution Egypt, fear of religious oppression is growing among youth, minorities, and women. A new Facebook group encouraging men to wear Hijab or veils, in solidarity with women has just popped up. Here are some reactions to the initiative from Egyptian and Tunisian netizens.
France: Satirical Magazine's Office Burnt Down After Mocking Sharia
During the night of November 2, the Paris head office of satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo was attacked and burnt down. This happened on the same day an issue of the long established French weekly featuring the Prophet Muhammad as guest editor on its cover, was about to hit newsstands.