Stories about Syria from March, 2007
Syrian Blogsphere on Culture: Old Damascus Campaign, Norouz Day and “Tleebeh”
In this past week, most of the Syrian blogsphere was busy sponsoring yet another campaign in favor of saving what's left of the world's oldest continuously inhabited city, Damascus. The new plans that the Damascus City Counsel is trying to put to effect, include bulldozing two historic souqs (bazaars), Souq...
Arabisc: Rebelling Bloggers from Syria to Tunisia
Ever heard of the rebellious bloggers? Well, this is what some bloggers in the Middle East refer to themselves because they are breaking the norm – speaking their minds on blogs without censorship or editing but paying the price for the consequences of free speech later on. Tunisian blogger Sami...
Kurdistance: Newroz
The vernal equinox marks the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of the “New Year” or Newroz for the Kurdish people. The holiday is not limited to just the Kurds as cultures from Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania, India, Turkey, Zanzibar, and from various countries of Central...
Bahrain: Child Abuse in Schools
Bahrain-based blogger Haitham Sabbah links to a shocking video showing a fight between two students in a classroom, apparently arranged by a teacher! “I have no clue where was this video clip taken. It is a classroom in one of our schools around the Arab world. The teacher’s accent sounds...
Lebanon: Special Iranian/Syrian Car
Lebanese blogger Mustapha posts of a picture driven by Syrian president Bashar Al Assad. The new car was designed in Iran and built in Syria.
The Middle East and North Africa on Women's International Day
While half the world is today celebrating the International Women's Day, the other half seems to be blogging about it I suppose. Here's a run down of some of the reactions and acknowledgement the day received in the Middle East and North Africa. Our first stop is in Israel, where...
Syria: The Destruction of Old Damascus
The Syrian government is sponsoring a project that will destroy the last pieces of the Old City of Damascus [World's oldest continuously inhabited city] remaining outside the city walls, including Souqs (bazaars) that date back to the Mamluke period, reports Ammar. “Despite ample protests by civil society advocates, current residents...
Syrian Blogsphere: Free Kareem echoes, Expats living in Syria and Certifying your Documents
Earlier this week, the Syrian Blogsphere responded collectively to the sentencing of Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabeel Sulaiman, with a joint statement, started on Levantine Dreamhouse… We, as a community of Syrian bloggers, condemn the arrest and sentencing of Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman for the peaceful expression of his...
Syria: When Buses Become a Pain
Whether it's in Syria or Canada, buses will always be a pain as Canada-based Syrian blogger Omar writes. “we're standing on the sidewalk waiting for the bus… only the bus was already there, but the freakin’ driver has left it to go out for a smoke. so you're standing there,...