Stories about Syria from March, 2009
Syria: American Language Centre Re-Opens
Syria News Wire reports that the American Language Centre in Damascus, which closed last year after a US attack on Syrian soil, is set to re-open.
In Love With Syria
Global Voices Online Morocco author Jillian York describes [en] her short visit to Syria in this post, where she explains why she had the time of her life.
Syria: Fruit Juice Envy
Sasa from Syria News Wire says Syria has the best fruit juice in the world.
Jordan: Photographs from Damascus
Jordanian Ali Dahmash is back from Damascus, Syria, and shares photographs he has taken there in this post.
Lebanon: First Embassy in Syria
Blacksmiths of Lebanon report on the opening of Lebanon's first-ever embassy in Syria which seals the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Syria: Struggle Against Injustice
Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi draws the line and defines who her ‘friends’ are in the struggle against injustice.
Saudi Arabia: Forty Lashes for a 75-year-old Woman for ‘Mingling’ with Men
A 75-year-old Syrian woman was sentenced to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from Saudi Arabia, for having two unrelated men in her house. The two men were also charged with ‘mingling' with an unrelated woman and sentenced to prison and lashes, sparking criticism for the country's judiciary and the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Saudi Arabia's bloggers speak up.
Syria: Stock Market Reopens
The Syrian Stock Exchange is up and running again – after being closed for the previous four decades, reports Josha Landis.
Syria: Documentary Film Festival
Donatella Della Ratta, an Italian researcher on media in the Arab world, has been attending Dox Box 2009, a creative documentary film festival in Damascus.
Syria: Anti-LGBT Campaign Sparks Heated Debate
This weekend the Syrian blogosphere warmed up for a new confrontation. A group of bloggers launched a campaign against the spread of blogs advancing LGBT rights, and the response came quick. LGBT is controversial everywhere, but within a society that is conservative in its majority, the topic gets much more sensitive and hotly-debated, writes Yazan Badran.
MENA: Clinton Does the Middle East
Hillary Clinton wrapped up her first visit to the Middle East as US Secretary of State, with stopovers in Sharm El Sheikh, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey. Bloggers from the region discuss Clinton's visit in this post.
Arab World: Birthday Food for Thought
Several bloggers from across the Arab World are marking their birthdays online with philosophical posts, describing their lives, hopes, accomplishments and dreams. Here's a selection of posts.
Syria: Architectural Gems
Hidden Cities, from Syria, uncovers photographs of architectural gems from yesteryear in this post.
Israel: Cold Front Warmly Received
The snow and icy rains that chilled Israel this weekend received a warm welcome from its residents. As the rainy season draws to a close, many fear that this year's low rainfall will lead to dangerous summer drought.
Palestine: Carrying Rocks to Syria
Samuel Nichols, who works with the Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank, tells us about a request he received from a Palestinian refugee in Damascus: “Please go to my village just outside of Haifa. Bring me back something. A rock, a handful of dirt, anything.”
