20 March 2011

Stories from 20 March 2011

Iran:Obama's Nowruz message

President Obama sent a Nowruz (Iranian New Year) message and said “though times may seem dark, I want you to know that I am with you.” Several Iranians write in...

20 March 2011

Morocco: Peaceful Marches Across the Kingdom

Inspired by the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings, Moroccans have been taking to the streets since last February 2011, demonstrating week in, week out, calling for a reform of the constitution and for the establishment of a democratic parliamentary system. Peaceful marches were held on Sunday, March 20th, across the kingdom. Minutes of the marches were followed on the Internet via Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.

20 March 2011

Palestine: Ongoing Protests for Unity

March 15th marked the beginning of protests for unity between Palestinians and an elimination of the political divisions in Palestinian society; however, on that day, protesters were violently dispersed both in Ramallah and in Gaza. Here are some reactions from Palestinian netizens.

20 March 2011

Pakistan: Blood Money Sets Raymond Davis Free

Raymond Davis, an American security official, was charged for two counts of murder in Pakistan and citing him as a diplomatic official the US State Department demanded his release under Vienna convention. Davis was released after relatives of the dead received "blood money" under Islamic shariah law. Netizens raise questions.

20 March 2011

Haiti: The Entertainer, or The Professor?

According to the reports on Twitter regarding today's presidential election runoff in Haiti, the lines at polling stations are long, and voters at certain pollin were unable to find their names on voter lists. But many are also speculating on the outcome.

20 March 2011

Bahrain: A Video Timeline of Police Brutality

As international media focus shifts toward Libya and the rapidly unfolding events there, Bahrain government is unleashing a violent assault on pro-democracy protesters. Amid the media blackout, citizens are taking their cameras out and capturing the violence the state-run media is carefully concealing.

20 March 2011

Côte d’Ivoire : Terror in Abidjan

Abidjan a connu avant le début de la guérilla qui sévit depuis quelques jours une série de violences inédites, des attaques contre les domiciles privés des adversaires politiques de Laurent Gbagbo. De plus des actes de lynchage ont été pris en vidéo dans la commune de Youpogon. Ces actes de violence publiés sur le web ont provoqué de vives réactions.

20 March 2011

Malaysia: ‘Offensive’ Novel Creates Controversy

A recent controversy that has arisen in Malaysia is the issue of a novel used as a textbook for literature in secondary schools. Critics claim the book, which discussed the caste system, has racist content. The Indian community in Malaysia is demanding the removal of the book in the school syllabus

20 March 2011

Singapore: Reactions to Japan Earthquake Disaster

In this post, read the first hand account of Singapore students during the earthquake in Japan. Find out why a media giant in Singapore apologized for sending a marketing email about the quake. And bloggers react to the statement of the Senior Minister who compared the ‘noisy’ Singaporeans with the ‘stoic’ Japanese in times of disasters.

20 March 2011

Lebanon: Anti-Sectarian Movement

Isqat Al Nizam (Bringing Down the System) is a blog (Ar) dedicated to the rallies and demonstrations aiming at dismantling the Lebanese sectarian laws and system.

20 March 2011