Latest posts by Amira Al Hussaini from January, 2011
Arab World: Copycat Self-Immolation Acts Should Not be Encouraged
Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi burnt himself to death in protest against unemployment, sparking an uprising which brought down the rule of Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali's 23-year-old regime in less than one month. Since then, up to 10 cases of self-immolation were reported in Mauritania, Algeria and Egypt, where people are protesting against unemployment, the rising cost of living and corruption, among other grievances.
Middle East: A Closer Look at Tunisia's Uprising
As Tunisians continue to grapple with the fast paced events of the few previous days which saw the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his escape, Arab bloggers continue to share their thoughts and reflections on the Tunisian uprising and what it spells for the rest of the region.
Libya: Gaddafi Wages War on the Internet as Trouble Brews at Home
Libyan leader Muammar Al Gaddafi managed to offend both Tunisians and netizens from across the world wide web in his address to the Tunisian people, following the fall of the Zine El Abidine Ben Ali regime. With trouble brewing at home and Libyans taking to the Internet to vent off, could Gaddafi be foreseeing his doom as a “victim of Facebook and YouTube”?
Arab World: Where is Ben Ali Headed to?
Now that ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has fled the country, the question on everyone's mind is: Where is he headed to?
Arab World: Welcoming the Fall of Ben Ali
Looking at my Twitterfeed, one would think that the Arab world has been waiting for this day forever. Tweets celebrating the escape of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from Tunisia have created a riot online.
Tunisia: YouTubing the Uprising
Video-sharing portal YouTube has been blocked in Tunisia since 2007 - but that is not stopping Tunisians from sharing the horrors they are facing on the streets with the rest of the world. As the Tunisian uprising gets into its fourth week, more and more videos are being posted and circulated by cyberactivists who want to world to witness what is happening to them at the hands of the authorities.
Tunisia: Hackers take over Tunisian Foreign Minister Kamel Morjane's Blog
The Twittersphere is on fire after a letter of resignation, allegedly written by Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamel Morjane, popped on his blog. Did Morjane really resign or has his blog been hacked? UPDATE: It now turns out that the minister's blog has indeed been hacked.
Tunisia: An Eyewitness Account from Tala
Tunisian blog Khayl wa Layl (Horses and Nights) posted a letter from a woman (Ar) from Tala, detailing some of the horrors they have been witnessing over the last few days.
Tunisia: “Please tell the world Kasserine is dying!”
Tunisian netizens are working around the clock to show the rest of the world the ongoing carnage in their country. What started as a protest against unemployment when a 26-year-old Tunisian man set himself on fire in Sidi Bouzid last month has ignited the country, sparking a wave of protests across it. Following are some reactions from earlier today.
Egypt: Who's Who of Who's in Jail
On Twitter, Egyptian Ahmed Sabry writes (Ar): “The Egyptian government detains Salafists, Christians, Satan worshipers, activists, gays, seculars, communists and atheists. Only the vegetarians are left.”
Arab World: Tears Spilled on the Break Up of Sudan
South Sudan's independence referendum and the likelihood of its separation today has hit a raw nerve with some Arab netizens. Many worry this could be the first step towards carving up the Middle East. Here's a snapshot of their reactions on microblogging site, Twitter.
Arab World: “Stop Crying Over Sudan”
Today's independence referendum in Sudan has put the country on the radar in the Arabic twitterosphere. From Saudi Arabia to Palestine, Arab tweeps are discussing Sudan's unity, division and resources.
Tunisia: Anonymous vs Ammar – Who Wins the Battle of Censorship?
The Tunisian censor, commonly known as Ammar, continues to wreak havoc on activists' account, in a country that has been witnessing a wave of protests since the middle of December. Just today, activists claimed that the government has hacked into their email accounts, accessing their blogs and social networking sites, and disabling them. The move seems to have come in retaliation to an attack by Anonymous, which has targeted vital Tunisian government sites and gateways.
