Bookworm. Computational Linguist. Web addict. Interested in everything about everything!
Latest posts by Haifa Alrasheed
Female Saudi Athletes – Out of the Olympics, Into the Twitter Storm
After stepping out of the Olympics, the first and only Saudi female athletes in the history of the Saudi sports, Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shahrkhani have received a storm of reactions on the Saudi twittersphere. Haifa Al Rasheed samples reactions which range from inspiration and hope to shame and disgrace.
Saudi Arabia: The Death of a Crown Prince
Saudi Arabia buried Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud today. Here are reactions from the Saudi blogosphere following his death.
Saudi Arabia: “Release Our Detainees or Put Them on Trial!”
The families of Saudi political detainees held a protest inside two shopping centres in the capital Riyadh, calling upon the government to release their relatives or put them on trial last night. Hundreds of people are held in Saudi Arabia without charges or trial.
Saudi Arabia: A Family Living in a Cemetery
A Saudi family has been saved from homelessness and destitution thanks to a three-minute movie shot by young Saudi film maker Bader AlHomoud. Haifa Al Rasheed tells us how in this touching post.
Saudi Arabia: “Demonstrations are Forbidden in This Country”
Saudi Arabia's council of senior clerics issued a statement forbidding public protests. The announcement caused a storm of reaction from Saudi tweeps.
Arab World: Bloggers Compete for Arabisk Competition
Arab bloggers are vying for the Best of the Arabic Blogs Awards, Arabisk, which is now in the judging phase of the competition. The top 20 nominations in four categories are being judged now, and the competition results will be announced at the beginning of April. Haifa Al Rasheed has more on the competition.
Saudi Arabia: What Saudis Demand
As protests engulf the region, Saudis too are making their voices heard. A petition addressed to King Abdulla is being circulated, with demands aimed at wide ranging political reforms. Also on Twitter, tweeps are listing their demands for a better country.
Saudi Arabia: Protests Reach Eastern Province
The flame of protests raging across the Arab world, from the Ocean to the Gulf, has reached the Saudi Arabian cities Al Qatif and Al Hafouf. More than 100 people gathered in each of the two cities for the release of Shiite cleric Tawfiq Al Amir, who was arrested on Friday, March 4, after calling for a constitutional monarchy and a war against corruption. Al Amir was released a few hours ago.
Saudi Arabia: The Return of King Abdullah
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz returned home on Wednesday 23 February, 2011, after a three month period abroad for medical treatment. Anticipation of serious political and economic reforms filled the air upon his arrival. Here is a snapshot of the reactions of Saudi netizens.
Saudi Arabia: Cheers for Our Egyptian Brothers!
In their reaction to the news that Hosni Mubarak stepped down, Saudis joyfully congratulated Egyptians on their victory, especially those in Tahrir Square.
Egypt: Egyptologist Blogger Surveys Museum Damage
To the dismay of world citizens, the famous Cairo Egyptian Museumwas vandalized and looted on Friday. Margaret Maitland, an Egyptologist at Oxford University, has identified some of the damaged pieces with photos in her blog.
Saudi Arabia: Netizens Support Egyptians in their Uprising
Saudi Arabia's netizens are lending their support to Egyptians in their uprising against president Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. Many are watching, reporting on and reacting to the developments on the ground, as massive protests demanding a change in the regime enter their seventh day.
Saudi Arabia: Jeddah's Youth Come to the Rescue in Floods
Following Jeddah's flood at the end of January, the young generation of Saudis used social media websites to help with relief operations by providing aid, shelter, food or transportation to those who got affected by the rain.
Saudi Arabia: Jeddah Rain .. Again
Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city of Jeddah has been lashed with rain again, bringing back the ill-fated #Jeddahrain hashtag to our Twitterfeeds. Following are reactions from netizens, who poured their wrath on corruption and Jeddah's deteriorating infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia: Human Rights Activists Asked to Shut Up on Twitter
Saudi Arabia's human rights activists, who have been pushing their cause on mico-blogging site, Twitter, have been asked to shut up. The insult came from a Saudi Consultative (Shura) Council member, and was met with anger, humor and sarcasm.
Saudi Arabia: Free Saudi Scholar Dr Mohammed Alabdulkareem
Saudi Dr Mohammed Alabdulkareem was arrested after publishing an article on the effectiveness of the political regulation among the royal family. Using blogs, Facebook and Twitter, netizens stand up to call for his release.
Saudi Arabia: Genie in Court
"I was under the influence of a genie" is the latest excuse for administrative corruption in Saudi Arabia. A corrupt judge, a genie and a religious investigation panel, which claims to have interrogated the genie, create a plot to good for Saudi netizens to pass on. Haifa Alrasheed brings us the latest reactions on the story.
Saudi Arabia: Calls to Free Samar Albadawi
Samar Albadawi, a divorced Saudi woman is currently being held in Brayman jail in Jeddah for disobeying her father. While some netizens are furious others are skeptical about her case and the debate still continues among Saudi bloggers and tweeps.
Saudi Arabia: Licence to Blog!
Saudi Arabia first announced plans to have all web publishers and online media, including blogs and forums, to be registered with the government. The following day, it backed down following a storm of protests, saying that only electronic newspapers were expected to register. Saudi netizens have their say.
Saudi Arabia: Call for Obama to Free Humeidan Al-Turki
The Saudi nation has just released a campaign addressed to US President Barack Obama, asking him to release the Saudi prisoner Humeidan Al-Turki. The video has gone viral and supporters hope it achieves its goal.
