Latest posts by Haitham Sabbah from January, 2006
Palestine: Hamas Won!
A lot of reactions to Hamas winning elections in Palestine. Nas summaries some of these, then talks about after-shock. Shaden says, “that’s what Palestinians inside want, you either support them or not but don't think you have the right to choose for them“, Khalaf writes about the implications on Jordan,...
Syria: Blog Censorship in Syria
The Syrian Domari (Arabic) yesterday became the first blog to be censored in Syria. Syria Mirror reported today that the Syrian Computer Society, one of two government-owned internet service providers in Syria, has blocked access to the Syrian Domari. The unprecedented move comes two months after anonymous bloggers (Arabic) launched...
Libya: Ghadames
Highlander says that the Libyan city of Ghadames is renowned for its unique style of architecture, traditions and culture. Amongst these interesting traditions is the one found in a typical Ghadames home where a small peephole is made into the front door. A visitor would look through it inside the...
Bahrain: A culture of hate is invading Bahrain
We now have a novel site whose author would like us to think that he is doing us Bahrainis a huge favour by “exposing” activists with an agenda. Activists which he describes as not only as cowardly traitors, which it seems he can put up with, but much more disgustingly...
Yemen: Al Mukalla
A new blogger from Yemen, in fact one of the very few. Omar Barsawad started Moments in Words from Hadhramout blog (more about Hadhramout here). If you haven't seen/heard anything about this place before, this is your chance to see a photo of Ghuwaizi Fort (Built in 1884 AD at...
Iran: Hoder in Israel
The Iranian blogger, and GVO member, Hoder, is going to Israel in a peaceful mission which he describes as breaking a major taboo. Luckily, another GVO member, Lisa, will be his host. However, while Hoder gets the support, a third member of GVO, Sabbah, gets the criticism because of his...
United Arab Emirates: Please do, please don't
An open letter to the new telco in UAE. Drafted by Moryarti of Dubai Consumer Mirror blog, it just shows how desperate this country is for a new and telecom operator.
Iraq: Bush should apology
Raed Jarrar jotted a sample email and asked his reader to send it to White House, which should be quick to apologize for its mistakes, such as bombing of civilians in Pakistan, he said. “This war administration should start admitting its mistakes. Whether you were a US citizen or not,...
United Arab Emirates: Accuracy and libel
Iqbal Al Tamimi, a TV journalist and one of Sharjah slasher’s victims, has asserted that she was quoted without her knowledge or consent by the local daily Gulf News. Secret Dubai don't agree and tells her that the best thing for her would be a course in basic journalism and...
Kuwait: Roll Back
In my humble opinion.. the far more worrying aspect about the current Al-Sabah family feud is not who will finally be named Emir of Kuwait, but that the reforms that the late Sheikh Jaber implemented might fall by the wayside or even get rolled back sooner than we fear, Zaydoun...
Kuwait: Kuwaiti leadership on the brink
After the sad passing of the Kuwait Emir earlier this week, everything was supposed to be figured out within the week or so to clear the view for us as Kuwaitis to know what is the future of our leadership. The new Emir, Sheikh Sa'ad, is physically in very bad...
Egypt: Visit Nefertari
A special fund raising tour for Theban Mapping Project will cost you $5,000 not including flights plus a donation of $500, Tour Egypt said. The tour promise to take you to visit Nefertari and other closed tombs like KV5 and Seti I.
Iran: Blogger gets three-year suspended sentence
Journalist and blogger Ahmad Reza Shiri (Persian) will have a permanent threat hanging over him as a result of the suspended sentence (used to silence journalists who bother the authorities) of three years in prison handed down by a court in the northern city of Mashhad, Reporters Without Borders said...
Jordan: Jews tourists
Jordan Turns Israelis Away For Being Too Jewish? The answer is of course they don’t want Jordanians to identify them as Israeli tourists and “religious” Jews come with symbols; the outer wear. And that will make them stick out like sore thumbs where they would ordinarily pass as European tourists,...
Lebanon: Lebanese can't manage own affairs
A day after organizing a protest against alleged foreign meddling in Lebanese affairs, Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah told al-Hayat that the cabinet crisis he created proves that it is difficult for the Lebanese to manage their own affairs, Kais said.
Jordan: Human Rights Teaching
Inaccurate ‘human rights’ teaching in Jordan's national schools textbooks was reported by a Jordanian National Centre for Human Rights, Sabbah said.
Israel: Tel Aviv sandwich shop explosion
Over the last two weeks the Israeli government and media had been doing their best to cover the news of the Jewish families living in Hevron. Today a Palestinian bomber once again blew himself up in a crowd. Islamic Jihad today demonstrated a terror act by dispatching a suicide bomber...
United Arab Emirates: Dubai looks like?
What can you do in Dubai? It's all desert? The black feline suggest the Big Bus tour..all of Dubai within a day on a double decker bus with an open top.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Women at Football Stadium?
Something interesting might happen tonight in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is going to play an international football match against Sweden, which pressured Saudis to allow women to attend the match. Sweden is going to play with their reserve team, as most of their stars refused to join the team for this...
Syria: Khaddam chances are?
For Khaddam, chances are he is simply too corrupt for other people in the opposition to approach. Should he drastically temper and revise his expectations, he might have a chance of appealing to some. One thing is clear though: he will not be allowed to become the leader of the...
Saudi Arabia: Why No Cinemas?
Why No Cinemas? Some people in Saudi Arabia love to bane things for no reason. The majority of Saudi people here showing that they want a solution for this issue, as it became something reactionary to keep it banned without any rational reason, Ibrahim Owais said.
