Latest posts by Jillian C. York from March, 2011
Bahrain: Prominent Blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif Arrested
Shortly after 3am local time, prominent Bahraini blogger Mahmood al-Yousif was arrested in his home. Before leaving with police officers, the blogger tweeted, "The police are here for me." His arrest was confirmed by both his brother and son.
USA: Al Jazeera's Future
Sana of Arab-American blog KABOBfest remarks on a new academic paper that looks at Qatari channel Al Jazeera's future in the United States.
Egypt: Demo to Free Mohamed Radwan
Egyptian blogger The Traveler Within writes about a demonstration in support of journalist Mohamed Radwan, arrested by Syrian security forces.
Morocco: Atlas Mountaineering
The View from Fez shares tips on mountaineering in the High Atlas.
An Interview with Andy Carvin
With 40,000 Twitter followers and a dedicated stream of local sources, Andy Carvin has become a first stop on Twitter for news throughout the Middle East and North Africa. In this interview with Carvin--an early Global Voices contributor and current NPR strategist--we find out how he uses Twitter to spread the news.
Syria: Protesters Demolish Symbols of Regime
In Syria, the faces of President Bashar al-Assad and his father, former President Hafez al-Assad, are regularly seen on billboards, buildings, and in the form of statues. Visitors to the country are often surprised by the prevalence of such images, while Syrians have grown used to them as a daily feature of life. Yesterday, a number of videos surfaced in which protesters tear down the symbols of the regime: posters and statues of the ruling family.
Syria: Citizen Videos Show Horror in Daraa
As the crackdown on protests in Daraa continues and reports pour in of more deaths, citizen reporters in the town are capturing video and uploading it to YouTube, which was only recently unblocked in Syria. The videos in this post show the extent of the violent crackdown in Daraa.
Morocco: The Winds of Change
For the past month, Moroccans have taken to the streets to call for a reform of the constitution and for the establishment of a democratic parliamentary system. On March 20, 2011, the peaceful protests, which took place in cities both large and small, continued, inspiring bloggers in Morocco and the Diaspora to share their thoughts.
Syria: Protests for Release of Political Prisoners, 38 Detained
On March 15, following a "day of rage" in Syria, a group of around 150 protesters gathered outside of the Interior Ministry in Damascus, demanding the release of political prisoners. So far, at least 38 have been detained.
Arab World: How Much Does Internet Access Matter?
Amidst the ongoing debate of the role of social media in revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa lies another question: To what degree does Internet access matter in determining the role of the Internet and social media in these revolts? Jillian C. York looks at different ideas about the effects of Internet penetration on the effectiveness of social media organizing.
USA: Twittersphere Debates Kristof Column on Islam
A column by New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof riled the Twittersphere today. In the column, Kristof asks if Islam is the reason for stagnation in the Middle East and North Africa. Readers take issue with his characterizations of the region.
Morocco: Casablanca Protest Draws Thousands
Protests in Casablanca's Mohammed V square today drew thousands of Moroccans, as evidenced by the many photos and videos being posted online. Participants in the demonstration are demanding government reform and an end to corruption.
Qatar: A Blogger Detained, Incommunicado
In what appears to be Qatar's first known arrest of a blogger, Amnesty International has reported the detention of Sultan Al-Khalifi, a human rights activist.
Morocco: Fadoua Laroui, our own Mohamed Bouazizi
When young Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire in the town of Sidi Bouzid, he couldn't have imagined the chain of events his act would set off. Now, in Morocco, the self-immolation of a young woman, Fadoua Laroui, has Moroccan bloggers debating the cause and effect of such an action.
