RSS feed for Quick Reads German Ulrike Reinhard links to a series of videos featuring Prem Shankar Jha, a well known journalist in India, who offers a different take on what is going on in Syria.
Latest stories from Quick Reads + Syria
A Platform for Middle East's Indie Musicians
Music for a better future. Screenshot from Mideast Tunes’ Indiego campaign video.
Palestine/Syria: A Tale of Two Women
Palestinian blogger Budoor Hassan shares the story of two women in this blog post – Nariman Tamimi in Nabi Saleh, a tiny village north west of Ramallah in the West Bank and Maha Ghrer in Bustan Al-Qasr, a neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria.
Hafez Al Assad's Statue Destroyed in Syria
The destruction of Hafez Al Assad's statue in Al-Raqqah , Syria. Screen shot from YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hFwEmgylJ4
Syrian photographer wins first place in a competition in Germany
The photo that won the first place in Journalism in Arab European photographers ninth festival 10-10-2012. Source: Yazan Homsi Facebook page
MENA: Acclaimed Authors’ Favorites of 2012
M. Lynx Qualey, blogger, who is interested in Arab and Arabic literature, wrote a series of posts introducing acclaimed Arab poets, novelists, and short-story writers’ favorite Arab reads of 2012. She started with a list of nonfiction books, then followed by a list for poetry [En] and fiction [En].
Counter of Syrian War Victims Installed in Bulgarian Capital
“Support Syrian bloggers and activists” Facebook page published a photo of the counter of victims and refugees of the war in Syria, which has recently been installed by CommonStep Association in the center of Bulgaria's capital Sofia. The online counter can be found on CommonStep's website.
From Jerusalem to Damascus
#This_Is_Damascus.. The Syrian revolution flag flies high in Jerusalem. Photograph shared on Twitter by @prometheus_92
Syria: Time for a Frank Dialogue
Syrian blogger Maysaloon calls for a frank dialogue on Syria. He writes:
What needs to happen now, and not when Assad falls, is frank dialogue with all – whether they are Islamists, Free Syrian Army, Jabhat al Nusra, the Kurds, whoever it may be, about core principles. For the sake of the country and their children they have to agree that political disputes, however paralysing, must never again transform into armed conflict. Basic respect for human rights and dignity are not difficult to agree upon and enforce.
Syria Protest Videos Online Despite Internet Cut
With the Internet cut across Syria, videos of protests are still finding their way online.
On Twitter, Hivos reports:
@Hivos: While #internetcutinsyria @ANA_Feed continues to bring the news: video from large demonstrations today in Aleppo: http://ow.ly/fHVhx
Are Communications in Damascus Down?
Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi has raised the alert of a possible Internet cut in the capital Damascus, where she reports that the phone services are also down. She tweets:
@RedRazan: Two hours ago the #internet was cut at least in most neighborhoods in #Damascus. This is troubling news. #Syria
And she adds:
@RedRazan: I am trying to call my family in #Damascus but the call won't get through, many are trying to call their families inside as well. #Syria
Families of Kidnapped Lebanese Protest Authorities’ Neglect
Enough Waiting, it is our right to know their fate. The banner is from Beirut Walls blog
Candles Lit for Gaza in Bulgaria's Capital
About 100 people gathered in Sofia's central square to show their support for the victims of Israel's recent Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip. Facebook page “Together for Palestine” [bg] has this photo of commemorative candles lit in Bulgaria's capital; another page, “Bulgaria supports Palestinian independence in the UN” [bg], has more updates and photos. A few pro- and anti-Assad Syrians were seen arguing with each other during this solidarity gathering:
Photo by Ruslan Trad.
Syrian Red Crescent Volunteer in Grave Danger
Al-Tawil with his child, in a photograph taken in 2009. He is a Red Crescent volunteer who was arrested in Syria and is reportedly being subjected to ‘monstrous torture.’
Syria: Reflections from the Balkans
Macedonian non-profit outlet Diversity Media published an article/podcast [mk, sq] about the Balkan states’ reactions to the situation in Syria, featuring a statement by GV Author Ruslan Trad (among others, including the Macedonian politician Stojan Andov [en, mk], who served as the Yugoslav Ambassador to Iraq in 1987-1991).
Lebanon: Angelina Jolie supporting Syrian Refugees
American Actress and UN Ambassador, Angelina Jolie is in Lebanon today [September 12, 2012] as part of her tour to support Syrian Refugees in Jordan, Turkey and Iraq.
Commenting the event, Ivy from Lebanon tweets:
@ivysblog: Angelina Jolie's in Lebanon today visiting refugees – not only is she the world's most beautiful woman but also a passionate humanitarian.
Syria: Free Syria in Sign Language
Even the Deaf should see what Syria wants
This is what YouTube user Zazo22 writes under a video showing how to say “Free Syria” in sign language in support of the Syrian Revolution.
Egypt: Women on Hunger Strike for Syria
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia visits Syrian women activists on hunger strike in Cairo to draw attention to the plight of their people back home. She blogs her observations and interviews in two parts – here and here.
Syria: With Guns and Tanks
Emma Sulieman with the Free Syrian Army. Shared by @emmasuleiman on Twitter
On Twitter, Emma Suleiman, who lives in France, shares a photograph holding a gun, near a tank, taken during a recent visit to Syria. She tweets:
@emmasulieman: More photos with FSA in the free Syria:) they have tanks now :)))
Syria: All Newspaper Headlines Celebrate Assad
A copy of Syrian newspaper Tishreen with only one topic in all its front page stories – Bashar Al Assad. Picture shared by @anasonine
On Twitter, Syrian blogger Anas shares a picture of the front page of the Arabic language daily Tishreen and says:
@anasonline: This is a copy of Tishreen newspaper dating back to 2000 which my friend found by accident. All the headlines talk about one topic.
UAE: Iranian Translators Distort Morsi's Speech
UAE-based journalist Hassan Hassan Storfies how Iranian translators distorted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi's speech, at the Non-Aligned Movement meeting in Tehran, replacing Syria with Bahrain and Arab Spring with Islamic Awakening.
Ukraine: Striving for Unguarded EU Borders
Source: “We are Europeans” Facebook page
Syria: Give the Nobel Peace Prize to the Syrian People
Syrian netizens have a dream – that the Syrian people would be awarded the Nobel peace prize this year. They even have a dedicated website to push the cause, with information in Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Syria: Ali Farzat Insults Al Arabia Anchor for her Sect
Al Arabiya correspondent Alia Ibrahim was allegedly insulted by famous Syrian cartoonist Ali Farzat for her sect. What happened saddened Syrian activist Mohammed Al Abdallah [ar] who apologized on the behalf of Farzat. Asa'ad Abu Khalil blogged about Farzat, saying: “The man has now exposed himself to be a petty, vulgar, sexist, sectarian, violent and crude person.”
Bulgaria: Syrian and Iraqi Refugees on Hunger Strike
Bulgarian newspaper Dnevnik reports [bg] that 25 asylum seekers (21 Syrians and four Iraqis) went on hunger strike to protest the slowness of the asylum-granting procedures at the detention center for foreigners in the Bulgarian village of Lyubimets. Comments to the Dnevnik article reflect the general indifference to the plight of refugees, as well as anti-immigrant and xenophobic attitudes.
Syria: Assad Arrests Alawite Activists
Syrian Darth Nader tweets: “Arrest of tens of Alawite activists by Assad regime for organizing relief efforts for those under siege in #Homs, #Syria.” Assad himself is of the Alawite sect.
Bahrain: Salafists Provide Aid to Syrian Rebels
Salafist MPs from Bahrain visited Syria, where they provided assistance to the Free Syrian Army, says The Angry Arab News Service.
Guinea: The Plight of Guineans Students in Syria
Kante Taliby writes on Guinée News about the plight of Guinean students in Syria [fr] : “I am a Guinean student on scholarship in Syria and I am married with one child. My wife, my child and I have not had a proper meal for almost a week now, and other Guineans are in the same predicaments. No one can leave the house and nobody can come in as bullets fly from all sides. Last Saturday, we were able to place a call to the Embassy of Guinea in Egypt asking for help to obtain asylum in Lebanon or Turkey.”
Syria: Refuge in Armenia
With the situation in Syria deteriorating rapidly, Cilicia comments on the plight of the country's 100,000 strong ethnic Armenian population. The blog says that many are already applying for Armenian citizenship, but more could be done to offer them refuge in Armenia.
Syria: Live Blogging from Midan
Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was live blogging from the Midan neighbourhood in Damascus. Here's her take.
