Stories about Middle East & North Africa from December, 2006
Iran:A Happy New Year?
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, reformist politician and blogger, says probably situation in Iran and many other parts of the world, in 2007 won't be better than previous year. He adds, but there are events in the world that you can never predict.The blogger writes,we live in hope, happy new year to...
The Saudi Blogosphere this Past Week
Sleeping blogs, zombie computers, Saudi driving culture, Saddam Hussein's hanging, Arabic MTV, Saudi lesbian bloggers, Christmas, and more in this week's roundup. Let's get this started… Relating to the demise of the blogging trend, mentioned in last week's roundup, Ahmad published a very interesting post about Saudi “sleeping blogs.” The...
The Iranian Blogestan on Saddam Hussein's death
Several Iranian bloggers talked about Saddam Hussein's death and remembered the Iran-Iraq war. Alpar says this year can be considered one of the worst for dictators, adding that Monday's newspapers could carry the following headline: “Four less dictators for 2007″. Alpar writes that Iranian people will celebrate this event, even...
Saddam at the Iraqi Blogodrome…
… for the last time. Today I post without comment on blogger reactions to Saddam's execution. I'll be posting more updates as the blogs develops. From my honorary Iraqi of the week. A cartoon by Latuff that sums up the mood of many: Like a gathering storm, realization that the...
Malaysia: Saddam's Execution
Ktemoc comments on the execution of Saddam Hussein and calls the execution as “unnecessary” and is concerned about more violence. “The Iraqis would be better off locking up Saddam and throwing the key away.”
Iran:Ahmadinejad after defeat in Council of City Election
Pro Ahmadinejad's forces got defeated in city council election. Digital Kelachinkov analysed the outcome of this defeat. He says“Populist-fundamentalist” is probably the best term for describing Ahmadinejad and his group. This group has a theoretic wing and also a populist one recent defeat of their supporters in the elections may...
Iran:Internet Sites in Iran
FaryadNameh says blogging has become popular in Iran due to the lack of free media, but internet,in general, has not been really developed in country.The blogger says it is rare that we find an institution in country with an active website[Fa]. The blogger adds even very popular sport clubs don't...
Iran:Sleepless Dictators
Futurama says if you listen to one of Saparmurat Niyazov's, former Turkmenistan President, speech, you find out he had never thought about his death. The blogger says the day of Niyazov's death, all dictators in the world were sleepless[Fa].
Iran:Meeting with Hanieh
Mohammad Ali Abtahi,former Vice President and reformist politician,writes in his blog that he and some other political personalities had been invited to Embassy of Palestine in Tehran when Mr.Hanieh,Palestinian Prime Minister,was there. Abtahi says Hanieh praised financial help coming from Iran and Qatar but it seems Bahrain did not help...
Iran:The Jailed Iranian Christian Converts
Azarmehr reminds us that in this Christmas period there are several Iranian Christian converts who are in the jail, just for their faith.
Iran:Who is the best Iranian of the year
Thanks to Aroosak Kooki blog, I have discovered a link to Iranian.com where 860 people voted for “the best Iranian of the year.” There are very interesting people on the list such as students who protested President Ahmadinejad's visit to Amir Kabir Technical University or Anousheh Ansari, the first Iranian...
Iran:Remember Bam
Several bloggers remember in their blogs about Bam earthquake,three years after disaster. Shamgahan has published a couple of photos of earthquake . The blogger asks what has been done for Bam population with all the foreign help that government received.The blogger adds, 72 hours after earthquake, government got 8 million...
Iran:Kianoosh Sanjari is Out of Jail
Sos Sanjari blog says “Kianoosh Sanjari,a young blogger and reporter who had been in prison for more than 70 days, is finally out of prison[Fa].”
The Blogoma backs Nichane while the major Moroccan Media ignore it
Morocco is celebrating Eid ul Adha next Sunday, so Merry Eid from the Moroccan Blogosphere(Blogoma). Let's joke about…Baby! The controversy over Nichane continues its escalation. Actually, and according to Farid it's virtually escalating since only the Moroccan blogs are concerned whith no major Media support(Fr). The view from Fez writes...
Iran:Virginia Woolf in Tehran
Bokhara Magazine has organised a Virginia Woolf night in the House of Artists in Tehran. You can see several photos in Tadaneh blog.
Bulgaria, Libya: Tripoli Six Death Sentence
Declan Butler writes about the Tripoli Six death sentence: “That is despite the fact that this was not a fair and impartial trial, and that the court refused to hear the considerable body of international scientific evidence that could exonerate the medics, and show that this is a typical hospital-borne...
Iran:A blogger shares her feeling about her filtered blog
Lady Sun shares her feeling about her filtered blog. The blogger says:”I'm just amazed how stupid these people are who can't stand a simple blog that is mostly about personal life of its author. I was careful not to write radical stuff in my Persian blog, because of the fear...
Lebanon: Foreign Intervention and Economics
The Lebanese bloggers are united this week in wishing their readers all the best during Christmas, Al Adha and the New Year. Some of these bloggers have taken up the issue of foreign intervention in the region as a subject of reflection while others highlight the sad state of economy...
Barbados: Condoning human rights abuses
Barbados Free Press is horrified that Barbados abstained from a UN vote citing Iran for human rights abuses, then went on to vote to protect Iran against sanctions.
Jordan: reBranding the Middle East!
“There is a big need to re-brand the Middle East. Not just to change the bad image we have in others minds, but also to change the bad image we hold for ourselves inside. And maybe this would be one of the most efficient steps towered resolving the most complicated...
Religion and Suicide Bomber
What is the relation between religions and suicide bomber? Is religion the only factor behind it? Who and why a person commit a suicide bombing? All these questions and more are answered in a series of posts by Lawrence of Cyberia. To start, follow the posts here and here then...