· September, 2009

Stories about Middle East & North Africa from September, 2009

Oman: Lost in The Lost Symbol

  30 September 2009

Omanizer was away from blogging for a few days and she has an excuse. She couldn't put Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol down.

Kuwait: Blogging under the Spotlight

  30 September 2009

Kuwaiti blogging came under the spotlight during a workshop organised by IREX entitled The Role of Blogging in Kuwait. Global Voices’ Kuwait author Abdullatif AlOmar, who was a panelist at the event, has more.

UAE: Dubai Metro Pride

  30 September 2009

This month's opening of Dubai Metro has attracted a lot of commentary on UAE blogs. Buj Al Arab notes: “Such a fantastic project for Dubai, the UAE, and the Arab World to be proud of. One of the fastest rates of construction.”

Egypt: Another journalist to be deported

  29 September 2009

"Your name [is] on the computer." With those words Cairo-based Swedish journalist and blogger Per Bjorklund is being turned away from the Cairo Airport, where he landed a few hours ago. Egypt's bloggers are angry and speaking up against it.

Israel: The Meaning of Home

  29 September 2009

Absolute Carmel‘s Carmel Vaisman contemplates notions of home. “I fear that the concept of home, like love or identity, is a complex chaotic fractal, a secret formula, that if I change one component I’ll lose it entirely.”

Israel: New Army Technologies

  29 September 2009

The Muqata posts descriptions and photos of new technologies from the Israeli army. Should this be classified? You decide.

Middle East: Arabisk, Blog Competition and Debate

  28 September 2009

Newly launched Arabisk is an annual competition to select the best Arabic blogs. First welcomed by bloggers, Egyptian bloggers are now complaining that they have been sidelined from the contest. Here is round up of their reactions.

Syria: First Bloggers’ Contest Winners Announced

  28 September 2009

The winners of the first Syrian blog contest have been announced. Many bloggers commended the initiative and hoped it becomes an annual event. However, a few of them expressed some criticism and frustrations, and offered suggestions to further develop the contest.

Israel: “Ajami” Reveals Nuanced Look at Israeli Society

  27 September 2009

The film "Ajami" was the big winner at last night's Ophir Prizes and will continue on to international audiences as Israel's foreign film nominee for the 2010 Academy Awards. Israeli bloggers comment on the film, which touches on coexistence between people of different religions.

Arab World: Artificial Virginity Made in China

  27 September 2009

Moroccan blogger Mounir writes on Des maux à dire [Fr] about artificial hymens, made in China, apparently much appreciated by a growing base of Arab customers. “In the Arab region, Syrians have seen this revolutionary ‘product’ invade the black market. In Egypt, investors are seriously considering its introduction,” alleges the...

Israel: Palestinian TV Comedy Wins Applause from Bloggers

  27 September 2009

“Country on a String,” a new Palestinian comedy that aired during Ramadan, is being hailed by Israeli bloggers for its creative irreverence. Tamar Orvell of Only Connect writes: “I salute my brave Palestinian cousins who pick up pens, not guns, and who look within and without in a bid for...

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Mariam A.
Mariam A. is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.