Global Voices

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The world is talking, are you listening?

Is the Saudi government monitoring women? Blogger Ahmed Al Omran tells us how it is done. He adds:

The problem is not that there is now an electronic system that sends an SMS when women travel. Some people might actually want this service. The problem is that the government is enforcing rules of male guardianships even on the rest of us who don’t believe in such rules. One day, MOI could choose to provide a checkbox in their system that says: “My female relatives don’t need my permission to travel.” That day, unfortunately, has not come yet.

From Ramallah to Gaza, Linah Alsaafin had to travel through two countries – and two continents – for a tearful reunion with her grandmother. Read her account here.

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.

Ecuadorian blogger Paúl Moreno (@paulcoyote) [es] was detained [es] on charges of fraudulent access to computer systems and databases, after publishing a post [es] where he explains how he accessed the information of President Rafael Correa to show the vulnerability of the site www.www.datoseguro.gob.ec [es]. Twitter users have set up a campaign with the hashtag #LiberenaPaulCoyote [es] (free PaulCoyote). More information in this post [es] by Carlos Correa (@calu) [es].

On November 28, 2012, Mauritanian police dispersed [ar] a march organized by “Don't touch my nationality” movement and arrested their coordinator Birane Wane [en]. The opposition group was asking for the trial of all those involved in the killing of black officers in the Mauritanian army in the 90′s during the ruling of former president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.

The march took place on the country's independence day. Mauritanian journalist Mohamed Naji Ahmedou followed the event closely and tweeted:

@ouldhmedoumedna “لا تلمس جنسيتي” تشتبك مع الأمن قرب العيادة المجمعة..

Don't touch my nationality, clashes with security forces near the clinic