Latest posts by Ayesha Saldanha from October, 2008
Israel: Desiring the Druze
Anglo-Arab blogger Doshka has decided that Druze men are ‘hot': “In Israel, they are quite possibly all first cousins because they can neither marry out of the sect, nor can outsiders convert to the Druze faith – meaning they have a very, very narrow gene pool. It's a very, very...
Palestine: No security
In Gaza, Sameh Habeeb talks to a young girl who witnessed her father and brothers being beaten by Israeli soldiers: “In all cultures the father of the family represents safety and security to the family. The Israeli soldiers routinely rob Palestinian fathers of their role.”
Saudi Arabia: Creating a modern mix
Saudi blogger Hala wonders about Canadian activist Irshad Manji, who is lesbian, feminist, and Muslim: “Some choose to create a modern mix of their original values and their new ones, thus reaching a comfort zone that can enable them to access both societies with agreeable levels, but how far can...
Bahrain: Naked truth?
Maldita, a Filipina in Bahrain, wonders why anyone uses automatic translators; instead of “You are not worth anything” she got the translation “You do not have clothes“…
Bahrain: Where are the bloggers?
Yagoob asks if bloggers in Bahrain are a dying species.
Saudi Arabia: Ancient churches
Saudi Jeans explains that Saudi Arabia is the site of some of the oldest churches in the region, even though Christians cannot publicly practise their religion in the kingdom today.
Bahrain: Credit crunch explained
Bahraini blogger Evil Odd explains the credit crunch in simple terms: “There are three sheep in the farm. One carries inedible, infected meat. The other carries somewhat edible, but mostly tasteless meat. And the third carries what the rest of us know as good meat. The farmer realises that he...
Bahrain: The pleasures and perils of studying abroad
Although Bahrain has a number of universities, both government and private, many Bahrainis have the opportunity to go abroad to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies, often by means of scholarships. One of the first problems they face is that few people know where Bahrain is. In this post we hear about the experiences of three bloggers who have just gone abroad for higher studies, to Japan, Britain and the United States, and a fourth blogger who has been studying in India for some time.
Saudi Arabia: Business opportunity
Aysha Alkusayer has a suggestion for anyone looking to invest in Saudi Arabia: daycare. “Here’s what’s changing in Saudi. Young couples are moving away from their family’s house to wherever their jobs might be. If both mommy and daddy are working, comes the tough part of what to do with...
Saudi Arabia: Who polices the religious police?
Susie of Arabia writes about the Muttawa, or religious police, in Saudi Arabia and asks: “Who exactly is in charge of policing the Mutawwa here and how much are they getting away with beyond their authority? I know they are only human and they make mistakes, but many of their...
Bahrain: The ‘blogfather’ retires
Mahmood, the ‘blogfather’ of Bahraini blogging, has decided to quit.
India: Attacks on Christians a challenge to the secular state
In the last two months, radical Hindu nationalist mobs have rioted and attacked Christians in a number of Indian states, claiming that lower-caste Hindus and tribal peoples are being forcibly converted to Christianity. More than 30 people have been killed, and thousands have taken shelter in government camps or in...
Palestine: Jerusalem blues
Vika, who lives in Jerusalem, lists the reasons why she is feeling despondent these days, including a recent realisation: “My mood hit rock bottom this month when I realised the reason for the loud and constant hammering and digging that has plagued us all summer…is the beginning of a wall...
Bahrain: Comedy without borders
Bahraini blogger Ammar, who runs the site Bahrain Talent, has just seen the Axis of Evil Comedy team perform in Bahrain – and was pleased that local comedians were able to hold their own on stage: “The act also introduced local talent; five comedians from Bahrain, unknown to most, but...
Palestine: Fatah and Hamas take their fight into schools
August 24 should have seen the start of classes for pupils in Gaza’s government schools, but instead it was the beginning of a week-long strike called by the Fatah-led teachers’ union protesting the interference of Hamas in education. In this post, one blogger, a school pupil himself, gives us his perspective on the political fight getting in the way of his education.
Bahrain: The other side of Eid
Bahraini blogger Cookie hates Eid, for one because it gives family members a chance to catch you and settle old scores; she says, “Prepare your speech of revenge with your clothes.”
