MENA Research Officer at New Tactics in Human Rights. Previously a research a fellow at the War Studies Department of King's College London. I am passionate about renewable energy, visual arts, social media and traveling.
Latest posts by Mohammad Azraq
Jordan: Videos for Social Change!
Over the last few years, and due to the high level of freedom on the internet in Jordan, a number of online social initiatives have been born. Mohammad Azraq takes a closer look at Aramram in this post.
Arab World: Young People Gather to Learn Social Media Tools
Young people from eight Arab countries and Sweden met last May to learn certain leadership and organizational skills, and how to use the tools of social media to advance social change. Now, they are preparing to meet again in November.
Jordan: Beyond Stereotypes
How to get past stereotypes and the future of the relationship between Denmark and the Arab and Muslim worlds was the centre of discussions at an event organised by the Danish Embassy in Amman. Mohammad Azraq, who attended the programme, picks up on this story and more in this round up of Jordanian blogs.
Lebanon: Activists Experiment with Social Media
The use of social media tools such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and mobile technology has become increasingly popular in activism and advocacy work worldwide in recent years. In Lebanon, a group called Social Media Exchange teaches activists how to utilise social media to promote their work and reach a wider audience. Mohammmad Azraq digs into the Lebanese social networking and online scene to find out more.
Jordan: Demo For Arab Technology Innovators
Jordanian Mohammad Azraq attends the launch of Arab Crunch Demo, a blog which aims to promote Arab technology start-ups, and shares his findings in this post.
India: Environmental Scholars On a Very Cool Mission
About two weeks ago, I read in Tom Friedman's column in the New York Times about two young scholars from the U.S who were on a very impressive mission in India. Alexis Ringwald and Caroline Howe are touring the country in an electric/solar powered car to raise awareness about the...
Jordan: 7iber.com Discusses Vital Issues For Jordan
For the last 10 days or so, 7iber.com has been discussing very important issues affecting Jordan, with issues ranging from water scarcity, energy, unemployment and economics to the recent changes in the government. Mohammad Azraq has the story.
Jordan: Bloggers Reflect on Valentine's Day
Bloggers' reflections on Valentine's day in Jordan varied between wishes for a happy day, and raising important issues about the holiday. Here is what some of them had to say....
Jordan: Empowering Women, Emos and Live Mesh
Discussions on empowering women to the behaviour of teenagers to the latest new software which lets you synchronize your all your data on your computer are taking place at the Jordanian blogosphere this week. Mohammad Azraq brings us the latest.
Jordan: Clothes, Logos and Traffic Violators
In this round up of Jordnian blogs, Mohammad Azraq quotes bloggers discussing wearing colourful clothes, Amman's new logo and traffic violators.
Jordan: Water, Honour Crimes, Jordan Web Award, and Corporate Social Responsibilty
In this week's round up of Jordanian blogs, bloggers are discussing water scarcity, honour crime, the Jordan web awards and corporate responsibility, reports Mohammad Azraq, from Amman.
World Runner Comes to Jordan
Danish Runner Jesper Olsen is running around the world crossing four continents to promote running as something all cultures have in common.The Danish Ambassador to Jordan HE.Thomas Lund-Sørensen writes about this: As I am writing these lines the Ultra Runner Jesper Olsen from World Run II is crossing the Ramtha...
Jordan: Amman's November Fuel Crisis
When Jordan's government proposed adjusting fuel prices according to the rise and fall in the international markets on a weekly basis, gas station owners protested and for a period of about 10 days refused to buy fuel from the main refinery demanding that prices are to be adjusted on a monthly basis. That, in turn, resulted in a severe shortage in fuel from many gas stations in Amman. Bloggers picked up the issue, and here is what some of them had to say.
Congratulations Pour in on Queen Rania's Youtube Award
Bloggers from across the Middle East and North Africa are tipping their hats to Jordan's Queen Rania, and her visionary initiative on YouTube, after she was awarded YouTube's first-ever Visionary Award for launching an interactive online channel to combat stereotypes and misconceptions associated with Arabs and Muslims.
Jordan: The Queen's Vlog, Internet Socio-Economics and More
In today's review of the Jordanian blogosphere, Mohammad Azraq links to posts celebrating Queen Rania's latest Vlog, the socio-economic implications of a faster Internet, a new idea for social networking, and a competition open for Jordanians to vote for their favourite city logos and icons.
Jordan: Meet the Foreigners, Arab Music, and Business Ideas
The number of young expatriates coming to Jordan for different purposes, commonly to learn Arabic, has become significant. Walking around Jabal Amman, you can notice them sitting in cafes and restaurants around the area. Jordandays.tv, a web television channel from Jordan came up with a programme for their website called...
Jordan: Rumours, Gap Year Foreign Students, and Body of Lies
From an innocent murmur to a devastating consequence on the life of an innocent girl, see how rumours can destroy lives in Jordan in this round up of Jordanian blogs by Mohammad Azraq, which also discusses foreign gap year students in Amman and the latest big screen hit Body of Lies.
Jordan: Fighting Corruption, New York, and the Economic Crisis
From advice from the Danish Ambassador to Jordan on how to beat corruption, to life as a student in New York, to the impact of the global economic crisis on Jordan, Mohammad Azraq brings us the latest buzz from Jordan's active blogosphere.
Running Away from Marriage: A Story From Syria
American Fulbright scholar in Damascus Orientalista brings up the story of her Syrian friend Manar, a 22-year old female from the Druze minority in the country, who ran away from her house to escape a forced marriage.
Jordan: A Popular Cafe Shut Down in Ramadan Crackdown
A popular cafe in in the Jordanian capital Amman was shut down by police for serving alcohol and food during Ramadan, among reasons. The action sparked a debate on the country's active blogosphere on Islam, coexistence, and democracy, reports Mohammad Azraq.
Jordan: The Impact of Bloggers on Politics
Mohammad Azraq turns his attention this week to Jordan's bloggers who are discussing the impact of blogging on politics, a visit to a music conservatory in old Ramullah, Palestine, the significance of archeology and why Arabs should not give up on their mother tongue.
