Latest posts by Tarek Amr
MENA: Welcoming Ramadan
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar has just begun. It is a time when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, try to get closer to God and celebrate their blessings. Around the world, Muslims have been trying to capture the spirit of the month with photographs, sharing them on different social media websites.
Egypt: The Big Pharaoh Grabs His Popcorn
During the recent presidential elections many Egyptians were not really pleased with the options they had in the final round. Some decided to boycott the elections and many others voted for one of the two candidates out of fear of the other. Now that the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi is president, netizens share their thoughts.
Egypt: Introducing the MorsiMeter
After 32 years of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt has a new president and a new application to monitor the performance of its newly elected president Mohamed Morsi and the progress in the achievement of the 64 main promises he made during his election campaign.
Egypt: Two Camps, One Caricature
I have found no better summary of the current intriguing and backstabbing between the religious establishment on one side and their secularist counterparts on the other than a caricature, distributed first by the Islamists over Facebook, then altered by the other side to show their point of view.
Egypt: Mubarak Dies One More Time
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has died at least once every few weeks since the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, which toppled his 32-year reign. Netizens react to the latest speculations regarding his health.
Egypt: How do the Presidential Candidates’ Posters Compare?
About ten days remain before the presidential elections in Egypt. A few days ago we witnessed the first presidential debate in the country's history, but the candidates' posters will also play a big role in the final decision of the voters.
Saudi Arabia: Twitter Hacking Prevention Tips
Online accounts are frequently hacked and stolen. We often hear of those who hacked someone's email or stole someone's email password. Twitter is no different, so the Saudi tweep and blogger Manal Al-Sherif, who has worked as a Information Security Consultant in an oil company for years, shared her tips...
Egypt: Anger at Arrest of Lawyer in Saudi Arabia
Relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been under pressure because of the arrest of the Egyptian lawyer Ahmed El Gizawy in Saudi Arabia. News reports stated that he was sentenced to 20 lashes for “defaming the Saudi king”.
Bahrain: One-Woman Demo!
We have become accustomed to seeing million-man protests in Arab countries, but how about a one-woman protest?
Egypt: Should the Grand Mufti Have Gone to Jerusalem?
On April 18 Ali Gomaa, the Egyptian grand mufti and one of the highest religious authorities in the Islamic world, visited Jerusalem for the first time. The visit is controversial since it is seen by many as a step towards normalised relations with Israel.
Arab World: Technology in the Time of Revolution
The Arab uprisings have created a debate about the role played by social media and mobile technology in bringing change. Whatever conclusion you come to on that subject, activists certainly make use of a wide range of new technologies, and Tarek Amr takes a look at some of them in this post.
Egypt: The Drama of the Presidential Race
It's hard to predict the results of the presidential elections in Egypt, due to the dramatic events taking place every day. This post tries to shed light on the political situation, and the status of the major candidates so far.
Egypt: Your ID, Your Rights Targets Women
As many as 4 million Egyptian woman don't have ID cards, and as such cannot benefit from legal, social and economic services and rights. "Your ID, Your Rights" is a campaign which aims to cover 2 million women, providing them with ID cards, as well as create awareness online about the situation of such women and the importance of gender equality.
Egypt: The Abou Ismail Poster Frenzy
Preparations are in full swing for the presidential elections in Egypt, set for May 23 and 24, 2012, with candidates' election posters already up on the streets. But when it comes to Hazem Salah Abou-Ismail, he sure beats all the rest in the poster frenzy. His posters are almost seen almost everywhere. Netizens grasp the opportunity to make fun of the poster bonanza.
Syria: Campaign to Stop One Year of Bloodshed
To mark the first anniversary of the violence accompanying the Syrian revolution, which started on March 15, 2011, a campaign is being launched to mount a global call on world leaders to unite and stop the bloodshed.
Egypt: Flip Flop Economics to Debate the Presidential Elections
Egyptians go to the polls in May to election their new president, after 32 years of Hosni Mubarak's rule. Preparations for the big event are in full swing on the ground, generating debate which is spilling online. Tarek Amr takes a closer look at a debate between netizens discussing the merits and shortcomings of one presidential candidate.
MENA: Which Salafist Movie Would You Watch?
Iraqi Lebanese blogger Karl Sharro decided to start a new hashtag where people tweet movie names after putting a Salafist flavour into them. And like most of the humuorous hashtags, this one got spread in no time, when Twitter users in different Arab countries started using it.
Egypt: Diaries of a Cancer Patient
Breaking from the norm, Tarek Amr interviews Heba Mitkees, a blogger who had died last month, after battling cancer. Amr asks the questions and looks for answers in Mitkees blog.
Egypt: 2011 in Blog Posts
The year 2011 is coming to an end, and with all the events took place in Egypt, it is important to list the most important or controversial blog posts of the year. Tarek Amr polls Twitter users to decide this year's top blog posts.
Egypt: Reaping Legal Victories as the Revolution Continues
Egyptians are reaping victories in the halls of courtrooms. First, blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah has been released by a judge pending investigations, after spending 56 days behind bars yesterday. Then, a court ruled today that conducting virginity tests on women in the custody of the military is illegal.
Egypt: Using Twitter for a Healthier Life
Can Twitter be used to save people's lives or improve their health? Tarek Amr looks at a Twitter account, ran by a couple in Egypt, aimed at increasing health awareness in society, often touching on taboo topics, such as sex education.