Stories about Arabic from December, 2007
Bahrain: Bhutto – Martyr of Freedom
Bahraini blogger Hayat (Ar) describes assassinated former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as the ‘martyr of freedom.’
Egypt: Arabic Books
Egyptian blogger Eman recommends reading the following Arabic books.
Egypt: Murad and the Freedom of Speech
Judge Murad lost his case and the court ruled in favour of freedom of speech. The Administrative Judicial Court issued a sentence in Case No. 15575 / 61, which was brought by Judge Abdul Fattah Murad calling for banning the 51 websites on the Internet in Egypt. You can read...
Bahrain: Reactions after the riots and arrests
In another special roundup, we have the reactions of Bahrain's bloggers to the events of the last few weeks, when rioting took place after the death of a demonstrator during a commemoration of 'Martyrs' Day', and many were subsequently arrested.
Egypt: Bidding Farewell to Bhutto
Egyptian bloggers couldn't stop themselves from writing about the assassination of one of the bravest women in the Muslim world, and may be the whole world. Carmen – Diasporic Discontents – wrote about her own experience when she met Bhutto [En]. I met Benazir Bhutto when I was in grad...
Arab Bloggers Alarmed by Al Farhan's Arrest
Reactions continue to reverberate across the Arab blogosphere following the arrest of Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan, whose charges still remain unknown. Following is what some of region's bloggers have to say about his detention.
Dubai: Sex Slaves Exist
Bahraini Esra'a says slavery isn't a thing of the past and that sex slaves exist in our modern day and age. She also posts related videos which expose the sex trade in Dubai.
Egypt: Rama Yade
Rama Yade, France's Secretary of State, has inspired Egyptian blogger Eastern Bird to write the following post, which Tarek Amr translates from Arabic.
Bahrain: The debt owed to the Indians of the Gulf
This is the second post from Bahrain this week; the first covered various celebrations, and demonstrations. In this post we'll be examining the official population statistics, hearing about a frustrating experience in Saudi Arabia, seeing what role graffiti can play in political mobilisation, and acknowledging the debt owed to South Asians in the Gulf.
Saudi Blogger Fouad Al Farhan Arrested in Jeddah
Saudi Arabia added yet another accolade to its freedom of speech record by arresting its first blogger. Fuad Al Farhan, considered by many as being the dean of Saudi bloggers for being among the first to blog in his country using his real name, has been arrested in Jeddah. No further news is available for the reasons for his detention. This is how some of his fellow bloggers reacted to his arrest.
Saudi Arabia: Leading Blogger Arrested
The Arab Blogger's Observatory (Ar) announced the arrest of pioneer Saudi blogger Fuad Al Farhan. The site did not cite any reasons for his arrest.
Bahrain: Celebrations, commemorations, and demonstrations
Bahrain is approaching the end of a ten-day holiday to celebrate both its National Day and Eid Al Adha, which has seen tragedy as well as joy. December 16 is Bahrain’s National Day, and the following day celebrates the King’s accession to the throne (عيد الجلوس), but it is also a day on which the opposition mark ‘Martyrs’ Day’, commemorating the people who died during the 1990s while fighting for political reform. During demonstrations this year one man died, creating another 'martyr', and increasing tension on the streets of the kingdom.
Bahrain: Bahraini Demonstrator ‘Killed’
Bahraini blogger emoodz writes (Ar) about the death of a Bahraini demonstrator in this post.
Bahrain: Demonstrator Dies
A Bahraini taking part in a demonstration to mark Martyr's Day has died, reports Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif. Reports say that the deceased died due to tear gas exposure, while the Ministry on Interior says he died of a heart attack. Rioting continues in Bahrain.
Iraq: Iraqi Refugees in Syria
Alive in Baghdad highlights the plight of Iraqi refugees in Syria in this video.
Iraq: The Suffering of Iraqis
While we have touched on the plight of Iraqi refugees in neighbouring Arab countries previously, nothing compares to the real misery they are facing away from their homes and jobs more than Iraqi blogger Faiza Al Arji's (Arabic) report from the ground.
Algeria: Sitting in a Tent
Algerian blogger Jilal (Ar/Fr) has achieved a life long dream and sat in a tent – not in the Middle East, but in Paris. Click here for photographs.
Bahrain: A tenfold increase in population?!
This time the roundup from Bahrain covers three weeks. We have frustration on every front, unfortunately: frustration with being surrounded by apathy and ignorance, with being a teenager, and with a ludicrous criminal charge. One blogger is considering leaving the Gulf for a better life back in India, another admits he rarely reads, and a number of others are debating the merits of secularism.
Bahrain: Fikr 6 – Changing the World
Last week I was privileged to attend Fikr 6, a conference organised by the Arab Thought Foundation: In keeping with the mission of the Arab Thought Foundation to promote the unique culture and values of the Arab people, Fikr 6: Arab Strategies For the Global Era will assemble the smartest...
Kuwait: Dude, Where is my Winter ?
This week, a Kuwaiti blogger dishes out advice on how to behave this winter while others continue to give comedy act Axis of Evil raving reviews. Also from Kuwait is a visit to the Car Show and a price hike at Starbucks.
Jordan: Parking or Barking?
What's the difference between parking and barking? Jordanian blog Talasim shows us in a picture.
