Stories about Arabic from June, 2012
Yemen: Electricity Woes in Yemen
Electricity, food and water are basic human rights and have been the main demands of the majority of Yemenis long before the revolution started and still continue to be so. Nothing seems to have changed with the overthrow of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and living conditions only seem to get worse under the new National Consensus Government.
Saudi Arabia: Will Arwa Baghdadi Have Her Baby in Prison?
Pregnant Saudi prisoner Arwa Baghdadi is about to give birth behind bars. Arwa's brother was killed in violent clashes with Saudi security forces in 2011. Following his death, Arwa was arrested. During her detainment, she has been on hunger strike and has accused Saudi guards of sexually harassing her.
Saudi Arabia: Tweeps to Remember Detained Protester
Following the overthrow of Tunisian and Egyptian presidents, an anonymous call for a "Day of Rage" in Saudi Arabia on March 11, 2011, was spread. In response, the government deployed heavy police forces in all major cities to ensure that any protest remains virtual. One man, Khaled Al-Johani, turned out to protest and was arrested on that same day. Netizens rally to draw attention to his plight.
Arab World: People With Disabilities Raise Their Voices!
An online campaign was launched to shed light on the struggle of people with disabilities and their neglected rights. Campaign founder Abdallah AlShalaqi, an activist from Saudi Arabia said it aims at raising community’s awareness of the rights of people with disabilities; breaking media silence about it; and giving a message to government officials to take action towards this issue.
Jordan: Women's Basic Rights for Dignity and Social Cohesion
Over 200 people created a human chain in the streets of Amman on the afternoon of Monday June 25th, holding signs demonstrating a stand against crimes in the name of honor, harassment, nationality discrimination against children of Jordanian women, and rapists allowed to marry their victims to avoid prosecution.
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: The New President of Egypt is Mohamed Morsi
Mohamed Morsi was named the new president of Egypt. Netizens were on their toes awaiting the announcement of Egypt's next president.
Bahrain: After Twitter
Bahraini blogger Ahmed Habib tweets [ar]: “They have completed the stage where we have become birds who tweet on Twitter. They are now in the next stage and that is to find cages … for all of us!”
Sudan: Unshackling the Sudanese Revolution
Unlike other countries in the region, Sudan is grossly underreported, and this was ever so evident during Friday and Saturday’s street demonstrations. The Sudanese government keeps a tight grip on local media and bans journalists from reporting on issues of human rights and corruption.
Sudan: Protests Trigger Arrest of Twitter Activists
Wide protests in Sudan on Friday led to the crackdown of many Sudanese activists, including prominent Twitter personalities.
Sudan: “Police Denies Use of Bullets; All Injuries are Imaginary”
Sudanese officials are repeating the all too familiar ‘lies' Arab officials have been telling us since the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring in December 2010. Protests are contained, they say, in citizens attacking policemen, who retaliate in self-defense, goes the story. Netizens paint a different picture amid rumours that the Internet will be cut off as protests increase.
Sudan: Netizens Verify Internet Blackout Rumours
Netizens are watching Sudan closely, following rumours that the Sudanese authorities intend to cut off the Internet - a chilling reminder of Egypt's attempt to silence activists and contain the January 25 revolution when it pulled the plug off the www on January 27.
Bahrain: Opposition Leader Injured in Protest
Bahrain riot police fired at a protest, injuring opposition Al Wefaq Society head Shaikh Ali Salman. Online, this video of the attack is being circulated. The society's Twitter account tweeted [ar] saying the politician was injured, along with another young man, who was hit by a sound grenade fired at...
Egypt: The Old Man of Tahrir
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia shares a snippet on the old man of Tahrir. Check out his story here. “I know that in time of Shafik as a president , that old man will be arrested and sent to some mental asylum for believing in mythical thing as #Jan25,” she writes.
Kuwait: Facebook Contest to Promote Child Safety
A mall in Kuwait is holding a Facebook contest to promote child safety in cars. Mark blogs about the initiative here.
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.
#SudanRevolts in Wake of Austerity Anger
Amid a complete media blackout, the youth of Sudan have taken to the streets in a nation-wide protest against recent austerity measures. Maha El-Sanosi reports.
Tunisia: Salafis Run Amok over ‘Blasphemous’ Art Works
A group of Salafists attacked an art exhibition, Le Printemps des Arts, in La Marsa, (north suburb of Tunis) destroying some of the art works deemed blasphemous to Islam. The incident soon turned into a riot, with hundreds of Salafists attacking several areas across Tunisia and clashing with security forces.
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.
Lebanon: Complete Blackout
Two of the major power plants, Zahrani and Deir-Ammar, in Lebanon suffered from “unknown” technical difficulties, which plunged most of the country into complete darkness. While some citizens took to the streets blocking roads in protest, netizens took to their keyboards to express their frustration.
Algeria: Twitter Protest Against the State of Education
Algerians on Twitter staged a protest against the state of education in their country, with Aboubakr Benbouzid, the Minister of Education, serving as a focal point. Borrowing from the slogan "Ben Ali dégage" (Ben Ali get out) made famous by the Tunisian revolution last year, they adopted the hashtag #BenbouzidDégage.
