Stories about Syria from April, 2007
Arabeyes: On Selling a Palestinian Kidney and Changing the Israeli Flag
Do you want to know why a Palestinian wants to sell his kidney, or what had happened to the bicycle of a Lebanese blogger on September 10, 2001? What is more difficult: returning home after living abroad for five years or demanding that Israel changes its flag just as the Kurds want to change the Iraqi flag? And last but not least: why does Ala'a Abdulfattah - the Godfather of Egyptian bloggers - say he isn't and was never a blogger? To know more, read on.
Kurdistance: A Week Like Any Other
The news coming out of the Kurdish blogs this week is as varied as the landscape of Kurdistan itself. From predictions on Syrian Kurd alliances with Israel, to censorship in Turkey; from explorations of Northern Iraq, to essays on intolerance, the Kurdish bloggers cover it all. But for this week, I think we will begin with why, to Kurds, April is considered as the "Bride of the Year".
Syrian Independence Day and Elections
Syria celebrated it's independence and Parliamentary elections with a lot of official fanfare, but very little excitement from bloggers as a reported two per cent of the constituents turned up at the polling stations. Yazan Badran sums up the reactions as bloggers debate the results and updates us about the jailing of a prominent human rights lawyer.
Syria: Human Rights Lawyer in Jail
Syria Comment blogger Joshua Landis reports that Anwar al-Bunni, Syria's leading human rights activist and lawyer, was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday – for spreading false information.
Syrian-American Relations
Syrian-American relations come under the spotlight in this article posted by Joshua Landis on his blog Syria Comment.
Israel: Kill Ahmadinejad
Israeli paper Yediot Ahronot published a commentary which says that Israel should not shy away from threatening to kill Iran’s Ahmadinejad, reports Egyptian-based blogger Issandr El Amrani. “I feel that way about a lot of politicians. Perhaps the entire region should resolve its conflicts through assassinations. It would save a...
Online Freedom for All: Some cases worth supporting
In my last article, “Lessons from the Free Kareem campaign”, I talked about campaigning and why some jailed and persecuted bloggers and online writers are winning sympathy, while others have difficulty attracting the attention of the public. I also discussed the logic behind the success or the failure of campaigning,...
Lebanon: On Hizbulla, Iran and Syria
Lebanon-based blogger Nicholas links to an article which sheds light on the relationship between Hizbulla, Syria and Iran.
Syria: Israel Ready for Peace
Syrian blogger Sasa links to an article which says that Israel is ready to negotiate peace with Syria.
Egypt: Inheriting Presidencies?
Following the success of former Syrian president Hafez Al Assad of handing down power to his son Bashar, who now rules Syria, Egyptian blogger Zeinobia argues that the inheritance of presidencies is contagious in the Arab region and is spreading across Egypt, Libya and even Yemen.
Syrian Blogsphere on Pelosi, Liz Cheyney, Parliamentary Elections, and Nargileh
In the last couple of weeks very important developments have taken place on the Syrian political arena. One was the controversial visit of the US speaker of parliament Nancy Pelosi to Damascus. The visit had sparked hundreds of articles in the world's media, pro and against. And the Syrian blogsphere...
Egypt: Syrian Cyber-Activist Arrested
Writing in The Arabist, blogger Tim Seah links to a statement issued by Reporters Without Borders which calls for the immediate release of arrested human rights activist Ibrahim Zoro, 47, who regularly posts material on foreign-based opposition websites. Journalist Muhened Abdulrahman and writer Habib Saleh are also in prison in...
Syria: In Commentary and Pictures
Blogger Dahr Jamail updates us with a voice commentary and photographs from Syria here.
Syria: Celebrating Good Friday
Iraqi blog In Iraq, Sex is like Snow, writes about watching the Good Friday celebrations in Damascus.
Syria: Readdressing Sexual Harassment
Decentering Damascus gives an interesting wrap-up to an earlier post of her on sexual harassment, comments on her blog were enlightening.
Syria: Parlimentary Elections
Syrian blogger Tajreed talks about the changes in people with the upcoming parliamentary elections: “And last thing I want to talk about are the prospects of change I notice that there is an interest in the parliamentary elections this year and while I haven't voted in previous elections I see...
Egypt: Venetian Ties with the Middle East
The Arabist explains the ties between Venice and the Middle East: “Did you know the first Koran was printed in Venice in 1537? Or that Venetians learned the art of glass-blowing from the Arab world, Syria in particular?”
Syria: Kurdish Unrest
Kurdish blog From Holland to Kurdistan reports of unrest in the Kurdish region of Syria: “Ciwan Mohammed (25) was killed in a fight in the Assyrian district of Derek by an Assyrian on the 1th of April. Two Kurdish boys were severely wounded and brought to the hospital in Qamishlo....
