Blog archive all
13th August 2013
The tragedy of the Egyptian revolution, as reflected in yesterday's appalling carnage, is that two-and-a-half years after the uprising against the Mubarak regime so many people still hanker after authoritarian solutions.
This is not altogether surprising since for decades they have known no other… Read more
13th August 2013
Tomorrow, August 14, is Bahrain’s Independence Day and opposition activists, mostly from the kingdom’s Shia majority, have called for mass demonstrations to press for a "free and democratic Bahrain".
In turn the kingdom’s rulers – from the Sunni minority – have banned protests in the capital,… Read more
11th August 2013
As far as Arab society is concerned, openly declaring a disbelief in God is a shocking and sometimes dangerous thing to do. It can lead to being ostracised by family, friends and the local community – as well as charges of apostasy which in some countries carry the death penalty.… Read more
9th August 2013
It’s hard to be an Arab and an atheist. As far as Arab society is concerned, openly declaring a disbelief in God is a shocking and sometimes dangerous thing to do. It can lead to being ostracised by family, friends and the local community – as well as charges of apostasy which in some countries… Read more
6th August 2013
As far as Arab society is concerned, openly declaring a disbelief in God is a shocking and sometimes dangerous thing to do. It can lead to being ostracised by family, friends and the local community – as well as charges of apostasy which in some countries carry the death penalty.… Read more
6th August 2013
The survival (or not) of Arab Gulf regimes is likely to hinge on their ability (or not) to provide jobs for vast numbers of young people who are due to enter the labour market over the next few years.
Historically, these regimes have sought to buy people's quiescence by creating well-paid but… Read more
2nd August 2013
I wrote recently about the Kafkaesque rules designed to restrict civil society activity in Bahrain, and I mentioned in passing that numerous Arab countries have similar laws.
Saudi Arabia, as might be expected, is one that keeps a firm grip on civil society organisations (CSOs) though it doesn't… Read more
1st August 2013
Bahrain has announced wide-ranging new “security” measures which the prime minister says will give the authorities more power to “combat the scourge of terror and maintain security and stability”.
Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah, who is an uncle of the king and has served as prime minister for 42… Read more
1st August 2013
As far as Arab society is concerned, openly declaring a disbelief in God is a shocking and sometimes dangerous thing to do. It can lead to being ostracised by family, friends and the local community – as well as charges of apostasy which in some countries carry the death penalty.… Read more
31st July 2013
A Saudi man who set up a website that ridiculed some of the kingdom's religious practices has been sentenced to 600 lashes and seven years in jail.
A court in Jedddah found Raif Badawi guilty of violating Saudi Arabia's cybercrime law and insulting Islam. The sentence also included three months'… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
