Blog archive all
3rd November 2013
Twelve hours of talks in Tunisia on Saturday failed to deliver the promised announcement of a new prime minister. The negotiations, which are part of a roadmap aimed at resolving the country's political crisis, will now be extended until Monday, according to Tunisia Live.
Under the roadmap,… Read more
31st October 2013
It must have been rather mortifying for the Saudi women who risked arrest last weekend by asserting their right to drive – only to see their efforts thoroughly upstaged by men, even if the men involved were supporters of their campaign.
By this morning, the YouTube video song, No Woman, No… Read more
30th October 2013
A 20-year-old Egyptian student has been arrested and could face up to six years in jail after he allegedly set up a Facebook page calling for atheism.
Although it is not actually illegal to be an atheist in Egypt, Sherif Gaber, a student in the commerce faculty at Suez Canal University, is accused… Read more
29th October 2013
Zahi Hawass
Indiana Jones
The US Department of Justice is investigating whether National Geographic broke the law by paying up to $200,000 a year to Zahi Hawass, Egypt's former antiquities chief, according to the newly-launched American website, Vocativ.
The Justice Department, in line with… Read more
28th October 2013
On Friday, as Saudi authorities braced themselves for the women's driving protest – and threatened to arrest any woman who dared to take to the streets behind the wheel of a car – there was better news from Geneva where the UN Human Rights Council has been reviewing the kingdom's performance.
The… Read more
27th October 2013
... and no comment from me.
Posted by Brian Whitaker
Sunday, 27 October 2013
26th October 2013
Robert Fisk, the veteran Middle East correspondent, once offered this advice to would-be journalists:
"If you want to be a reporter you must establish a relationship with an editor in which he will let you write – he must trust you and you must make sure you make no mistakes."
It was good advice,… Read more
24th October 2013
Jordan is facing scrutiny at the UN Human Rights Council this morning under the periodic review system. Today's review is more important than usual because Jordan (like Saudi Arabia) is also seeking election next month as a member of the council.
Ahead of the review session, Jordan has submitted a … Read more
23rd October 2013
Although the Arab uprisings have not yet brought down a monarchy, Gulf rulers have been severely shaken by events elsewhere as well as by unprecedented street protests in some of their own countries.
They responded to this in customary fashion, mainly through repression and splashing money around… Read more
21st October 2013
Earlier this month several gay websites reported a rather puzzling story from Egypt. According to Gay Star News and Pink News, 14 men had been arrested for "homosexual acts" at a "medical centre" in El-Marg district of Cairo.
Neither story gave any details about the "medical centre" or any clues as… 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
