Blog archive all
11th December 2010
What on earth has got into the head of Marc Franco, the EU's ambassador to Egypt? Writing for al-Ahram Weekly, in an article to mark Human Rights Day (December 10), he says:
Looking back over the last few years, it is only fair to say that Egypt has made courageous steps towards promoting a… Read more
10th December 2010
There is still no sign of the 250 African migrants who are reportedlyheld hostage by human traffickers in the Sinai desert of Egypt. The Egyptian authorities have expressed scepticism about the reports, though on Wednesday they did find 83 migrants who were trying to cross into Israel – and duly… Read more
10th December 2010
The website of al-Akhbar, the Lebanese leftist daily, was hacked yesterday. Readers who tried to access its site were treated instead to a glimpse of various web pages that implied a Saudi connection to the hacking.
The website in now shut down while technicians work to restore it – probably by… Read more
9th December 2010
Readers of this blog may recall an incident last June when Sudan's Public Order Police, whose role includes enforcing "morality", arrested a couple of dozen people at a fashion show in Khartoum.
Yesterday, seven of the male models were convicted of "indecency" – for wearing make-up at the event –… Read more
9th December 2010
"By many measures, Tunisia should be a close US ally. But it is not." That was the blunt message from the American ambassador in Tunis, in a document released by Wikileaks.
It was written by the departing ambassador, Robert Godec, in July last year, apparently as a briefing for his successor, the… Read more
8th December 2010
A brief update on the shocking case of the African migrants held hostage in Egypt by traffickers who are demanding more money from them. Several reports now put the number at "up to 250", and it's good to see the UNHCR making representations on their behalf.
UNHCR officials say (here and here) that… Read more
8th December 2010
Saudis certainly know how to party. Well, some of them at least. The scene above (via the American Bedu blog) shows youthful revelry in the streets of Jeddah during last year's National Day celebrations.
But Halloween? Isn't that the kind of festival that's condemned by clerics and observed… Read more
8th December 2010
While we're on the subject of Wikileaks, I've been waiting eagerly for some interesting cables to emerge from the US embassy in Tel Aviv. After all, I seem to remember Hillary Clinton apologising to the Israelis in advance for any embarrassment that might ensue.
But it seems that all we're getting… Read more
7th December 2010
Delivering his weekly blessing in Rome on Sunday, Pope Benedict referred to "the ordeal of the hostages from Eritrea and other nations" who are trapped in Egypt's Sinai desert as "victims of traffickers and criminals".
He was highlighting a little-reported aspect of the migrant trade, where people… Read more
7th December 2010
A Saudi law professor was arrested on Sunday after writing a article that discussed possible rifts within the royal family, and their political implications for the kingdom.
Dr Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Abdulkarim, who teaches jurisprudence at the Imam Mohammed bin Saud University, was seized from… 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
