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A campaign is being launched today to exclude Saudi Arabia from the 2012 Olympics unless the kingdom allows women to compete. It is one of the last countries in the world not to let women take part.
Female sporting activity in Saudi Arabia is generally discouraged on religious grounds and… Read more
At the end of his fact-finding visit to Tunisia this week, Martin Scheinin, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, was full of praise for the Tunisian approach to dealing with terrorism. At least, he was if you believe the Tunisian media.
It is true that he… Read more
Following the recent demonstrations by animal rights activists in the Middle East, Joseph Mayton has written an article for Comment Is Free about vegetarianism and Arab culture.
The actions by Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan attracted a modest… Read more
Two hundred Yemeni soldiers who were reportedly captured by Houthi rebels in the north of the country on Monday are now said to have been freed. AFP quotes a mediator and "tribal sources close to the rebels" as confirming the release.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni defence ministry… Read more
In the renewed conflict in northern Yemen, the Houthi rebels have taken 200 soldiers prisoner, according to a military official cited by AFP. The troops are said to belong to a regiment of the Republican Guard.
The capture of the soldiers has not been confirmed by the rebels. A Houthi… Read more
The Egyptian government's uniquely incompetent handling of the worldwide swine flu outbreak last year is discussed by al-Masry al-Youm in the light of analysis by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The paper quotes a former preventive medicine advisor for… Read more
Following recent debates about the use of gay rights to "pinkwash" Israel's image (Toronto Pride, Madrid Pride, US Social Forum, etc), Aeyal Gross, associate professor of law at Tel-Aviv university, has written an interesting and level-headed essay: "Israeli GLBT… Read more
Gunmen attacked the British embassy in Sana'a from a fast-moving vehicle late yesterday. Splinters from a rocket-propelled grenade were also found inside the embassy, according to Xinhua. No casualties were reported and al-Qaeda is being blamed.
Meanwhile, a few more details have … Read more
Following Abu Dhabi's efforts to protect outdoor workers from the summer heat, Saudi Arabia is planning to do the same – but the legal requirement will not come into effect until next year.
Employers will be obliged to give outdoor workers a break between noon and 3pm during… Read more
A woman clad in hijab and lettuce leaves was arrested by Jordanian police and detained for three hours yesterday, for holding an unauthorised demonstration.
The lone protester, Amina Tariq, carried a placard saying "Let vegetarianism grow on you".
Vegetarianism is an unfamiliar concept in… 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
