Blog archive all
Apart from the attacks on demonstrators, there's another matter causing deep concern among the estimated 10 million Egyptians who regularly partake of hashish. It's in very short supply and prices have rocketed.
The government has even gone so far as to claim "the complete destruction of the… Read more
According to reports circulating yesterday the leaders of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have "temporarily" decamped from Yemen and re-established their military base across the sea in Somalia.
If true, this is a major development. The Yemen Post, Sahwa.net, the Saudi… Read more
Here's an interesting example of the Mubarak propaganda machine at work. Egyptian Chronicles notes that Mohamed ElBaradei, a possible contender in next year's presidential election, has finally made it on to the front page of the semi-official al-Ahram newspaper.
The… Read more
AFP is reporting that the Egyptian publisher who was arrested on Saturday – a few days after issuing a book supporting Mohamed ElBaradei, a possible candidate in next year's presidential election – has now been released.
The publisher, Ahmed Mahanna, was abducted during a dawn raidon his… Read more
I have received an email giving more information about the Saudi writer who is facing prosecution – and possible execution – for describing a Hadith of the Prophet as "barbaric". I reported the case here last month, but only the scantiest details were available at the time.
The writer… Read more
An unusual book-signing took place in Beirut at the end of last month. "Memoirs of Randa the Trans" ( مذكرات رندا الترنس) is the life story of an Algerian raised as a boy, who felt trapped in a male body.
Mocked and abused at school, and later threatened with death by religious… Read more
Rather belatedly, the emo phenomenon has reached Saudi Arabia's eastern province and come to the attention of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (aka the religious police). The authorities seem rather bemused by it – though obviously it's the work of the… Read more
The new Almazar shopping centre is opening in Marrakesh today, covering 33,000 square metres on five levels, with parking for 1,200 cars, a 800-seat food court and familiar names like Carrefour and Virgin Megastore.
It's progress, I suppose, and I've nothing against Moroccans… Read more
Saudi Arabia's Shura Council has won some sort of award from the Arab League for having the best "parliamentary" website among the league's member countries. The kingdom is to be "feted" at a presentation ceremony shortly.
Arab News says:
"The Shoura Council is currently implementing… Read more
There was a good deal of excitement in Yemen yesterday when a grenade went off at a police station in the southern city of Dali (Dhale'a) and – depending on whose accounts you choose to believe – up to 40 recently-arrested separatists did or didn'tescape.
Gregory Johnsen, writing for… 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
