Blog archive all
20th March 2010
Following my blog post yesterday, several readers have already come up with titles for inclusion on a "Middle East bookshelf". Many thanks to those who contributed, and please keep the ideas coming. The search, as I explained yesterday, is for 10 books that would give a good general introduction to… Read more
19th March 2010
I'm intrigued by a cryptic report in Arab News today which says "a number of people" are seeking to have an unnamed Saudi writer prosecuted for blasphemy.
The "offence" was apparently committed on the American-run al-Hurra TV channel, in a programme presented by Nadeen Al-Badr.
The male Saudi… Read more
19th March 2010
Writing in the Independent, Robert Fisk says that several times a year he is asked by readers to recommend a list of books about the Middle East in English. "It's a tough one," he says – and indeed it is.
I've had similar requests myself and before giving an answer I like to find out what lies… Read more
18th March 2010
The National reports on the drafting of a new and much-needed law in Abu Dhabi to tackle domestic abuse. There's talk of jailing abusive husbands or banning them from their homes and also – perhaps more importantly – of preventing family members from dropping charges in cases of abuse. The latter… Read more
18th March 2010
President Salih has now ordered the return of transmission equipment that the Yemeni authorities seized from the local offices of al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya TV stations last week.
The equipment was seized on the grounds that it was "unauthorised", though nobody believed that was the real reason; the… Read more
17th March 2010
Rupert Murdoch's purchase of a tiny (9%) stake in Rotana, the media empire run by the Saudi prince, Alwaleed bin Talal, has stirred up some predictable paranoia in Egypt. His move is viewed "not only with suspicion but as signalling the decline of Arab film and art heritage," according to Agence… Read more
16th March 2010
Yemeni forces launched three more airstrikes said to be directed against al-Qaeda targets in Lawdar district of Abyan province yesterday.
There is no official word about casualties but Abbas al Assal, a spokesman for the separatist Southern Movement, said seven people were killed, "including… Read more
16th March 2010
Members of Egypt's small Baha'i community are still having problems with the authorities over ID cards, despite a court rulinglast year which supposedly resolved a five-year battle in their favour.
When the Egyptian government began introducing computerised ID cards, holders were forced to identify… Read more
15th March 2010
Yemen says it launched an airstrike against al-Qaeda in the Moudia district of Abyan province yesterday.
"Our air force carried out a raid on terrorist elements who were planning attacks on vital installations (and) two al-Qaeda leaders were killed," a defence ministry statement said. There are no… Read more
14th March 2010
Four high-ranking Jordanians are imprisoned and awaiting trail in what looks like becoming the kingdom’s biggest-ever corruption case. Bribes of JD12 million ($17 million) are alleged to be involved, in connection with expansion plans for Jordan's only oil refinery.
Those arrested are:
… 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
