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Following the conviction of Lubna Hussein in Sudan for "indecently" wearing trousers, Egypt's government-appointed Grand Mufti, Ali Gomaa, says it's OK for women to wear trousers so long as they are loose-fitting and not see-through.
Posted by Brian Whitaker, 17 September 2009.
Next week sees the official opening of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia,described as “a bridge between world cultures”.
The university, intended to promote international research, has been established by the king outside the control of the… Read more
A Jordanian doctor could face legal action after reportedly abandoning his Indonesian maid near Directorate of Chest Diseases and Foreigners' Health after she developed tuberculosis.
The 28-year-old woman was allegedly beaten by the doctor’s mother and received no wages during the 19 months that… Read more
Under the headline "Areas outside state control", the Yemen Post has published a round-up of the country's multiple security problems, noting that in most governorates, the state controls only the main cities. Some key points:
Bani Dhabian, Sanaa: "Bani Dhabian is a… Read more
Tapes attributed to Osama bin Laden rarely cause much of a stir these days, and the latest one is being interpreted (perhaps correctly) as evidence of al-Qaeda's current weakness.
However, Marc Lynch on the Foreign Policy blog suggests "it deserves attention in ways which many… Read more
In theory it’s very simple. A group of people get together to form a political party, then the voters decide if their policies are worth supporting. But in those Arab countries where parties are allowed – which rules out Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE for a start –… Read more
There's an intriguing tale about Tunisia on the French-language blog, Chakchouka Tunisienne, and I'm hoping readers may be able to shed some more light on it.
It says a businessman in Sfax was getting married and invited
Belhassen Trabelsi, the president's brother-in-law to his… Read more
"Operation Scorched Earth" against the Houthi rebels in Yemen has been going on for a month now, with no end in sight. The
government media continues with its vague reports of military successes and "heavy losses" inflicted on the rebels (the latter may well be true).
The military… Read more
A shocking report in the Observer by Afif Sarhan and Jason Burke:
Sitting on the floor, wearing traditional Islamic clothes and holding an old notebook, Abu Hamizi, 22, spends at least six hours a day searching internet chatrooms linked to gay websites. He is not looking for new friends,… Read more
The Economist is the latest publication to raise serious questions about the future of Yemen.
It says (rightly, I think) that much of the reason for the Houthi rebels' success lies with the Yemeni army: "Its aerial bombing and artillery fire have proved better at enraging locals… 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
