Crossroads Arabia

Challenging Fatwas: Interpreting The Quran

Challenging Fatwas: Interpreting The Quran

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Certain interpretations of the Quran go unchallenged which causes immense problems

 Common Ground News Service

Free Speech: All You Need is Mic & Laptop

Free Speech: All You Need is Mic & Laptop

CGNEWS: Three young Libyans have used their new found freedom to set up a radio station to discuss issues formerly off-limits.

 Syria News Wire

365 Days That Changed Syria Forever

365 Days That Changed Syria Forever

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: It began with a small demonstration by young people in Deraa. The flames have spread and now engulf the nation.

 Alexander McNabb

UAE: Social Crimes on the Up, or Just Their Reporting?

UAE: Social Crimes on the Up, or Just Their Reporting?

ALEXANDER MCNABB: Give people technology and they find all sorts of interesting and different ways to use it, no?

 The View From Fez

Making Mischief: The Great Moroccan Sex-Shop Mystery

Making Mischief: The Great Moroccan Sex-Shop Mystery

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The mixture of sex, politics and conspiracy is a heady one. It’s sent Casablanca a-buzz.

 Alexander McNabb

Illegal Eagles: Today, We Are All Publishers

Illegal Eagles: Today, We Are All Publishers

ALEXANDER MCNABB: The platforms are public and subject to the law as any other public pronouncement would be. You publish, you take responsibility.

 Common Ground News Service

‘A Separation’: A Poignant Portrayal of Iranian Life

‘A Separation’: A Poignant Portrayal of Iranian Life

PERSHENG VAZIRI: The movie’s success is a source of enormous pride for Iranian artists as well as ordinary Iranians.

 Rob L. Wagner

Religious Comment Plus Political Activism Equals Trouble

Religious Comment Plus Political Activism Equals Trouble

ROB L. WAGNER: His religious comments were ill-chosen but they are not the only reason that he is in serious trouble.

 Michael J. Totten

Humour: A Potent Weapon Against Assad?

Humour: A Potent Weapon Against Assad?

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: There isn’t a lot to laugh about in Syria at the moment but try telling that to the Syrians themselves.

 Crossroads Arabia

Kashghari and Diminishing Free Speech

Kashghari and Diminishing Free Speech

CROSSROADS ARABIA: The case of Hamza Kashghari, the Saudi journalist that expressed doubts about religion, is energizing free-speech advocates

 Juan Cole

The Voice No More: Arab World Mourns Whitney Houston

The Voice No More: Arab World Mourns Whitney Houston

JUAN COLE: Arab musicians and artists have been fulsome in their praise of Whitney Houston who died yesterday.

 Rania Al Malky

Egypt and the Real Enemy Within

Egypt and the Real Enemy Within

RANIA AL MALKY: Every drop of blood spilt in the struggle for democracy has taken away from SCAF’s legitimacy, turning more Egyptians against military rule.

 Common Ground News Service

A ‘Virtual’ Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Issue?

A ‘Virtual’ Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Issue?

RUTH EGLASH, CGNEWS: An online movement formed by Palestinians and Israelis has garnered impressive support. But will it make any difference?

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

“Your Guns,Tanks and Missiles Are Killing My People”

“Your Guns,Tanks and Missiles Are Killing My People”

M. LYNX-QUALEY: An impassioned open letter from one of Syria’s leading authors calls on Russia, China and Iran to stop supporting ‘genocide’.

 Mich Cafe

The Modern Way to Announce A Baby’s Arrival

The Modern Way to Announce A Baby’s Arrival

MICH CAFE: Facebook and Twitter, it appears, have taken over from newspapers in a key area of life. The recent arrival of a Royal baby in Dubai underlines this fact.

 Steve Royston

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

STEVE ROYSTON looks at the arts, society, education, politics, business, technology and the environment as we move into 2012, the Year of Fear’.

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudi Arabia: “The Female Body is a Battleground in the War to Stem Reform”

Saudi Arabia: “The Female Body is a Battleground in the War to Stem Reform”

ROB L. WAGNER: An online battle between conservatives and reformers following the Saudi Intellectual Forum illuminates their diverging opinions…

 Common Ground News Service

Facebook Group Fights for Palestinian Women’s Rights

Facebook Group Fights for Palestinian Women’s Rights

NIDA TUMA, CGNEWS: A newly established group is using Facebook to try and generate genuine debate between Palestinian women at different ends of the political spectrum.

 Syria News Wire

ISyria’s ‘e-Revolution’: It’s A Constant Game of ‘Cat and Mouse’

ISyria’s ‘e-Revolution’: It’s A Constant Game of ‘Cat and Mouse’

NEWS FROM SYRIA: At first the authorities in Syria were caught unawares at how ‘new technology’ was used against them. But they caught on quickly.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

A Force for Freedom, Mohamed Hashem

A Force for Freedom, Mohamed Hashem

M.LYNX-QUALEY: At a press conference today, award-winning author Mohamed Hashem was the target of accusations by the SCAF’s General Adel Emara.