Repression 2.0

Authoritarian Repression in the Age of e-Dissidence Traditionally, Arab regimes have used a large repertoire of repressive means ranging from massive torture (as it was the case pre-occupation Irak, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, and to a lesser extent Morocco and Jordan), to the complete control of the press, the banning of the opposition, the diffusion of [...]

Dictator March Madness

Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks, and now on MSNBC, breaks it down for us – March Madness style.

Al Jazeera English’s Future in the United States

The Arab Media & Society Journal recently published a study conducted by William Youmans and Katie Brown, which surveys the perception of Al Jazeera English amongst the American audiences.They found that that “[despite]  filling a gap in the global market for televised international news, AJE did not receive a welcome reception in the United States” [...]

Bahrain Tears Down Pearl Statue

The most symbolic of this twisted sentiment is the destruction of the Pearl Statue in the main square of Manama, where the Bahraini protesters have gathered for weeks. The Pearl symbolized Bahrain’s previous fortune and the main driver of its economy prior to petroleum, pearl harvesting is among the most iconic of the Bahraini heritage.

Bloodbath in Bahrain – The USA and UK Sit on Their Blood-stained Hands

While I normally refrain from showing video footage of victims of violence, this video showing the results of the Bahraini regime’s overt use of live ammunition on peaceful protesters exposes just how base the government has grown. For many in the seats of power in Washington and London, it is too easy to issue platitudinous statements about the need to respect human rights. Such images ideally would shock them to their senses, but for their powerful capacity for self-denial — denial of any accountability.

Warning: the video contains shocking and explicit footage. view.

Ending Illegitimate Rule in Bahrain

It would be a mistake for other governments and observers to let geo-political calculations — such as the need to “buffer” Iran — to excuse tyranny and minority rule in Bahrain. This has always been tragic not just for nations’ foreign policies but for the people who suffer under tyranny. Bahrainis will struggle for self-determination and rights and they should be supported. Read.

Thou Shalt Always …

By Tom Trewinnard

Every so often, as you listen to your iPod on shuffle, you will hear a song, a lyric, a word that will seem so perfectly poignant that you wish you could tell someone. More often than not, you’re on a bus or a train or a plane, earphones in, and there’s nobody around who can share your moment.

I’m currently in a painfully anonymous airport for a soul crushingly long layover – and I find myself in this very predicament.

Everything About This Summer’s Arabic Music: Reviews and Links

Summer is just about over, Ramadan is approaching faster and hotter than ever, Arabic musicians are scrambling to sell as many records as they can. The World Cup did not help them sell records, fast internet connection when pirates have a free hand to download their hard work for free. This summer had a number of much anticipated summer albums, few of those will be around for a while, fewer were actually good. While the mighty

Guest Post: Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Deserve Civil Rights

Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon face a very uncertain future. They deserve better. When Palestinians were kicked out of their homeland at gun point in 1948, some found a safe haven in Lebanon, where they were received with an open arms. Lebanese provided them shelters, food and other life essentials years before the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) took over. For that I am grateful, because I was born in one those 12 refugee camps 59 years ago.

15 Things “Never” to Discuss with an Arab

So, I thought about a list of things that you should not discuss with an Arab person. I present 15 subjects you are not advised to discuss without serious drama or incident. Let’s keep this post more civil than the last list. Those on the list are either subjects that are too complicated to have [...]