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Tag Archives: arab spring
Shout out for Syria
Early in the morning of 24 August, a man was dragged out of his car by masked members of Syrian security services in Damascus. He was viciously beaten, mainly on his hands. His name is Ali Ferzat, and he is … Continue reading
US ambassador to Syria launches Facebook fightback
A few days ago Syrian pro-government protesters attacked the US embassy in revenge for the US ambassador’s visit to Hama, a focal point of anti-regime protests. (And yesterday they attacked the US and French embassies, injuring three French embassy staff.) … Continue reading
On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a hoax
So. Farewell then Amina Arraf. In some ways it’s a relief that you weren’t really a gay girl in Damascus, since it means you weren’t abducted by Assad’s thugs and subjected to the sort of unspeakable treatment that they specialise … Continue reading
Posted in English, Politics
Tagged amina, anonymity, arab spring, internet hoaxes, syria, tom macmaster
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When courage must overcome fear
Life is not easy if you are the smallest child in the playground of a rough school. That is Lebanon’s situation: a small and poorly armed country between Israel and Syria, and with fraught relations with both. As someone who … Continue reading
Norwegian Liberals condemn imprisonment of Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil
The Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil was sentenced to three years imprisonment for “insulting the military” by a military court on Sunday, without the presence of his lawyers or family. I hope to write more on the background to his imprisonment … Continue reading
Posted in English, Politics
Tagged arab spring, egypt, egyptian army, free speech, maikel nabil
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Libya resolution shows the “responsibility to protect” in action
Until now, the United Nations has failed to uphold the promises it has made to vulnerable people around the world by adopting the principle of the “responsibility to protect“. By passing Resolution 1973 last night, it is finally putting the … Continue reading
Posted in English, Politics
Tagged arab spring, david cameron, jo swinson, libya, security council, united nations
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An open letter to Bahrain’s ambassador
Your Excellency, I am writing to you regarding the police action at Pearl Roundabout in Manama around 3am on Thursday 17 February and the shootings of demonstrators in Manama on Friday 18 February. According to press reports, five people were … Continue reading
Posted in English, Politics
Tagged amnesty, arab spring, bahrain, bahrain protests, human rights, manama
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My favourite #Egypt revolution tweets
Events have moved quickly in Cairo: President Hosni Mubarak has at last resigned, along with Vice President (and former chief of the thuggish security services) Omar Suleiman. Any comment from me feels superfluous, so instead here is a selection of … Continue reading
Socialist International expels Tunisian dictator’s party
Better late than never. But Carl Bildt’s awkward question remains: how could the RCD be allowed to become and stay a full member in the first place? It has imposed its police state on Tunisia for over 50 years. Between … Continue reading
Posted in English, Politics
Tagged arab spring, carl bildt, rcd, socialist international, tunisia
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