Ali Abdulemam’s trial is an important test case for free speech in the Middle East. Ashraf Khalil explains why
CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa
Release the “blogfather”
Egypt tightens the screw
Polictical uncertainty pushes the government to roll recent free speech gains and muzzle independent voices. Ashraf Khalil asks, will Facebook be next?
Egypt tightens the screw
These are uncertain times in the Arab world’s most populous nation. President Hosni Mubarak is 82, fresh from major gall bladder surgery and in...
Egypt: Opposition supporters detained
Security forces in Alexandria have arrested over 50 people hanging posters in support of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is banned from...
Yemen: Press freedom a distant hope
A Yemeni journalist accused of advising an Al-Qaeda cleric alleges he was kidnapped and tortured by the state. Iona Craig reports
WikiLeaks: Secrets and lies
By harnessing the internet to expose the hidden mechanics of war, WikiLeaks puts governments on notice — obsessive secrecy cannot be sustained. Emily Butselaar reports
Iran: Attack of the front page clones
“For the preservation of your newspaper and the health of its managing directors, pay careful attention to the following…”
Replica front pages inspire a fake directive from the regime. Negar Esfandiary reports
Egypt: Media crackdown continues
Egyptian authorities have continued their pre-election crackdown on the independent media. Most recently private production companies that provide...
Iran: Opposition blogger arrested
Doctor and blogger Mehdi Khazali has been arrested in Tehran, charged with “acting against national security and disturbing public opinion”....