CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa

Iran: Coelho books banned

Brazilian author Paulo Coelho  has published a message on his blog claiming his books have been banned in Iran. The Brazilian author has not been given the specific reasons for this action. However he has said that he has been using social networks...

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Tunisia: Protesters killed in continuing unrest

At least 14 protesters have been killed in violent demonstrations in the cities of  Tala, Kasserine and Rgeb since Saturday amidst continuing anti-government protests. In Tala the Tunisian security force allegedly started firing at protesters who...

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“It’s forbidden to be you sometimes”

Italian investigative journalist Emilio Casalini has made a documentary film, Iran About, focusing on Iranians and their lack of freedom. Featuring nine interviews in silhouette, the film points to aspects of everyday life that are taken for...

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Tunisia: The Middle East’s first cyberwar

Tunisia: The Middle East’s first cyberwar

Conventional wisdom suggests that the web’s power to drive social revolution is over-rated, but the Tunisian government still isn’t taking any chances. Its agents are hacking its opponents’ networks and sabotaging them, even as foreign hackers retaliate against the state. Rohan Jayasekera reports

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Workers of the world unite

Two weeks ago I wrote of Tehran Bus Workers' Union treasurer Reza Shahabi, eight days into a dry hunger strike (nil by mouth) at Evin Prison. Shahabi's demand for basic rights for he and his fellow workers in the first instance and for justice with...

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Bitter abstinence

Mourning means different things to different people. Even within one culture. But the month of Moharram, (7 December–4 January) the first month of the Islamic Calendar with its decrees and limitations is interpreted beyond the letter in Iran. To...

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Iran: Activists detained for planning a meeting

Four activists from the youth branch of the reformist Islamic Participation Front have been detained after they were summoned to a resident court in Evin prison. According to opposition website Rahesabz, prison officials cited "plan[s] to hold...

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