Shezanne Cassim was arrested for posting a mock documentary spoofing youth culture in Dubai
UAE: American citizen in maximum-security prison over satirical YouTube video
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CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa
United Arab Emirates’ cybercrimes regulation strategically silencing critics
The authorities of the United Arab Emirates are using the 2012 cybercrimes decree crack down on dissent. Rori Donaghy, director of the Emirates Centre for Human Rights, writes
Gaza: Hamas reopens Palestinian news agency
Palestinian news agency Ma’an to reopen in the Gaza Strip four months after Hamas closed down the organisation
Egypt moves to lower expectations for new constitution
Public service messages on Egyptian radio stations candidly tell listeners that a new constitution currently being drafted by a fifty-member panel “won’t be the best that the country has had”. Listeners are assured however, that the new charter will not be Egypt’s last. Shahira Amin reports
UAE: Activist sentenced to two years in prison for tweeting
Waleed al-Shehhi was accused of “endangering state security” and “harming the reputation of the state” for tweeting about a trial
Red Arrows hit Bahrain as Britain bids to sell weapons to royal family
Display team hits repressive kingdom amid negotiations over fighter jets contract. Padraig Reidy reports
Bahrain Center for Human Rights wins Norwegian Rafto Prize
BCHR was awarded the human rights prize for its peaceful fight for fundamental rights in Bahrain
Egypt tense as Morsi trial gets under way
Journalists were attacked by pro-Morsi protesters as the trial of the deposed president and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood leaders opened in Cairo on Monday morning. The tension on the streets of the Egyptian capital was palpable, Shahira Amin writes
Bassem Youssef under investigation for “insulting the military”
Anger at the new series of “Egyptian Jon Stewart’s” TV show reflects the country’s deepening divisions, reports Shahira Amin
Saudi blogger held for “blasphemy” released after almost two years in jail
Hamza Kashgari was detained for 625 days for tweeting a mock conversation between himself and the prophet Mohammed. Milana Knezevic reports