Communication Solutions for people of Egypt

http://www.stop404.org

By Assaad Thebian

Do you want to follow the news on Egypt or share your pictures and experience? Here are some tips on where to look and how to bypass the blockade.

The Tunisian Online Revolution*

@hibr.me

By Assaad Thebian

* The article was previously published on hibr.me

The “Jasmine Revolution” or “Cactus Revolution” (names of the ongoing Tunisian Revolution) crowns years of efforts by activists. These activists have used social media in order to get their voice out and show the people around the world what is happening in their “green” (Tunisia nickname) home. In May 2010, a huge campaign called “Free From 404” (Internet language for file not found) was carried out in Tunisia. Twitter hashtags, Facebook profile pictures, articles and videos were created to demonstrate the activists’ refusal of censorship.

Tunisian: “I can’t stop smiling”

@navaat.org

By Marina Ferhatovic

TUNISIA. After weeks of protests and violent riots, hacker attacks and failed attempts to pacify the rage of the citizens, Tunisia has overturned a dictator – a turn of events that brings hope for change not only in Tunisia but also among fellow Arabs living under dictatorship. Today we offer you the point of view of Kacem Jlidi, a young activist from Tunisia who hopes that his country will become the first true democracy in the MENA-region.

French eyes wide shut over Tunisia

Vacation in Tunisia @nix-wie-weg.de

 

By Elif Kayi

The weather is cloudy and rainy. It is the beginning of the year and work is already stressful. A colleague is on sick leave and you have to take up her assignments. You really feel like having a break: a nice, quiet, peaceful break, far away from the office and the boss, whose face is turning as grey as the sky in Paris. You are diving into some cocooning mood… You type a few key words on Google. « Cheap+Holiday ».

Morocco Forbids Spanish Journalists’ Entry

By Cristina Rojo

SPAIN. “¿Journalist?, you are not allowed in. We have restrictions until new order”. This is how one Spanish journalist tells about his latest visit to the Spanish border with Morocco, in the neighbouring city of Ceuta. It’s been about a week now since the Moroccan officials at the border started interrupting the entry of Spanish journalists to Morocco, arguing that they have “orders to do so” from Rabat, as local daily Ceuta al día states.

Video: Zalabia in The Making

watch how they make Zalabia @soumia

By Soumia Alloui

Algeria. EMAJ Magazine visits the city of Boufariq in Algeria trying to unveil the secret of the delicious Zalabia .. Watch the video by clicking on this post.

“Of Men and Gods”: The last years of the Monks of Tibhirine

The Monks of Tibhirine @mondial-infos.fr

By Elif Kayi

Cinema. In the night between March 26th and 27th 1996 an armed group kidnapped seven French Cistercian monks living in the monastery of Tibhirine, in the mountains of the Algerian Atlas. Two months later, after unsuccessful negotiations with the French government, the GIA (Armed Islamic Group) announced through a Moroccan radio station the murder of the monks. Their heads were found on May 30th close to the city of Medea. But their bodies remained missing.

EMAJ reports on first Euro-Arab Youth Conference

@Biljana Vukmirovic

By Alessandro Di Maio

Sicily, Italy. The first Euro-Arab youth conference opened last 26 July 2010, in southern Sicily with the presence of approximately 120 participants coming from over 65 European and Arab countries. The conference was organized by the Council of Europe and the League of Arab States, in close partnership with the Forum Nazionale Giovani, the European Youth Forum and the Tunisian Union of youth organizations.

Yemeni journalist reports on the Middle East for Danish public

@Medievärlden

By Axel Andén

PORTRAIT. When Hana Al-Khamri discussed the future with her childhood friends, she listened, with growing irritation, how one by one explained that they do not need to study because they would get married. Finally she stood up and gave a little speech.

- I concluded by saying “I will not get married, and you will know who I am.”

„Més que un club” – 15th anniversary of the Barcelona process

Toledo, the multicultural capital of ancient Spain @Kitekintö

By Krisztian Gal

BACKGROUND. The Barcelona process has its 15^th birthday this year, which has involved more and more countries throughout the years. The core idea of the Euro-Mediterranean relations began with signing the funding document during the Spanish Presidency in 1995. Among the goals were the creation of a weapons of mass destruction and other chemical weapons free zone, a joint water policy, a free trade zone in 2010 and also the fight against deforestation and desertification.

14 Voices You need to hear before judging French ban on the Burqa

@Nasry Esmat

By Nasry Esmat and Elif Kayi

ROUND UP. The lower house of the French Parliament passed a ban on the so-called “full-face veil” (sometimes presented as “burqa”, “burqu” or “niqab” in the press ; please not that we will mainly use the word “burqu” in the text) last Tuesday. Diverse voices in France and the Muslim world had opposed or supported the decision even if many of them do not believe that face cover is a religious duty… And because EMAJ magazine strongly believes that one voice is not enough, here are extracts from 14 opinions published in 3 languages about this controversial decision.

Video: Icons from Morocco

Asilah, a Phoenician trade base and a Portuguese fort @Mohamed Ezz Aldin

Tanger, Asilah, Casablanca and Rabat are four Moroccan cities represent a cultural mixture between the Mediterranean and North Africa. Mohamed Ezz Aldin, Egyptian photographer and radio presenter, shares with EMAJ magazine his latest video from a recent trip to Africa’s closest point to Europe.

Young asylum seeker dies trying to reach Spanish Peninsula

By Cristina Rojo

SPAIN. A young migrant from Ivory Coast died on monday after falling from the lorry where he was hiding in order to reach the spanish Peninsula. 20-year-old Abdoulaye Kone was one of the docens of asylum seekers that currently live in the northafrican city of Ceuta (Spain), waiting for the authorities to allow them entering the spanish mainland territory.

Background: The new Spanish Law for Asylum – walking a tightrope

Asylum seekers holding the "yellow card" @Reduan Dris

By Cristina Rojo

SPAIN. Around a hundred migrants in Ceuta and Melilla, whose asylum request has been admitted to procedure by the Home Office, are now waiting for the courts of justice to decide on their right to move freely within Spain - a right their asylum seekers condition was supposed to recognize.

Ultimatum for Sicilian Al-Qaida hostage

@SITE

By Alessandro Di Maio

NORTH AFRICA. One day before the expiration of the ultimatum, the terrorist group ‘Al Qaeda in the Maghreb – ‘Aqmi, al Jihad fi Bilad Al Maghrib al Arabi’ – released an audio message by Sergio Cicala, the Sicilian abducted with his wife, Philomene Pwelgna Kaborè, last December 17, in the desert of Mauritania on the border with Mali.