I cringe whenever I hear or read those words. Why? Because they are always used as a pretext to restrict an intrinsic freedom or used as a justification for trouncing all over a basic human right. It is as if “Traditions” are sacrosanct, enshrined and set in gold. They – we are led to believe …
The current climate is in marked contrast to that in 2005, when King Abdullah came to the throne promising change. Having pinned their hopes on him, reformists now feel he has failed to deliver. Saudi blogger Fouad al-Farhan has been detained since December for speaking out on behalf of the jailed reformists. BBC – Whatever …
The following cartoon appeared in Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper (thanks to Jaddwilliam for the heads-up) reflecting an alternate perspective on the findings of the Winograd Commission. However, it failed to stop me in my tracks. The bubble says: “They admit their defeat and they hold their negligent accountable!! God curse the Zionist fads which intrude on …
I was thrilled to read in Al-Waqt in the weekend that the new minister of information, Jehad buKamal, affirmed that the new new Press & Publications Law will not stipulate any prison sentences against journalists [translate], except for denigrating God or the king. The exception is accepted – for now – as otherwise the law …
Bahrain labour minister warns of ‘Asian tsunami’ A Bahraini minister has warned of an “Asian tsunami” because of the reliance of “lazy” Gulf Arabs on foreign labour to carry out even the simplest tasks, in an interview published on Sunday. Labour Minister Majid al-Alawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the presence of almost 17 million foreign …