Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
United Nations expresses concerns over Tunisian repression We are closely watching the demonstrations across Tunisia and the authorities’ response to them. We are concerned about the high number of arrests – 778 people have been arrested since Monday, some 200 of them between the ages of 15 and 20. We call on the authorities to…
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Fifth Wednesday Journal publishes essays from Middle East writers Fifth Wednesday Journal, a twice yearly publication, released its latest issue which focuses on the experiences and writings of authors whose origins trace to the Middle East and North Africa. The Journal features the submissions of 33 authors and photographers and is now available for purchase….
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Waiting for A Dream in Africa The young leaders in Africa are waiting to see if this dream comes true, the same as the young Arabs, who once were inspired by Obama’s story, rather than Osama’s. By Abdennour Toumi President Macron’s appeasement speech from the podium of Ouagadougou University was highly anticipated, in particular by…
Algerian Berber Separatist Movement: No, I Can’t Get No Satisfaction In Algeria other groups that compose the Berber community and identity, nevertheless the majority seem happy with a federal system. By Abdennour Toumi Ethnic groups are relocating from federal systems and vehemently manifesting their autonomy further. Some are proclaiming independence using the ethnic factor as…
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All you Need to Know about Algerian Political Harvest Season It seems when there is chaos among the Arabs, there is always an Algerian exception, analysts are saying but not this time. By Abdennour Toumi A quarter-century ago, before the Sidi-Bouzid revolt in Tunisia sparked the Arab Spring in 2010, disaffected youth in the populated…
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Algeria: Something Is Not Right Happened in Raïs In Algeria politics is not local, but vocal, therefore the nights of horror of August and September, 1997, still haunt the dreams of the population. By Abdennour Toumi About 18 miles south of Algiers located in the countryside of the Municipality of Sidi-Moussa, a massacre took place…
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Find a Better Way to Pessimism and Cynicism Algerians are asking how long President Bouteflika will let special interests steal the country’s wealth. By Abdennour Toumi For politicians, it’s a mistake to bet on pessimism; however, when leaders become silent and people don’t have anything left to hope for, they turn to cynicism and rumors….
Six years on from their revolution, what is it like starting a business in the new Tunisia? Today, the startup scene in Tunisia. By: Kerning Cultures In 2011, against all odds, Tunisia’s revolution successfully overthrew the dictatorial regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the beginning of the historic Arab Spring. Now, in 2017,…
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Sudanese journalist fined over column criticizing police New York, August 22, 2017—Sudanese authorities yesterday fined Suheir Abdelrahim, a columnist for the daily Al-Tayyar, for a column criticizing the police, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the sentence and called on authorities not to contest the journalist’s appeal. At an earlier hearing,…
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International Criminal Court issues warrant for Libyan leader International Criminal Court Issues Warrant for Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Gen. Khalifa Hiftar Forces loyal to the Libyan National Army (LNA) in eastern Libya appear to have executed captured fighters in Benghazi and desecrated corpses, Human Rights Watch said today. Video recordings posted online since January 2017 seem to…
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Health of journalist Hisham Gaafar deteriorates in jail Held 21 Months Without Trial Despite Serious Illness Egyptian authorities should immediately provide appropriate health care to the imprisoned journalist Hisham Gaafar, whose health, including his eyesight, is deteriorating in detention, Human Rights Watch said today. If prison authorities are unable to provide him necessary health care, they…
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Algiers’ African Migrants “Partially Open Door” Policy Negative discrimination against migrant black Africans might cause political and ethnic complexities for Algiers in the long run By Abdennour Toumi Algeria has been an attractive destination for many African migrants since 2008 because of its stability as a government and a country. With in that time, however,…
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Algeria-France Relations: Love & Hate Mode Love-hate relationship between the two nations, story lines still make headlines. By Abdennour Toumi The Algerian-born French writer, Jules Roy, wrote once “… if the French Empire had applied the motto of the French Republic, it would not have lost Algeria.” This year July fifth marked the fifty-fifth Anniversary…
Lalla Fatma N’Soumer: Misunderstood Symbol of modern Algerian Feminism Lalla N’Soumer, the mother of modern Algerian feminism, still lives in the songs and depiction of mothers and grand-mothers, mainly Berbers, and secularist women elite. By Abdennour Toumi The Algerian legislative election on Thursday was marked by a high-scored sentiment of abstention and reluctance, what many…
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Something for everyone at La Grande-Poste Garden Vendor Books Walking up to the la Grande-Poste Garden, one encounters joyful and excited faces of so many people, who gather at the book-vendor’s tables. By Abdennour Toumi Passers-by rush for books, confirming that used-book merchants have broken the myth that Algerians do not read unless they need…
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Hunger crisis ravages many Middle East nations, ICRC “Massive scaling up urgently needed to tackle hunger crisis” says ICRC’s Director of Operations The ICRC is appealing for $400m to help those most affected by the humanitarian crises in Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan and north-east Nigeria. The funds will ensure 5 million vulnerable people receive essential…
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UN Chief urges Students to strengthen Egypt Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ address at Cairo University, “Facing Global Challenges, Finding Hope in Youth”, in Cairo today (Feb. 15, 2017): Let me say first of all how grateful I am for this invitation to be here at the same university as one…
Is Islam compatible with Democracy? Is Islam compatible with Democracy? Echoura-cracy, Democracy and Islamic Economy Toward the Emerging Neo-bourgeoise. The moderate Islamists seem to be seeking a realistic economic strategy to adjust between Sharia, martini and bikini like in Qatar, Morocco and Turkey. By Abdennour Toumi Is Islam compatible with Democracy? This is a question…