Group items tagged

In this article, Barbara Pollack tells the reader about Ganzeer, an Egyptian artist who was influential in the days of the January 25th revolution. Ganzeer has had the government single him out and labeled him "a recruit of the Muslim Brotherhood." This forced him to move for a long stay in the United States where he continues to work at bringing awareness to Western people and hopes to change the way America supports the Egyptian government.

When the people of Cairo took to Tahrir Square in January 2011 to oust Egypt's longtime ruler, Hosni Mubarak, the streets exploded with murals and graffiti that both mirrored the revolutionary spirit of the movement and propelled it forward. A young graphic designer joined the fray, working under the pseudonym Ganzeer, or "bicycle chain."

When the people of Cairo took to Tahrir Square in January 2011 to oust Egypt's longtime ruler, Hosni Mubarak, the streets exploded with murals and graffiti that both mirrored the revolutionary spirit of the movement and propelled it forward.

I hate censorship. But I also love my life. My freedom, and my physical safety. These are the contradictions that any non-commercially minded artist has to carry with them into the boxing ring, if they find themselves wanting to create controversial taboo-busting work in the Arab world.

In this news article on the BBC, a PKK commander claims that while the both sides leadership desires to move forward with the peace process, the peace talks with Turkey are in danger of turning into conflict. Cemil Bayik, a PKK commander in the Qandil mountains, says that the Turkish government's treatment of Kobane shows that it still views the PKK and the Kurdish people as a bigger threat than ISIS. Meanwhile, a Turkish government official, Yasin Aktay, vice-chairman of the ruling AK Party, gave a statement saying that the PKK and the Kurds are using current time of instability to try to "upset the status quo", and try to set up a system of self-governance like Iraqi Kurdish groups. This article ends with dire warnings by both sides. Aktay warns that in the coming weeks and months, Turkey will actively try to prevent a "power grab" by the PKK in Kurdish towns. Meanwhile, Cemil Bayik says that unless the Turkish government changes its policies, the conflict between the Kurds and Turkey will continue, asserting that "if necessary the Kurds will fight against the Islamic State and the Turkish army."

A PKK commander tells the BBC that the peace process with Turkey is in danger of turning into conflict.

ISIS has become very rich extremist group because of the oil smuggling business they are involved in.

The article mentions the refusal of an opera production to go on as a way of making a statement against Morsi and the brotherhood. The Orchestra conductor named Nayer Nagui addressed the audience and said "We have decided to abstain from putting  on tonight's performance of Aida...until the Minister of Culture is removed." The newly appointed Minister of Culture was given by Morsi to Alaa Abdel Aziz who was altering the message and production of the show. The show according to Aziz was not following appropriate or respectful interpretations of Islam. 

Muftah was first launched in May of 2010 as a way of push back against the Western media potrayl of the Middle East. According to the Muftah mission statement, the West has failed to provide diverse viewpoints, and it is things like Muftah that can really make a difference. According to the mission, Muftah focuses on original content by using diverse individuals to tell the story.

Author Jillian Melchoir relates recent participation in groups like ISIS as spawning a new type of modern warfare. Melchoir continues, describing ISIS's presence on Twitter where they regularly get their content to trend globally for example hijacking popular hasthags like #worldcup2014.

"Look at the little children," the gun-toting militant tells the camera, bouncing a child on his hip. "They're having fun." This is the quote from an alleged American ISIS fighter in one of ISIS' newest propaganda videos.

A women tells her story of women genital mutilation in Egypt. She recalls how painful it was and will be ending the tradition. This tradition has become less popular but is still going on.

Certain things like genital mutilation are common practice based on tradition. With no laws discouraging these types of acts, there is almost a sense of encouragement, which for women who no longer want to participate in these traditions serves as a up hill battle.

UAE has told the UK to do something about the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist Party in Egypt. If David Cameron from UK does not do anything about the Brotherhood, the UAE has said it would block a billion-pound arms deal, stop inward investment and cut in tell cooperation with the UK.

"Praise God," a Saudi executioner dressed in white tells her. He lifts his long silver sword and strikes her neck -- a gasp, then she falls silent. Twice more the hangman hacks at her neck, before stepping away to carefully wipe the blade.

US special forces were able to take an ISIS member into custody. Through questioning, the military men were able to learn that ISIS is now beginning to make plans to use mustard gas as a chemical weapon. The Red Cross has been identified because of the possible use of chemical weapons.

An Islamic State detainee currently in American custody at a temporary detention facility in Erbil, Iraq, is a specialist in chemical weapons whom American military officials are questioning about the militant Sunni group's plans to use the banned substances in Iraq and Syria, Defense officials said. The member of ISIS who is probably dead at this point reports say, told the miltants that they were planning on using mustard gas with upcoming attacks planned.

Ultimately, Hezbollah's goal is to turn Syria into an extended springboard for attacks against Israel, but it is still far off from being able to realize this vision, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

This article looks at the teacher protest in Algeria. There was a group of teachers on March 22 that did a sit in to advocate for better job security. They were forced out and beaten by the police