You are in the 254th Witness Revolution diary, bearing witness to pro-democracy movements in North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. We aim here to simply report, from as many reliable worldwide resources as possible, on the successes, challenges or failures of the brave people striving against oppression for representative democracy with civil and human rights. One small bit of assurance that they do not strive in obscurity. Please see the 200th edition where participants shared what this series means to them.
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
BAHRAIN
Bahrain: A detainee faints in the courtroom after hunger strike
A human rights activist confirmed that the detainee Mr. Jaffar Abbas Hassan Jaffar (41 years) had lost consciousness while he had been in the courtroom and the hearing had halted to transport the detainee to hospital by ambulance.
She confirmed: “I saw the torture and mistreatment marks on Mr. Jaffar’s body ”.
Bahrain Revolution
#Bahrain: Dr Masoud Aljoromi, professor in Alahlya University, is free today #AJStream
YEMEN
September 13th - Funeral of Abdulhakim Ashal
Funeral of Abdulhakim Ashal, son of Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ashal. He was assassinated in the capital Sanaa, on Monday. #yemen #yf 2
Taiz : Muhammad Ali Abdu Wosabi was shot by a soldiers loyal to Saleh's regime on Monday. The bullet penetrated his abdomen and caused damage to his lungs and left kidney. #yemen #yf 2
SYRIA
author's note: Syria continues to be the most difficult to witness. There are far too many videos of people who have been murdered. Human rights organizations say the number of murdered is over 2,600 now. I have seen at least 3 children this week. It isn't only the murders on the street. There are scenes like this one of how people are treated in custody:
The Syrian Days Of Rage - English
#Assad 's men beat and curse at a child because he has called for #freedom . They order him to bow down to a picture of #Bashar the Butcher as he is being beaten - but, he refuses. These are the brave children of #Syria . Where is the world - the brave of Syria are calling for international protection.
WARNING: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC. This man is still alive
Still, they continue to take to the streets:
(09-12-11) Douma | Damascus | Funeral Procession of Subhi Salaam
country by country updates below the fold
Thank you for bearing witness.
ABOUT OUR GROUP
Eyes on Egypt and the Region produces a different series of diaries which provide background and analysis on the region in general and on individual countries. We hope those provide context for you as you read about current events. The published diaries in that series are:
Eyes on Egypt and the Region Background Resources
See the group stream for even more diaries.
DO YOU KNOW OF GOOD READING MATERIAL?
We collect suggested readings for background reference materials in support of the Eyes on Egypt and the Region group. These may be non-fiction or fiction, general to the region or specific to a country or issue. If there are resources which you believe could aid our understanding of the events and processes we are witnessing, please either a) post a comment in the Liveblog with the title "Suggested reading:" and a brief description of the reading in the body of the comment, or b) send your suggestions via the dKos internal message to angry marmot.
Libyan Doctors for Hospitals in Libya is an impressive new aide organization launched by one of our own: StepLeftStepForward.
NEWS UPDATES
(country names in bold are updated from the previous diary.)
GENERAL ANALYSIS
(h/t Dibsa 9/12)-The Arab Counterrevolution
The Arab uprising that started in Tunisia and Egypt reached its climax on February 11, the day President Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down. It was peaceful, homegrown, spontaneous, and seemingly unified. Lenin’s theory was turned on its head. The Russian leader postulated that a victorious revolution required a structured and disciplined political party, robust leadership, and a clear program. The Egyptian rebellion, like its Tunisian precursor and unlike the Iranian Revolution of 1979, possessed neither organization nor identifiable leaders nor an unambiguous agenda
ALGERIA
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - Algeria ends state monopoly of broadcast media
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria has passed sweeping media reforms, ending a state monopoly on the broadcast sector and the imprisonment of journalists for libel
BAHRAIN
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Woman's]] success in Bahrain legislative by-elections hailed
Manama: King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa on Monday hailed the success of Sawsan Al Taqawi in reaching the lower house of the bicameral parliament as a new achievement for women in Bahrain
BURKINA FASO
(h/t Dibsa 8/25 ) - Burkina Students Relieved Over Zongo Verdict But Not Happy
Ouagadougou — In Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, a verdict was finally delivered in the Justin Zongo case, named after a student whose controversial death raised concerns over police brutality. The case sparked a series of protests that plunged the country into months of social unrest. Students expected a heavier sentence
(h/t Dibsa 8/24 ) - Burkina Faso sentencing upsets students
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A student protest leader in Burkina Faso said the sentencing of three policemen accused of brutality in the death of a detainee wasn't enough
COTE D'IVOIRE
(h/t Dibsa 9/12 ) - Ivory Coast reconciliation chief visits diaspora in Dakar
DAKAR — The head of the Ivory Coast's newly formed truth and reconciliation panel visited the diaspora in Senegal on Sunday to explain his mission to reunite the country torn apart by post-poll violence
DJIBOUTI
(h/t Dibsa 6/22 ) - Djibouti Will Intensify Fight Against Poverty, Prime Minister Dileita Says
Djibouti’s government will intensify its fight against poverty, improve governance and implement renewable-energy projects to help spur economic growth, Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita said
EGYPT
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - Egypt's ex-spy chief testifies in Mubarak trial
CAIRO (AP) — One of the most secretive figures of Hosni Mubarak's inner circle testified Tuesday at the ousted leader's trial under a complete media blackout, facing questions whether his former boss ordered the use of lethal force against protesters
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Egypt military to widen state of emergency
One of Egypt's ruling generals said Monday the military will expand a state of emergency because of a "breach in public security" after protesters stormed Israel's embassy and clashed with police, state news agency MENA reported
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Radical youth groups call for anti-SCAF protest on 30 September
The Coalition of Revolutionary Forces (CRF), a small grouping of 40 radical youth groups which played an active role in organising protests in Tahrir Square and against Israel in the early summer, has called for a mass demonstration on 30 September
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Egypt threatens to use live rounds in security crackdown
Egyptian authorities have detained a further 92 people and vowed to use live ammunition to protect key buildings following the storming of the Israeli embassy last week, which left three protesters dead and provoked the worst crisis in Israel-Egypt relations for a generation
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Egypt'sfragmenting revolution
The only surprising thing about the breach of the Israeli embassy in Cairo at the weekend is that it never happened any time before in the past 30 years. In a city that abounds in isolated walled desert compounds, someone decided to put the most often marched-upon facility in Egypt in a quite ordinary apartment building in the heart of the city, whose defences basically consist of however much force the security services/army choose to deploy on the street that particular day
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - University professors to strike at beginning of academic year
Around four thousand university professors marched to the Council of Ministers on Sunday and announced they will go on strike if their demands are not met.
The professors were holding their general conference at the Teaching Club at Cairo University when they decided to march and demand all university leaders be removed and elections conducted for their replacements
IRAN
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - Iranian TV bans provocative love stories
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's state television has banned programs featuring provocative love stories or shirtless men in an apparent bow to hard-line Muslim clerics complaining about such scenes in foreign movies, Iranian newspapers reported Tuesday
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - Lawyer: Iran sets bail for 2 jailed Americans
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian court Tuesday set bail of $500,000 each for two American men arrested more than two years ago and convicted on spy-related charges, clearing the way for their release a year after a similar bail-for-freedom arrangement for the third member of the group, their defense attorney said
(h/t dibsa 9/12) - Amnesty urges Iran to free detained rights lawyer
Iran must immediately free Abdolfattah Soltani, a prominent human rights lawyer rearrested at the weekend after spending months behind bars between 2005 and 2009, Amnesty International said on Monday
IRAQ
(h/t Dibsa 9/8) - Iraqi reporter who criticized government shot dead
BAGHDAD (AP) — Police say an Iraqi journalist who criticized the government has been shot to death.
Hadi al-Mehdi had a weekly program on a Baghdad radio channel on which he called on the government to provide better water, electricity and other public services to Iraqis. He also used Facebook to organize demonstrations every Friday in Baghdad
ISRAEL
(h/t Dibsa 9/12 ) - Israel's Labour party votes for new head
A former defence minister, a one-time TV journalist, an ex-mayor and a scion of one of Israel's top political families face off on Monday in a fight for the leadership of the Labour party.
The once-mighty party, now reduced to eight seats in the 120-member parliament, has been without a chairman since Defence Minister Ehud Barak jumped ship in January to form the centrist "Independence" movement
JORDAN
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Jordan's king says Arab Spring bad for Israel
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's King Abdullah II, one of Israel's few remaining close allies in the Muslim world, said in remarks obtained Monday that the uprisings sweeping Arab nations have put the Jewish state in a difficult position. He also hotly rejected the notion that his country should take in Palestinians as a substitute for the creation of a state for them
KUWAIT
(h/t JustJennifer 8/25) - Jailed for tweeting in Kuwait
Armed security officers wearing balaclavas led Nasser Abul, blindfolded and shackled, into a courtroom in downtown Kuwait City on July 19. Accused of crimes against the state, he answered the judge's questions from a wood-and-metal cage in the courtroom. His mother, watching the proceedings, hoped her 26-year-old eldest son would finally be released after nearly two months in detention. The judiciary has refused to grant her wish.
LEBANON
(h/t Dibsa 8/9) - Syria solidarity rally held in Beirut
Hundreds of people have rallied in Beirut, Lebanon's capital, in solidarity with the Syrian people, as the Syrian government intensified its crackdown on protesters
LIBYA
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - NATO airstrikes pound pro-Gadhafi targets
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — NATO says its warplanes have pounded targets in a number of key strongholds of support for fugitive dictator Moammar Gadhafi
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Sharp splits emerging among Libya's new leaders
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Sharp splits are already emerging in the ranks of Libya's new rulers between Islamic conservatives and more secular figures competing for power even as the leadership begins to settle in Tripoli and start creating a post-Moammar Gadhafi government
(h/t dibsa 9/12) - Gadhafi vows to fight as loyalists strike oil hub
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Fugitive leader Moammar Gadhafi accused revolutionary forces of surrendering Libya to foreign influence and vowed to press ahead with his resistance in a message Monday issued just hours after a twin attack on a key oil facility by loyalist fighters. At least 15 attackers were killed, an anti-Gadhafi commander said
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Libyan civilians flee key Gadhafi stronghold
WADI DINAR, Libya (AP) — Dozens of cars loaded with Libyan families and personal belongings are streaming out of the key loyalist stronghold of Bani Walid in anticipation of an assault on the town by revolutionary forces
RESOURCES:
A vision of a democratic Libya an 8-point plan from the National Transitional Council
The full text of UN Resolution 1970 on Libya.
The full text of UN Resolution 1973 on Libya.
President Obama's letter to Congress regarding commencement of operations in Libya. (h/t greenbird)
Al Jazeera Libyan live blog. (h/t jnhobbs)
UK Telegraph Libyan live blog. (h/t bee tzu)
MAURITANIA
(h/t Dibsa 8/25) - Mauritania urged to revoke anti-slavery activists’ sentencing
The authorities in Mauritania must revoke jail sentences given to four anti-slavery activists who protested against the enslavement of a 10-year old girl, Amnesty International said today
MOROCCO
(h/t Dibsa 8/15 ) -
Morocco picks early elections date
Morocco's government says it wants to hold early parliamentary elections in November, to follow through on a raft of constitutional reforms aimed at reducing the risk of an uprising
OMAN
(h/t Dibsa 8/15) - Three newspaper staff charged in Oman court
MUSCAT — The Omani public prosecutor's office called on Sunday for the conviction of three local newspaper employees on charges of insulting the justice minister and called for their daily to be shut down
PALESTINE
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - World Bank: Israel hampering Palestinian economy
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Israeli restrictions have inhibited what otherwise would have been substantial progress in the Palestinian economy, the World Bank reported.
In a report released Monday and timed for a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for assistance to the Palestinians, a group of wealthy nations that coordinates economic aid for the Palestinians, the World Bank's Palestine desk said the Palestinian Authority's two-year effort to build statehood institutions had made "substantial progress."
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - http://www.ibtimes.com/...]">Palestinian Statehood Vote Opposed by Obama, Congress
The Obama administration and lawmakers are scrambling to preclude an upcoming United Nations vote that could grant the Palestinians formal recognition as a sovereign state
QATAR
(h/t ninkasi23 9/5 ) - Is anyone paying attention to the rise and rise of Qatar?
Qatar has also shown strong political leadership, willingness and influence in bilateral relations with its Arab neighbours throughout the Arab Spring -- from rumours of having frozen their investments in Syria, to public messages of support for the opposition in Syria and Yemen -- though Qatar's role may not always seem consistent, as with Bahrain.
SAUDI ARABIA
(h/t Dibsa 8/31) - #Tal3mrak: A Hashtag Challenges Saudi Arabian King
The phrase Tal3mrak in Saudi Arabia literally translates into "May god prolong your life" - and its used as a sign of respect when addressing royalty or influential business men in the Gulf region
SYRIA
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - Syrian forces raid neighborhoods near capital
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian security forces riding in vehicles mounted with machine-guns raided neighborhoods outside the capital, Damascus, before dawn Tuesday as Turkey's prime minister said he was concerned Syria could descend into a sectarian civil war
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - 'Day of anger' in Syria over Russian support for Assad
Pro-democracy activists called a "day of anger" across Syria on Tuesday to protest against Russia's backing for President Bashar al-Assad, after his security forces shot dead at least another 19 people
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - Syria arrests prominent psychoanalyst
Syrian authorities detained a prominent psychoanalyst as she was preparing to board a flight to Paris from Damascus, her husband said in a statement seen Tuesday
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - Turkish PM warns of sectarian 'civil war' in Syria
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned in comments published Tuesday that Syria could plunge into "civil war," as he began a tour of Arab countries where uprisings ousted autocratic leaders
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - UN inaction over Syria crackdown a 'scandal': France
The United Nations' failure to take a clear position on the bloody repression of demonstrations in Syria is "a scandal", the French foreign ministry said on Monday.
Recalling that according to the UN at least 2,600 people have been killed in Syria, ministry spokesman Bernard Valero also slammed the "revolting murder" of a protest organiser, Ghiyath Matar, while in Syrian detention
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Syria troops raid villages as Russia boosts regime
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops mounted deadly new raids against dissent Monday as President Bashar Assad's embattled regime won key support from longtime ally Russia, which said a U.N. resolution on Syria must not contain sanctions
TUNISIA
(h/t Dibsa 9/8) - Protests erupt amid Tunisia police union ban
Tunisian police are now banned from joining unions "given the danger that such activity represents for the security of the country", Interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi announced on Tuesday (September 6th)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
(h/t Dibsa 9/1) - U.A.E.'s slow steps to Democracy
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — The oil-rich United Arab Emirates holds its second-ever polls next month after allowing many more citizens to vote, taking baby steps toward democracy in a state where virtually no one is pushing for quick change
WESTERN SAHARA
(h/t Dibsa 7/26) - Western Sahara talks end in impasse
The latest round of unofficial, UN-brokered Western Sahara negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario ended without agreement last week
(h/t Dibsa 7/25) - Western Sahara: Women Refugees Denounce Dictatorship, Corruption at Camps
MADRID / Association for the development of Saharawi Women, led by Salma Buha Mint Bubacar Lecuara, president of the association and Fatma Ahmed Essbiti, its secretary, held a conference on july 21, 2011 at The Emperor hotel in Madrid. Ana Camacho a senior journalist with El País intervened in support of the two speakers. Also attended the ceremony Mohamed Salem jaddou a member of the association
YEMEN
(h/t Dibsa 9/13) - President's offer triggers new protests in Yemen
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis are pouring into the streets of major cities and towns across the country to protest the latest attempt by their embattled president to evade pressure to step down
(h/t Dibsa 9/12) - Saleh empowers deputy to sign Yemen transition deal
(Reuters) - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has authorized his vice president to sign a power transition plan after a dialogue with the opposition, the state news agency Saba said on Monday, a move that could hasten the end of Saleh's 33-year rule
It bears repeating - Please Rec this diary.
Our Egyptian brethren articulated what people around the region are fighting for, though variations to the theme may exist from country to country. banner held by protesters and translated to English:
1 The departure of Mubarak
2 An end to the current Parliament
3 An end of the state of emergency
4 The creation of a national united government
5 A parliament elected by the people to modify the constitution and run the presidential elections
6 Put those responsible for the killings on trial
7 Put those responsible for stealing the country's money and other acts of corruption on trial
Will you help us gather updates?
Many hands make light work and we rely on teamwork for timely posting.
Here's how it works:
1. we invite you to join our wiki. (we'll need an email address from you)
2. you choose 1 or more countries you wish to gather citations for
3. go to the page of that country, click EDIT,
4. copy the mini template and fill in what the red text prompts
5. click SAVE
We're working on a publication schedule: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. Ideally we would see fresh citations in the wiki by late evening the day before. That is, posts from late Monday evening would be published in Tuesday morning's diary. (If you'd like produce a diary on a different day of the week, we'd love to show you how to update the template and paste it into your diary!)
It's really that simple! Please join us.
Resources:
Note: The old Mothership Diary has good list of resources.
Al Jazeera English - Watch Live (the Youtube link below should work for Mac users unable to load this.)
Al Jazeera live also available on: Dish Network channel 9410 OR DirecTV Channel 375 Link
Al Jazeera on Facebook: - http: www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Al Jazeera Live on YouTube
English Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
Arabic Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
BBC Middle East reporting
BBC Middle East and Arab Unrest
bicycle Hussein paladin - Why Iran 1979 Went to the Islamists and This One Won't
People to follow on twitter: - please suggest people for specific countries. Thank you!
@ArabRevolution - Region
@Dima_Khatib - Region
@March15Syria - Syria
@JNovak_Yemen - Yemen
@WomanfromYemen - Yemen
@Gheblawi - Libya
@ShababLibya - Libya
@feb17voices - Libya
@libyanexpat - Libya
@lissnp - Iran
@sandmonkey (Mahmoud Salem ) - Egypt
@JRamyRaoof - Egypt
@Elazul - Egypt
@Ssirgany - Egypt
@sharifkouddous
@monasosh
@ioerror
@ElBaradei
@SultanAlQassemi
@evanchill
@glcarlstrom
@3arabawy
@shadihamid
@bencnn
@arabist
@speaktotweet: Egyptian Voice Tweets on Twitter
Previous Child Diaries:
Egypt and the Region Liveblog Archive by unaspenser
NOTE: We renamed the original "Egypt Liveblog" to "Witnessing Revolution". From Egypt the pro-democracy fire spread rapidly. It's not clear that it will be limited by geography or ethnicity. So, we wanted a name which states what is happening yet allows us to grow with the movement, wherever that will be. The number sequence will be continuous. The group name will remain the same. Only this particular diary series within the group changed names.
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