ISSUE #24 CONTENTS:
- Hundreds Rally for Yemeni Editor Facing Death Penalty
- Virtual Sit-in at Tunisian Presidential Palace
- Light in Darkness: In Memory of Hadeel Alhodaif
- QUIZ: The Iowa town of Elkader is named after which legendary Middle Eastern leader?
- Become a Partner in CRIME
SPOTLIGHT CASES:
Hundreds Rally for Yemeni Editor Facing Death Penalty
An unprecedented international coalition is rallying to protect Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, one of Yemen’s top independent journalists, currently charged with crimes that carry the death penalty. That campaign has generated feature stories in the New York Times, BBC, and Al-Arabiya, over 1,200 letters sent to Yemeni officials, and demands from members of Congress to drop all charges against al-Khaiwani.
The campaign is spearheaded by free speech advocates in Yemen and the US, with New Jersey writer Jane Novak leading the way. Novak, profiled previously in the CRIME Report, was the subject of a recent New York Times article for her activism on behalf of al-Khaiwani. That profile, along with a statement by the AIC criticizing Yemen for being "lax on terrorists and brutal with journalists," caused Yemeni officials to delay sentencing in al-Khaiwani’s case until June 9.
Now is a critical time. Yemeni activists have held rallies protesting the on-going crackdown on independent journalists. Members of Congress have sent letters to Yemen’s ambassador calling for al-Khaiwani’s freedom. If you have not already, do your part. Join over 1,200 others and send a letter to Yemeni officials on al-Khaiwani’s behalf.
Virtual Sit-in at Tunisian Presidential Palace
A year ago, the Tunisian regime blocked the two most popular video sharing websites: YouTube and DailyMotion. Why this harsh step? To prevent Tunisians from watching videos featuring testimonies from former political prisoners, human rights activists, and their families.
But Tunisian cyber-activists have managed to defy this ban, launching a virtual sit-in at the Tunisian presidential palace via Google Earth. The activists, from Nawaat.org, realized that Google Earth allows users to embed videos on top of satellite-image maps. The result is that any Google Earth visitor who visits the presidential palace can view a series of videos profiling victims of repression and torture. ("Enough oppression!" declares the wife of a jailed activist in one clip.)
The online campaign not only bypasses and mocks the regime’s ban on video-sharing sites, but also reaches foreigners who may not be aware of abuses inside Tunisia. For the first time, virtual tourists to Tunisia can see a dark side to historic sites and beautiful beaches. To view the videos, follow these directions.
Light in Darkness: In Memory of Hadeel Alhodaif
Bloggers throughout Saudi Arabia and around the world are mourning the
passing of 25-year-old Hadeel Alhodaif, one of the Midle East's
influential young bloggers, who died on May 16 after 25 days in a
coma. Via her blog, "Heaven's Steps," she used her real name to
critique Saudi society and encourage women to take a stand.
Hadeel saw blogging as a way to create a "new free media" and was not afraid to put her ideas into action. When fellow Saudi blogger Fouad
Al-Farhan was arrested for last December, Hadeel was the only Saudi
woman who came out publicly calling for Al-Farhan's immediate release
- launching the "Free Fouad" website and Facebook group. She even went on the BBC to discuss the case.
She was also a playwright who mocked the restrictions on women artists in Saudi society. When her play "Who Fears the Doors" was performed at the men's section of King Saud University, she wrote on her blog: "I guess I have to beg the male audience to inform me how my play was produced… I hope that a day comes when I can attend a cultural function where the presence of women does not cause anyone an allergic reaction."
She will be remembered for her intelligence, outspokenness, and courage - a light shining amidst darkness.
QUIZ:The Iowa town of Elkader is named after which legendary Middle Eastern leader?
This edition offers a historical quiz illustrating little-known connections between the US and the Middle East. The small town of Elkader in the state of Iowa is named after Abd al-Qadir, a 19th Century Algerian leader who led a failed revolt against French colonial rule and was then exiled to Damascus (where he later stopped a mob of rioters attacking a group of Europeans and Americans). Today, Elkader appears to be the only American town named after a Middle Eastern leader.
BECOME A PARTNER IN CRIME:
Here is a list of four quick ways you contribute to the Middle East civil rights movement:
- Forward this newsletter to friends & encourage them to subscribe.
- Write a letter to help Yemeni writer Abdelkarim al-Khaiwani.
- Write a letter to imprisoned Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer.
- Apply to participate in HAMSA’s civil rights fellowship program.