The C.R.I.M.E. Report

ISSUE #63 CONTENTS:


SPOTLIGHT CASES:

World Cup Fallout: Soccer Hysteria Overshadows Algerian Labor Protest

November was supposed to be a month of civil protest by Algerian unions challenging working conditions and longstanding emergency laws that restrict organized demonstrations. Instead, the Cold War that broke out between Algeria and Egypt over a sudden death World Cup qualifying match has diverted away popular energy – for now.  

September and October saw a steady wave of unrest in major Algerian cities, boiling over in late October with riots by youths frustrated over unemployment and police brutality. Nonviolent protests by labor activists were broken up violently under the pretense that the organized protests were illegal under Algeria’s emergency laws, in place for nearly two decades. So at the beginning of November, several independent (i.e., non-government controlled) unions declared ongoing protests and strikes to demand better pay for teachers and better working conditions for medical care employees. Teachers unions, for instance, threatened a walk-out from school. 

The campaign declared a success of sorts, with a 94% participation rate. Yet the main reason most Algerian students skipped school was to watch the matches with Egypt. Those games capped a fierce war of words and even physical skirmishes between Algerian and Egyptian fans, with both regimes whipping up a public frenzy of national pride over a soccer match. After Algeria’s victory, young people in the streets were directed away from union-organized protests to join the crowd of celebrating soccer fans. Algeria’s World Cup victory has thus enabled the regime to setback – at least temporarily – the labor protest movement. But the underlying frustrations remain. 



“Girifna” - From Disgust to Action

A few weeks ago, three students in Khartoum noted that almost no one in Sudan seemed to know where to register for or how to vote in the upcoming presidential elections. In audacious attempt to educate the public and promote peaceful change, the students launched a large Internet campaign to spread voting information and motivate Sudanese to speak up. Their campaign's title: “Girifna” - Sudanese colloquial Arabic for “We are disgusted.” 

Presidential elections are scheduled for April, when incumbent Omar Al-Bashir – currently under indictment by the International Criminal Court – appears set to continue his 20-year rule. Garafna aims to spread awareness and urge citizens to take active in role in challenging dictatorial rule. According to Nagi Musa, one of the students who initiated the campaign, Garafna welcomes all Sudanese citizens to join its movement for peaceful change. Nagi believes that “casting your vote on the day of elections is [people’s] constitutional right and [their] citizenship duty.” 

“Girifna” has launched a campaign website as well as a growing Facebook group that has attracted hundreds of supporters. It remains unclear whether this digital grassroots network can take on the entrenched repressive regime, but it has certainly demonstrated that disgust can be translated into creative action. 



WANTED for Empowering Women to Speak Out

In 2006, Eman AbdElRahman commiserated with a fellow Egyptian blogger about the frustrating social restrictions faced by women. They decided to rally women’s voices against daily injustices - and thus was born the project “Kolena Laila” (“We Are All Laila”). The initiative encourages people - regardless of their gender - to speak out against repression of women. Kolena Laila has grown steadily for the past three years as more bloggers and community influencers join. In an interview with The CRIME Report, Eman talks about her experience turning daily frustrations into a force of change.

Where did the “Kolena Laila” name come from? 
We needed a name for our initiative that was symbolic but not over-used. Laila is the heroine of "The Open Door," by Egyptian writer Latifa El Zayyat. In the novel, Laila represents every girl who suffers oppression and injustice in Middle Eastern societies, yet Laila was not passive and struggled until she obtained a noteworthy status in society.

What is Kolena Laila? 
Kolena Laila is an independent nonprofit online initiative to empower women in the Arab world by encouraging all society members to discuss women’s issues at an annual event. We started with five organizers, and this year over 25 bloggers have volunteered to help organize the initiative’s efforts. Aside from discussion women’s issues and social attitudes toward women, we aim to encourage “Laila” to express herself and recognize she is not alone in confronting injustice.

Can you explain the various stages in the development of the initiative? 
In 2006, our theme was “Speaking up!” Five female bloggers from Egypt organized the event and over 70 female bloggers participated. Over 100 articles and posts were published, discussing topics such as discrimination in upbringing and street harassment. In 2007, the main theme was “Enabling Discussion” and we also invited men to participate. Last year we gathered stories of women who do not use the Internet, due to social or economic reasons. Around 150 bloggers of both genders participated, and we had around 300 posts published. Our focus this year is how men and women see a better society in the future. We will be including ten countries besides Egypt, and the week-long event will begin on December 24. Come join the discussion.

 

 

Quiz: What did Syrian activist Haytham al-Maleh do on TV before he was arrested?
Answer: Criticize the growing arrests of Syrian activists. Al-Maleh, an 82 year-old lawyer who advocated for grassroots peaceful reform initiatives, appeared on Barada TV, a Syrian private satellite channel. He discussed the tightening grip of security and intelligence forces against Syrian activists, legislation that violates constitutional rights like freedom of speech, and the Emergency Law enforced since the 1960s. Shortly after his TV appearance, al-Maleh was detained by Syrian security forces.
Watch the “criminal” interview.


BECOME A PARTNER IN CRIME:
Here are quick ways to contribute to the Middle East civil rights movement: