Let's Remember Arab Women's Needs Now

Women's Rights, Restrain the Revelry, While we were in Egypt tensions on the rise in fellow North African Algeria, and Love is Playing it Safe in Beirut's Bars for Valentines Day.

Women's Rights in the region patchy- while classes in Egypt mingle so have men and women...

Rami's Wall [2]

Arab revolutionists must not forget Arab women

Social unity has been one of the welcome changes to the Egyptian new reality. Women's Right is just one of the rights platforms that may have made gains this week. Egypt's people revolt has hailed a break from the image of social divisions that western media and patriarchal, ogliarchal, dictators have instilled in the Arab peoples' minds. The ambitions in Egypt and Tunisia have been higher than those in Jordan or Algeria. Although all demonstrators across the region have similar calls for freedom of assembly, political organisation, free media, free expression, and fair and free elections - the reality remains that no one has taken up calling for equal rights for women. I marvelled how women in Tahrir square were saying they never felt more secure in Cairo - no harassment - there was the real arab social structure - brothers and sisters protecting their collective interest equally. Rami warns that while their have indirectly been gains made, these should be capitalized and cemented We have seen public display of affection on the Arab street, let us keep it going. I expect that we should not abandon our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends and high-jack the revolution - the way Islamists in Jordan are doing (in a recent protests, they exchanged the picture of a dead Egyptian protesting woman with a bearded man on one of the signs raised).

Sabbah Report [3]

Hold the Celebration: Egypt's Struggle Just Began

Hopefully beneath celebratory euphoria, Egyptians know ousting Mubarak was simple, especially since Washington long wanted him out. Quoting the New York Times: "Mr. Mubarak's fall removed a bulwark of American foreign policy in the region."

Biykyamasr [4]

Thousands march in Algiers

Thousands on Algerians defied a government ban on protests on Saturday and faced a massive deployment of riot police to rally in the capitol, Algiers. They demanded democratic reforms. The day before, similar protests in Egypt finally toppled the country’s 30-year dictator.

This is Beirut [5]

A message from the Lebanese Red Cross this Valentines Day

My friend was at The Speakeasy last night when The Lebanese Red Cross came in and started handing out these “love packages” to all of the people. Interesting-- the Red Cross in alliance with Durex? A force to reckon with.