Puppet dictator? Assad ‘taught to lie’ by Khamenei in cartoon sketch

A confused, self-conscious and submissive Syrian president and an all-powerful Iranian leader; both characters in a cartoon video made by Syrian activists, mocking relations between the embattled President Assad and Tehran.The cartoon's recent production was reportedly prompted by an announcement from an official close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, saying that Syria is the Islamic republic’s 35th province.The satirical video showed Assad submissive and docile to Tehran ... More

Tunisian students dance to protest against ruling Islamists

Thousands of Tunisians recently took to the streets in protests against the ruling Ennahda Party’s alleged plans to transform the once secular country into an Islamist state. A group of students, however, have decided to express their criticism of the Islamist party in a different way, by dancing to an American hip hop song. They danced to the beat of “Let's Get It Started" by American hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas to show the “cool” face of Tunisia as opposed to ... More

Insults, profanities and almost fistfight on Hezbollah television

A political talk show about the crisis in Syria on Hezbollah’s television channel turned into an exchange of insults, profanities and almost developed into a fist fight on Friday. The show brought together two men, each of whom holds starkly different opinions, to debate the Syrian crisis. The result is a nasty verbal fight that highlights the bitter divisions in Lebanon as a whole when it comes to neighboring Syria. Salem Zahran, Director of the Media Focal Center (Irtikaz) is one of the ... More

Egyptian media, journalists face rising suppression under Mursi

TV anchors behind bars, a black screen, complaints against journalists and satellite channels, complaints even submitted by the Egyptian presidency. A threat that turned into reality: Less than two months after Mohamed Mursi became president, Islam Afifi, editor-in-chief of al-Dostour newspaper, was taken to court for insulting the president, publishing false news, and destabilizing the public security. TV anchor Tawfik Okasha was accused of calling for the overthrow and the killing of President ... More

Fighting takes its toll on Aleppo’s old city

Aleppo, the biggest Syrian city in population, is divided. Since last Ramadan, the clashes broke out between the Syrian armed forces and the Free Syrian Army, and different parts of the city belong to each side. Due to the large number of its population, Aleppo has many fighting groups within the Free Syrian Army. One of these groups, the Battalion of Free Syrians, is led by Ali Bello from Anadan which is the first town in the Aleppo countryside to revolt against the Syrian regime. The battalion ... More

Syrian rebels set up prisons to curb crime, maintain order

Rebel groups in Syria have established their own security systems in areas liberated from the regime’s hold. A rebel controlled police force, prisons and courts have sprung up in an attempt to keep order in Aleppo and Idlib’s countryside. Inmates in a prion visited by an Al Arabiya correspondent in Aleppo include prisoners detained from the Syrian Armed Forces or the pro-regime militia, and the rebels who break the law. It may not be an ideal prison, and it does not meet internationa ... More