As journalists are detained and activists face violence and politically motivated charges, Egyptian authorities’ heavy clampdown on dissent increasingly targets non-Islamists, Shahira Amin reports
CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa
Tunisians cast a wary eye on new crime agency
Years of massive surveillance haunt Tunisians as they commemorate three years since the toppling of the police State of former dictator Zeine al Abidin Ben Ali. Afef Abrougi reports
Egypt continues to target Al Jazeera journalists
In a new sign of a regression in press freedom in Egypt, authorities have ordered three journalists working for the Al Jazeera English (AJE) channel held in custody for fifteen days.
Egypt: ‘Authorities will stop at nothing to silence dissent’
In spite of the release of some pro-Morsi protesters, Egyptian activists worry that the state is as brutal as ever, says Shahira Amin
Egypt: ‘Poet of the people’ Ahmed Fouad Negm dies
Ahmed Fouad Negm, who became popular for his political stance on the poor and working class, has died at the age of 84
In post-Morsi Egypt journalists toe the military line or self censor
Editorials and articles labelling democracy activists “anarchists and “thugs” signal that most Egyptian media has reverted to its old pre-revolution ways, siding with the military-backed government against the opposition activists. Shahira Amin reports
Saudi Arabia: Popular sci-fi novel banned
Bookstores told by authorities to stop selling the novel H W J N
UAE: American citizen in maximum-security prison over satirical YouTube video
Shezanne Cassim was arrested for posting a mock documentary spoofing youth culture in Dubai
United Arab Emirates’ cybercrimes regulation strategically silencing critics
The authorities of the United Arab Emirates are using the 2012 cybercrimes decree crack down on dissent. Rori Donaghy, director of the Emirates Centre for Human Rights, writes
Gaza: Hamas reopens Palestinian news agency
Palestinian news agency Ma’an to reopen in the Gaza Strip four months after Hamas closed down the organisation