Egyptian cyber-dissidents are becoming increasing vocal in their online criticism of President Hosni Mubarak's regime, utilising a widening repertoire of Internet networking and publishing tools to expose government abuses. Cam McGrath/IPS, Cairo - "The media used to be controlled by the state and it was very difficult to publish dissenting opinion," says rights lawyer Ahmed Seif,...

Yemen's dissident media are under attack by the state, leading to a clampdown on news sites and blogs, but an enterprising Yemeni has developed a program to help itinerant browsers circumvent bans on his news-laden portal. Thanks to Walid Al-Saqaf, Yemenis barred from learning about problems facing their country through Yemen Portal (www.yemenportal.net) can download BETA version software...

On Thursday 14 May 2009, the 5th Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Tunis convicted the 22-year old ICT Student, Mariam Zouaghi, who was in custody, on separate terrorist-related charges, and sentenced her to six years in prison. Mariam Zouaghi is the first Tunisian woman to be convicted under The Anti-Terrorism Act of 10 December 2003. Mariam has been arrested on July 26th,...

Cairo, Egypt. When political dissidents who challenge authoritarian leaders are locked away in prison, when they are tortured and their families threatened, the goal is to break their resolve, to crush their spirit, to silence them. So how come so many get right back to it when they are finally freed? What compels them to fight on at the risk of great personal sacrifice? Last week, Fathi...

Arab blogs have caught the attention of Middle East watchers. Much of the attention dedicated to them, however, has dealt with their political importance, whether as a mobilizing tool for activists or as an alternative source of news reporting. Blogging is also interesting, however, as a new and perhaps significant departure in the history of media in the Middle East. By this I do not mean...