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Middle East Media

Pakistan Bans Facebook

Pakistan Bans Facebook

Last month’s episode of South Park brought together religious leaders — known as the “Super Best Friends.” This group included Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and Moses was the Prophet Mohammed, who was hidden for most of the episode in a U-haul truck. Then, Mohammed appeared… dressed in a bear costume. The campaign (mentioned below) was to show solidarity […]

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A Warm Welcome

Hey there!  Salam!  Shalom!  My name is April and I welcome you to this revamped Foreign Policy Association blog dedicated to Middle East Media.  I know I always want to know WHO bloggers really are… so please check out my “Blogger Profile” on the right hand menu of this screen. Regarding this blog: discussion  through […]

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Iran's Top Filmmaker Detained Indefinitely

Iran's Top Filmmaker Detained Indefinitely

Detained Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch reported that Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi was arrested at his home on Monday, March 1st, together with his wife, daughter and 15 dinner guests who are fellow filmmakers and actors. According to several news reports, Panahi and his guests were discussing an upcoming film when […]

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Iran Extends Sentences for Imprisoned Journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists reported earlier this week that two prominent journalists, Hengameh Shahidi and Saeed Laylaz were sentenced to extended prison terms of up to six yeas and three months, and no less than 9 years respectively, after being arrested earlier this year. Shahidi, who is an adviser to defeated presidential candidate Mehdi […]

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A look at Control Room (2004)

A look at Control Room (2004)

Here’s fellow FPA blogger on Global Film Sean Patrick Murphy’s analysis of the 2004 documentary film Control Room: Control Room (2004) By Sean Patrick Murphy Monday, April 27 12:10 pm EST Just the fact that Al-Jazeera angers westerners as well as Arabs is one indication it’s on the right track. “Control Room” follows the Arab news […]

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Region poised for Lebanese elections

Region poised for Lebanese elections

A Hezbollah-affiliated website recently cited the remarks of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad on upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon. According to the website, Ahmedinejad voiced his opinion that if the Lebanese opposition, in which Hezbollah is a key player, makes significant gains, a “new front” will emerge to the benefit of the ‘resistance.’ He is also […]

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Facebook and the political opposition in Iran

Facebook and the political opposition in Iran

Here’s coverage on the recent blocking of Facebook in Iran. “Iran has blocked its citizens from accessing the social networking site Facebook as the country prepares for next month’s presidential election. Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, a leading reformist candidate, suggested on Sunday that the move was aimed at reducing opposition to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the […]

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Hezbollah and espionage in the headlines

Hezbollah and espionage in the headlines

Following the well-publicized uncovering of alleged Hezbollah cells in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, news of the arrest of a Mossad-tied cell in the Lebanese port city of Saida caught the headlines of both mainstream Lebanese and Hezbollah-affiliated media outlets. This comes shortly after two former Lebanese security officials were charged with spying for Israel. Is the […]

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Hamas releases 'PALtube'

Hamas releases 'PALtube'

The Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Information Center recently released ‘PalTube’, a YouTube-like video hosting service featuring various media content dealing with the recent Gaza crisis and its aftermath. This includes ‘foreign’ media, most notably that dealing with the white phosphorous issue, as well as a speech by controversial British MP George Galloway at a rally denouncing the […]

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Mughniyeh's ghost… one of many in February

Mughniyeh's ghost… one of many in February

Today marked the first anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah militant figure Imad Mughniyeh (pictured left). Hezbollah has promised retaliation for what it deemed an act by Israel, and there are indications the group has indeed attempted to launch retaliatory operations against Israeli interests outside the Middle East, leaving many eager to see if and […]

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Hamas alleges death via torture in Fatah detention center

Hamas alleges death via torture in Fatah detention center

The Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Information Center (PIC) issued a report today alleging that a Hamas fighter died in the custody of Fatah security forces in the West Bank as a result of wounds suffered during torture. Citing a ‘local’ source  the PIC states that the individual, Muhammad Al-Haj, was being interrogated at the preventative security detention […]

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Lebanese opposition celebrates 3rd anniversary of MOU

Lebanese opposition celebrates 3rd anniversary of MOU

Lebanon’s two major opposition parties, Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), recently celebrated the third anniversary of their 2006 memorandum of understanding. This agreement brought together two seemingly disparate constituencies – one Shia and the other predominantly Christian – in what was commonly seen as a partnership of mere of political convenience. However, Al-Manar […]

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Responses to Obama's address to the Arab world

Responses to Obama's address to the Arab world

Public Diplomacy blogger Mark Dillen recently posted on Barack Obama's appearance on Al-Arabiya TV, highlighting some initial positive feedback to the new president's interview. There's no question that Obama's gesture was a unique, and  relatively genuine, effort to set the tone for the ‘new face’ of US Middle East policy. However, one might wonder if […]

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Will the IDF incursion unite Palestinian factions in Gaza?

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Nasrallah to address world on Gaza

Nasrallah to address world on Gaza

Hezbollah announced yesterday that its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah will be making an address on Al Manar TV at (1 pm EST) in response to Israel's military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Various sources have reported that air strikes have so far led to over 200 deaths, with Hamas security and police forces […]

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