"Banned: How Facebook harms free speech in Egypt"

"Dania Akkad, Middle East Eye, Banned: How Facebook harms free speech in Egypt, 25 Jan 2018 Analysis and opinion. "The social media platform was lauded as a critical factor behind the uprisings – or "The Facebook Revolution" – which began on 25 January 2011 and drew tens of thousands of Egyptians onto the streets, changing their country’s trajectory.
"But Egyptian opposition activists of all political shades and stripes told MEE that during the past year, the company has repeatedly banned their pages and shut down their livestreams after trolls repeatedly reported their posts."

Bassem Youssef

Bassem Youssef: The wild story of ‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’

Qatar situation

The digital element of this current dispute is significant, especially in relation to this blog. A variety of opinions are available:

BBC News, Qatar row: Six countries cut links with Doha

Middle East Eye, Three potential motives behind the spat between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours "It's clear that the hacking of Qatar's news agency last month was a premeditated assault. Here's why it happened - and why now."

 Middle East Eye, Qatar hits back as Saudi, Egypt, UAE cut diplomatic, transport ties "Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut their ties with Qatar and expelled the Gulf state from the coalition fighting the war in Yemen, accusing it of supporting terrorism. It opens up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world."

Arab News,  Bahrain, KSA, Egypt and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Qatar

Al Jazeera,  Inside Story: What's behind recent media attacks against Qatar?

The Counterrevolution Will Be Televised: Propaganda and Egyptian Television since the Revolution

Arab Media & Society new issue out now. Including: The Counterrevolution Will Be Televised: Propaganda and Egyptian Television since the Revolution



Abstract: "In a concise and critical read, Amr Khalifa draws attention to the Egyptian state’s influence on shaping the narratives propagated by national and local media, particularly television. Using initial coverage of the 2011 Revolution as a jumping off point, Khalifa argues that the same mechanisms for controlling the media have been used and reused by successive governments and examines new limitations on freedom of expression, which he argues are morestringent than the tight control seen under Gamal Abdel Nasser."

Converting the preachers

The Economist, Converting the preachers "Now Saudi preachers face a new constraint: starting next year authorities will install centrally monitored cameras in every mosque to record what goes on inside. The move is ostensibly meant to prevent theft and regulate energy use, but few doubt the real intention is to tighten the state’s grip on Islam, part of a trend across the Middle East."

Egypt Wants Greater Monitoring of Bloggers, Social Media

VOA, Egypt Wants Greater Monitoring of Bloggers, Social Media "Newly leaked documents show the Egyptian government now wants to greatly expand its monitoring of Egyptians’ use of social media, hauling in massive amounts of data on just about everyone online in Egypt."

#Egypt - Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis

Al-Ahram Weekly, Head-to-head "There is a long history of antagonism between the Muslim Brothers and Salafis. Any accommodation between the two partners in political Islam has invariably been short lived. Since the declaration of the new roadmap on 3 July their relationship has been in free fall. The Salafist Calling, and its political wing the Nour Party, signed up to the roadmap in the hope of promoting itself as the acceptable alternative to the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing." Opinion and analysis

In Post-Revolution Egypt, Business Picks Up Online

WSJ, In Post-Revolution Egypt, Business Picks Up Online "The internet played a big role in the Arab Spring as people took to social media to plan and organise protests, inspiring a whole new generation of activists. It is now helping an increasing number of people to meet their financial aspirations in the Arab country."

Palestinian leader mistakes Morsi for Mubarak

AP/enquirerherald.com, Palestinian leader mistakes Morsi for Mubarak "Abbas intended to thank Egypt for supporting the Palestinian cause. He began by saying "President Mohammed Hosni" then stopped short and corrected himself to say "Mohammed Morsi." Morsi remained mostly stone faced during the gaffe except for a slight movement of the mouth that hinted at disapproval."

Analysis: Egypt's President Morsi feted for negotiating role

Analysis: Egypt's President Morsi feted for negotiating role - Telegraph:

‘Destroy the idols,’ Egyptian jihadist calls for removal of Sphinx, Pyramids

alarabiya.net, ‘Destroy the idols,’ Egyptian jihadist calls for removal of Sphinx, Pyramids:

"An Egyptian jihad leader, with self-professed links to the Taliban, called for the “destruction of the Sphinx and the Giza Pyramids in Egypt,” drawing ties between the Egyptian relics and Buddha statues, local media reported this week."

Reports: Protester Killed At US Embassy

AFP/Sky News, Reports: Protester Killed At US Embassy "Anger about an anti-Islam film spreads as a protester is shot dead by police outside the US embassy in Yemen."

Google refuses to remove YouTube clip

Google refuses to remove YouTube clip mocking the Islamic Prophet Muhammad - The Times of India "YouTube, the video website owned by Google, said on Wednesday it would not remove a film clip mocking the Islamic Prophet Muhammad that has been blamed for anti-US protests in Egypt and Libya, but it has blocked access to it in those countries."

Behind Video, a Web of Questions

Behind Video, a Web of Questions - WSJ.com ""Muhammad Movie Trailer," an online video assault on the founder of Islam, has been blamed for spurring violent attacks on U.S. diplomats and missions in Egypt and Libya."

California man confirms role in anti-Islam film

Yahoo! News, California man confirms role in anti-Islam film "The anti-Muslim film implicated in mob protests against U.S. diplomatic missions in the Mideast received logistical help from a man once convicted of financial crimes and featured actors who complained that their inflammatory dialogue was dubbed in after filming."

YouTube Keeps Anti-Islamic 'Innocence of Muslims' Video Online

techweekeurope.co.uk, YouTube Keeps Anti-Islamic 'Innocence of Muslims' Video Online "YouTube has censored “Innocence of Muslims”, a controversial video clip that has been blamed for anti-US protests in Egypt, Libya and Yemen, which led to the death of the US ambassador to Libya and other diplomats – but not removed the video from its site."

"Crucifixions in Egypt & Al Azhar Fatwas Encouraging Violence?: More Islamophobic Nonsense"

The American Muslim (TAM), Crucifixions in Egypt & Al Azhar Fatwas Encouraging Violence?: More Islamophobic Nonsense
this story featured in the Daily Mail today

Sinai on the brink

Sinai on the brink: Arms trafficking and the rise of Egypt's Jihadist groups - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online

SCAF

FT, Egypt’s military hits at Muslim Brotherhood

aljazeera, Egyptians pack Tahrir to slam military 'coup' also check out their Live Blog

Saeeds of Revolution: De-Mythologizing Khaled Saeed

Amro Ali, Jadaliyya, Saeeds of Revolution: De-Mythologizing Khaled Saeed, 5 Jun 2012 "Khaled Saeed is a myth, but a necessary one. The extended Egyptian revolution is also a war of ideas whose story will prevail. The fate of Khaled Saeed is a reminder and an encapsulation of why Egypt rose up and keeps pushing the revolution painstakingly forward. Khaled Saeed enabled Egyptians to personalize and humanize complex issues that could otherwise have drifted into murky abstractions." Interesting article/opinion piece, which I just picked up upon.