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24/05/2013 / IRAN
Women skirt Iranian music ban with fancy dress
They are famous singers, but nobody ever recognizes them in the street. In their music videos, you only see their back, their feet, their silhouette outlined behind curtains, or their reflections in a lake; those who show their faces disguise themselves with big sunglasses, heavy face paint, or colorful masks. Read more...
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24/05/2013 / SWEDEN
Sweden riots over 'bleak prospects' for youth
For the past five nights, hundreds of young people have rioted in the suburbs of Stockholm, torching cars, clashing with police, and getting arrested in scores. Our Observer, who lives in Husby, the low-income suburb where the riots first broke out, thinks the root of the violence is the local youth’s sense of social exclusion. Read more...
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23/05/2013 / SAUDI ARABIA
Bodies of decapitated convicts displayed in Saudi public square
Five Yemeni nationals convicted of murder and of belonging to a criminal organisation were decapitated and hung by the shoulders from cranes Tuesday in the city of Jizan, in southwestern Saudi Arabia. According to our Observer, this macabre scene is intended to terrorize criminals and illegal immigrants. Read more...
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21/05/2013 / UNITED STATES
Amateur footage of the Oklahoma tornado
A massive, 3km-wide tornado hit the town of Moore in the suburbs of Oklahoma City on Monday, flattening entire neighbourhoods. Watch amateur videos of the tornado...
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20/05/2013 / IRAN
Headscarves and long tunics don’t stop Iranian women from practising parkour
Despite having to practise in unwieldy clothing – not to mention having to stay on the lookout for police - Iranian women are getting into the sport of parkour. Some even create videos in which they show off their skills, and post them online. One of these brave women tells us about the challenges of practising parkour in an Islamic republic. Read more...
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17/05/2013 / SYRIA
Do-it-yourself weaponry: How Syrian rebels wage war
The vast majority of the Syrian rebels’ weapons come from the regular army’s stocks. The rebels use everything they can get their hands on — ranging from ammunition and weapons to vehicles — and modify the equipment to fit their needs. Read more...
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17/05/2013 / SYRIA
Video: "Heart-eating" Syrian rebel defends act
Abu Sakkar became infamous last week when a video surfaced online showing him apparently tearing the heart out of a Syrian soldier’s corpse and biting into it. Now, the rebel fighter explains his act in a new video. Read more...
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14/05/2013 / SYRIA-TURKEY
As violence spills into Turkey, Syrian refugees once again draw the short straw
A video has emerged showing Turks lashing out at Syrian refugees just minutes after deadly bombings hit the Turkish border town of Reyhanli. A Syrian woman who witnessed the attack describes the turmoil her community now faces, explaining that Syrian refugees feel abandoned by Turkey. Read more...
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13/05/2013 / LIBYA
Libya's few forests are rapidly shrinking
The Libyan city of Benghazi has been making headlines lately due to violence in the region, but its ecological balance is also worrying one of our Observers. If things continue as they are, there will soon be no trees left in the Jira forest. Read more...
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09/05/2013 / TUNISIA
Preachers take over public spaces in Tunisia
In front of schools, on buses or in public squares, and for several months now, a new phenomenon has been spreading across Tunisia: religious preachers. Whether they are originally from Tunisia or come from the Gulf States, more and more of them are using public spaces to promote their vision of religion. Read more...
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