Pope supports Palestinian state

Per BBC, Pope Benedict XVI shows his approval and support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland, as he continues a Middle East tour in the West Bank.

In Bethlehem the Pope called for a "just and lasting" peace in the region and encouraged the citizens of Palestine to denounce acts of violence and terrorism.

Twitter users in the region speak about the Pope's visit:

1. 
   Pnina (Jerusalem) G'morning from Jerusalem, where the Pope is currently a 5 min walk from my house. Think he'd like to try a hafooch? 11 May 2009 from web
2. 
   JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem) I think the #Pope's walkout reflects politics, not integrity 11 May 2009 from Tweetie in reply to miguelg1964
3. 
   fatherjonathan (Rome, Italy) Doing radio tour today on Pope's visit to Jordan and Israel. One host expressed shock the Pope would call for a two-state solution. What?! 13 May 2009 from web

Some citizens are inconvenienced by the Pope:

1. 
   ASoldiersMother (Jerusalem, Israel) Tell that to the pope! Wanted to get across town yesterday...but driving there wasn't an option :-) At least 2day is better. 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to SusanZelinski
2. 
   sarijos (Jerusalem) no traffic snarls today :-) The pope is still visiting somewhere else 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   carolw (Israel) Spent the day in Jerusalem. Only inconvenienced by the Pope once. 13 May 2009 from web
4. 
   jerrib247 (Jerusalem, Israel) The Pope being in Jerusalem is a traffic nightmare! Whole sections of the city are closed down. What a pain. 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck

Pope supports Palestinian state

U.S. soldier fires on fellow troops in Iraq

Per BBC, Army Sgt. John Russell, will be charged with five counts of murder for firing on fellow troops in Iraq at a stress clinic at Camp Liberty.

Some Twitterers express concern for stress on U.S. soldiers.

granolajoe (Denver, Co.) The Dangers of Soldier Stress: U.S. Soldier Kills Fellow Troops in Iraq [via Miranda622] http://www.razoo.com/articles/Soldier-Violence



While other Twitterers criticize the unruly assault.


jayninedee (Philadelphia, Pa.) WTF? Anybody else hear about this? US soldier kills 5 fellow soldiers in a random attack in Iraq http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/12/iraq.soldiers.killed/inde...

Additional criticism for U.S. forces continues to prevail.


Klearchos (Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria) "Suspected U.S. drone attack kills 9 in Pakistan", "U.S. soldier kills 5 comrades in Iraq".. Isn't there any TAMIFLU against US Forces?



josephchez (Undisclosed) US soldier on his 3rd tour in Iraq turns on his own side and kills. Battle fatigue or decrepit Middle East policy? Pakistan/india next.

U.S. soldier fires on fellow troops in Iraq

Roxana Saberi freed from Iranian prison

Per BBC, Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi has been released from prison after a successful appeal of spying charges.

According to BBC, news agency AFP quoted Saberi as saying: "I'm OK. I don't want to make any comments but I am OK."

The first to report the news on Twitter was Lily Mazahery, a human rights attorney, who also broke the news of the execution of Delara Darabi on May 1.

1. 
   LilyMazahery (Washington, D.C./New York) She's out of the prison 11 May 2009 from twhirl
2. 
   calperry (Middle East) RT @lilymazahery "She is out of the prison" 11 May 2009 from web
3. 
   LilyMazahery (Washington, D.C./New York) She has left Evin and is now at home in Tehran with her family. RT @freeroxana: Roxana to be FREED! http://tinyurl.com/paoqud 11 May 2009 from twhirl

For others, Steven Herman (@W7VOA), a South Asia correspondent for Voice of America broke the news, just moments after Mazahery. Thousands of "Roxana Saberi" tweets followed, as she jumped to the No. 6 Twitter trend.

1. 
   W7VOA (New Delhi, India) Roxana Saberi is now free. 11 May 2009 from twhirl
2. 
   MariKurisato (Denver, Col.) YAY! RT @W7VOA: Roxana Saberi is now free. 11 May 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   rhamdu (Undisclosed) RT @W7VOA Roxana Saberi is now free.
   3 minutes ago from twhirl 11 May 2009 from web
4. 
   goldlis (San Antonio, Texas) Awesome news! RT @rhamdu RT @W7VOA Roxana Saberi is now free. 3 minutes ago from twhirl 11 May 2009 from web

Most tweets on Saberi's release this morning were brief, with "glad" and "happy" the most common responses. A few Twitterers expanded on their thoughts:

1. 
   MomVsWild (USA) @ricksanchezcnn So glad Iran came 2 their senses and freed Roxana Saberi.Now we have 2 other reporters that need freed from North Korea. 11 May 2009 from web
2. 
   nassefi (Fethiye, Turkey) V happy about Roxana Saberi's release, but not relieved enough to visit Iran myself yet. Ironically, Kabul feels a lot safer to me. 11 May 2009 from web
3. 
   waynenorman (Durham, N.C.) is happy for Roxana Saberi and her family, and for what her release might be telling us about diplomacy and reason(ableness) in high places. 11 May 2009 from web
4. 
   TedHaller (Cadillac, Mich.) Glad to hear fellow NU alum Roxana Saberi has been released from Iran. I will feel much better when she finally steps back onto U.S. soil. 11 May 2009 from web
5. 
   emilyhilleren (Chicago, Ill.) In happy news: RT @Suntimes UPDATE: Roxana Saberi has been reunited with her parents outside prison. 11 May 2009 from web
6. 
   podcastmama (Des Moines, Iowa) Relieved and glad that journalist Roxana Saberi is being released by Iran. What a scary time for her. 11 May 2009 from TweetDeck
7. 
   ShawnaOhm (Undisclosed) Roxana Saberi is getting released. I haven't seen so many journalists this excited since Obama won... 11 May 2009 from web

Roxana Saberi freed from Iranian prison

Abu Dhabi Sheikh on house arrest; torture investigation underway

Per CNN, Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan, a member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi, is currently under house arrest pending a torture investigation.

The investigation was triggered after a videotape was released in Houston, Texas, in April by Bassam Nabulsi, a U.S. citizen and a former business partner of al Nahyan. The videotape shows the Sheikh torturing an Afghan grain dealer, who Nabulsi’s attorney claims cannot be located, per CNN.

The detention comes in light of the delayed ratification of a civil nuclear deal between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Here's a sample of Twitter reaction:

1. 
   tomsp (Abu Dhabi, UAE) Parallel between torture Sheikh Issa, who will not prosecuted, and CIA torturers, who will also not be prosecuted... 27 Apr 2009 from TwitterFox
2. 
   Maysaloon (Undisclosed) Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan...google the video and see the animals who rule the Arab world in action. 30 Apr 2009 from web
3. 
   LatinBeauti (Undisclosed) UAE Torture | Photos of Sheikh Issa ...- http://tinyurl.com/cck48f 30 Apr 2009 from web
4. 
   varunh (Chennai, India) Sheikh Issa's #torture tape complicates US deal with #Emirates: http://ow.ly/4M6u #dubai #uae 02 May 2009 from HootSuite
5. 
   afurth (New York, USA) US firms helping Abu Dhabi censor footage of Sheikh Issa's tortures? http://tinyurl.com/cdcd9s 03 May 2009 from web
6. 
   tolstoyscat (New Jersey, USA) #Torture tape of Gulf prince in 25 other attacks: Video proof against Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Issa http://is.gd/wj62 (Changed RT @Milfuegos) 03 May 2009 from web
7. 
   velvethammer (USA) “Torture Tape” Sadist UAE Royal Sheikh Issa Allegedly Involved in 25 Additional Tortures (video inc.) http://tr.im/kmE3 H/T igeldard 03 May 2009 from web
8. 
   wmchan (Undisclosed) Video of UAE torture prince assaulting 25 others -- who's censoring this news in the UAE?: Sheikh Issa bin Zay.. http://tinyurl.com/cqchso 03 May 2009 from twitterfeed
9. 
   slnazareth (Undisclosed) Horrible! UAE sheikh Issa torture an Afghan Business man in Abu Dhabi www AB... http://tinyurl.com/czwjpd 04 May 2009 from web
10. 
    Abetterme09 (Houston, Texas) 15 Member of UAE royal family accused of torturing at least 25: Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan is about to .. http://tinyurl.com/d5mdke 04 May 2009 from twitterfeed

Abu Dhabi Sheikh on house arrest; torture investigation underway

Roxana Saberi appeal trial moved up two days

Per BBC, the appeal trial for Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi has been moved from Tuesday to Sunday, two days earlier than expected, though it is unclear why. Her lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi said he is hopeful that the 32-year-old will be acquitted.

Saberi has been accused of spying for the United States, a charge that she has vehemently denied. She had went on a hunger strike in jail recently, but stopped the protest in the last few days, according to the article.

The Twitterverse is trying to decipher the move of the appeal date, with many wishing Saberi well:

1. 
   Pishba (New York, N.Y.) Hearing 4 Roxana Saberi,Iranian-Amer journo in prison moved to Sunday. Is this good/bad? @freeroxana http://ping.fm/HfENW 09 May 2009 from Ping.fm
2. 
   RachK10 (Undisclosed) Roxana Saberi to get appeal in Iran. http://bit.ly/uzWlO
   . This whole thing needs to be over & Saberi freed. 09 May 2009 from web
3. 
   MickKjar (West Fargo, N.D.) A court in Iran will hear Roxana Saberi's appeal on Sunday ... time for more prayers. 09 May 2009 from HelloTxt
4. 
   twitmar (Yorkville/Toronto, Canada) Please support Roxanna Saberi in her appeal tomorrow!! Telling my Can/iranian friends to push for a fair trial!! 09 May 2009 from web
5. 
   TroveBooks (USA) Iranian court to hear Roxana Saberi appeal. Hope this means release
   http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/09/iran.us.journalist/index.html 09 May 2009 from web
6. 
   pay4this (Minneapolis, Minn.) Roxana Saberi Update: Need to keep pressure on, remember 05/12 "review" not open to public or journalists. #freeroxana 09 May 2009 from TweetDeck

A Twitter account dedicated to freeing Saberi, @freeroxana - about to reach 4,000 followers as of this post - has been actively posting updates on the case. Here are some of its tweets from today:

1. 
   freeroxana Roxana's appeal now set for Sunday, not Tuesday (BBC): http://tinyurl.com/qz5a32 09 May 2009 from web
2. 
   freeroxana Roxana's appeal is tomorrow, and her lawyers still haven't been allowed to see her case file (NYT): http://tinyurl.com/oex4vn 09 May 2009 from web
3. 
   freeroxana IRAN MUST FREE ROXANA! 09 May 2009 from web

Roxana Saberi appeal trial moved up two days

Pope Benedict XVI begins tour of Middle East

Per the New York Times, Pope Benedict XVI began his eight day tour of the Middle East today with a stop in Jordan where he was greeted by King Abdullah II. During this first stop, he "expressed deep respect for Muslims." He also expressed the desire for the Roman Catholic Church to play a role in attaining peace in the Middle East. Benedict feels that because the Catholic Church is not a political power it has a chance to help foster change and peace.

This is the first time Benedict has visited the region as pope. His tour will include stops in Jordan, Israel and Palestinian territories.

Rania Al Abdullah, the Queen of Jordan, twittered about the Pope's arrival and the excitement surrounding it:

1. 
   QueenRania Special day here in Amman; not everyday pope drop s by 4 a visit 
2. 
   QueenRania Just choppered to airport to receive Pope. Husband piloting, he got acrobatic to quiet butterflies in stomach :) told u he was action man!
3. 
   QueenRania Just listened to Pope's speech. Our region so needs a message of Peace
4. 
   QueenRania Taking kids 2 meet Pope, just about convinced eldest 2 wear suit. Now negotiating with my 4 yr old!
5. 
   QueenRania Always wanted 2 give them "normal" upbringing free of pomp and protocol. Kinda wish they'd get with the protocol now! Fingers crossed!
6. 
   QueenRania As u can c, my 4 yr old beat me at negotiating table re suit, but as trade-off, impeccable behavior! So proud! http://twitpic.com/4sacm 
7. 
   QueenRania Pope moved by young people’s excitement. Inspired to be in the cradle of the major religions. Eager for people to rise above divisions. 

Pope Benedict XVI begins tour of Middle East