Showing posts with label Saudi Arabia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saudi Arabia. Show all posts

May 10, 2009

Obama's choice of Egypt for Muslim speech under fire

The White House announced on June 4 President Obama will deliver a speech in Egypt on U.S. relations to the Muslim world as he seeks to repair damaged ties between America and Islamic countries the Associated Press reports.

Per ynetnews.com, Deputy leader Mohamed Habib said overtures by the United States to countries like Syria and Iran, and recent visits by US officials to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, indicated the speech would be used to further the superpower's pro-Israeli agenda.

Twiterers in Egpyt share their opinion about Obama's forthcoming visit.

  1. AhmadFahmy
    AhmadFahmy (Egypt) Obama addressing Muslims from Egypt is a sign of support to the dictatorship of Mubarak and gives it undeserved credibility. Why Obama?? :(
  2. AhmadFahmy
    AhmadFahmy (Egypt) Obama to address the Muslim world from Egypt. Crap!!! we won't hear the end of it from Mubarak and his regime
  3. Julia Simon
    jsimonsays (Cairo, Egypt)shocked that Obama will give his "speech to the Muslim world" from Egypt on June 4. Egypt? Really? Not a good place to talk about change.
  4. avantcaire
    avantcaire (Cairo) one in four arabs is egyptian. or why obama chose egypt in a tweet.
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Other international Twitterers share their opinions on the news.

  1. ambrosine Shitrit
    ambrosinShitrit (London) Obama is going to speak in Egypt and yet again bore us about his Muslim background would not stop the Muslim world hating America and Israel
  2. amanda belle
    amanda_belle (Indonesia) President Barack Obama's plan to deliver a speech to the Muslim world from Egypt as part of a plan to keep Arab and Muslim states divided.
  3. Some Muslim
    somemuslim (undisclosed) I'm doubtful that Obama's speech in Egypt will tell us anything new, but am interested in hearing what will be said.
--

Twitterers from the states react to the visit as well.


  • Tanya Bachand
    tanyabachand @attyboi (Connecticut) If Obama wants to beg Muslims for forgiveness, Egypt would not be the place to go.
  • Arthur Piccolo
    arthurnyc1 (New York City) great choice Obama going to Egypt to give your Muslim speech ruled by lifetime dictator a country of oppression without any real elections
  • Banafsheh Ghassemi
    banafshehgh @whitehouse (Washington DC) am very puzzled by choice of egypt-led by a brutal dictator-as president obama's outreach podium to muslim world. bad message!
  • --

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    April 30, 2009

    Eight-year-old Saudi girl’s marriage annulled

    Per BBC, a young Saudi girl who was married to an older man in his 50s has been granted a divorce in an out-of-court settlement.

    A judge had earlier rejected the girl’s mother’s appeal in the town of Unaiza. He was replaced by a new judge who decided to nullify the case after the marriage was confirmed illegal by the girl’s husband, per BBC.

    Twitterers had these reactions when the legal news first penetrated worldwide:

    1. Donnette Davis
      Donnette (South Africa) a Saudi marriage officiate declared that a girl can be married at the age of one if sex is postponed http://tinyurl.com/cev327
    2. danie_d
      danie_d (San Francisco, Calif.) 8 year old girl married to a 47 year old man in Saudi Arabia. U.S. doesn't allow it to affect trade. But mention trade w/ Cuba and "OH NO."
    3. Freddie Zacarias
      quantifyme (Undisclosed) A 8 yr old Saudi girl married to a 50 yr old Saudi man is a shame. Not only is a violation of human rights, it is "child slavery"
    4. Joe Newbert
      newbert (Cape Town, South Africa) RT @geekstats 8: age of Saudi Arabian girl married by father to settle debts. (http://bit.ly/WrvB). This world can be hideous.
    5. Governance Focus
      governancefocus (Undisclosed) A Saudi girl of 8 was married to a man in his 50's and now they want to annul it. What do you expect from a country without democracy.

    Following the most recent media reports, Twitterers noted these reactions today:

    1. Michelle Torres
      michou83 (New Jersey) http://tinyurl.com/cwrmxa- Young Saudi girl's marriage ended.... THANK GOD. Now they just need a real policy.
    2. Akin
      forakin (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Young Saudi girl's marriage ended but not by the courts and hidebound religious judges http://is.gd/vEqY
    3. macleans
      macleans (Undisclosed) Out-of-court settlement allows Saudi girl, 8, to divorce 50-year-old husband http://tinyurl.com/cqbcmk

    No immediate reaction could be found within Saudi Arabia itself. Tweets were searched for in both Arabic and English.

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    April 18, 2009

    Featured TwitPic: Roadside camel in Saudi Arabia


    "Saudi Arabian road hazard -on Australia it's Kangaroos" (Posted by @aptusstrategy, of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

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    March 12, 2009

    Massive sandstorm blasts Riyadh

    Per Arab News, "A severe sandstorm lashed Riyadh yesterday, spreading an orange-color blanket of dust that led to over 70 road accidents, traffic snarls and cancellation of scheduled luncheon parties."

    Twitter users in the capital of Saudi Arabia were highly active during the storm, giving a flavor of the experience.

    Some posted TwitPics of the event.

    @adriang (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): http://twitpic.com/1z3pr - There is a massive sandstorm in Riyadh



    @khaled (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): Ok.. This sandstorm over Riyadh just reached here... #Saudi #weather http://twitpic.com/1z3iz


    Others relayed personal accounts and various reports.

    @chikom (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): back in office, sandstorm was hell on car & nerves

    @chikom (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): daughter : my teacher said the sandstorm will last 3 days !

    @mutairy (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): HOLLY [expletive]! .. more than 73 accidents so far in #Riyadh !! the police started waving people off major roads! because of all the dust!

    @mutairy (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): hospitals in riyadh are overloaded after the dust mega storm, i told my family to duct tape the windows

    @molozonide (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): sky turning orange / dust and dust and dust and dust / sandstorm in riyadh



    @wilbur101 (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): in the middle of the biggest sandstorm in riyadh i've ever seen. the saudis are agreeing. this is how a bad day on Mars would look like.



    After posting a picture himself, @khaled linked to a news organization that compiled a round-up of photos from the event.

    @khaled (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): After today's sandstom, http://bit.ly/P8PDW , rain comes :)

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    February 14, 2009

    First woman minister appointed to Saudi Cabinet

    Per CNN, Saudi King Abdullah has appointed a women to the council of ministers for the first time as part of an overall reshuffle of Cabinet positions.

    Abdullah appointed Noor Al-Fayez to the new position of deputy minister for women's education in the council of education. He also announced a new supreme court chief, minister of health, justice minister and information minister.

    Readers across Twitter recognized the momentous occasion with joy and with hopes for the continued advancement of women's rights.

    @danabrit (Newburgh, Ind.): This is major http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/14/saudi.arabia.woman.minister/index.html


    @jmthemaker: First woman minister in Saudi Arabia cabinet!!!




    @Jacob1207: is pleased that a woman has been appointed to the Saudi Council of Ministers. Now, if only women could drive in the Desert Kingdom...


    @happyattorney (Southern Utah): King appoints first woman to council http://tinyurl.com/burpuh. Hope it's progress, not just a new tea server!

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