We are young digital natives reaching out across seemingly impenetrable national, social, political, ethnic, and sectarian barriers, employing the freedom created by media platforms to demand and create our own civil discourse.

Bahrain

Top 5 Migrants’ Rights Stories in the Middle East for 2009

January 2nd, 2010Fatima (Saudi Arabia)

After spending another year documenting abuses of migrant workers in the Middle East, it’s time that we look back at the most significant, influential and important stories that we’ve covered.
1. Death of Domestic Migrant Workers in Lebanon
This story is significant not just because of the sheer number of deaths and their alarming frequency, but also [...]

ImageInterview with Reem Al-Khalifa, Young Bahraini Entrepreneur, Founder of Green Bar

November 1st, 2009Esra'a (Bahrain)

I recently got a chance to interview a young Bahraini entrepreneur Reem Al-Khalifa, who founded her own company, Green Bar Inc. in 2006. Green Bar products include oils and moisturizers, all made from natural ingredients. Reem makes sure to use local ingredients as well to promote what the region offers in terms of nature.
First, can [...]

AudioPodcast: Sex, relationships, and independence in the Arab world

October 24th, 2009Esra'a (Bahrain)

In this podcast, I speak with Nadia from Tunisia about relationships and the perception of sex in the Arab world. What is accepted, what isn’t, and what’s hypocritical about our current societies. This is an important discussion but still surprisingly a taboo in the MENA region. Amongst the things we discuss are: virginity, independence (specifically [...]

Bahrain: Police not Doing Enough to Protect Migrant Workers from Abusive Employers

October 22nd, 2009Fatima (Saudi Arabia)

Employers in Bahrain can hold their foreign workers captive by not returning their passport and allowing them to go home, said the Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS). According to the NGO, when the migrant workers flee their employers, the police doesn’t assist them in getting back their passports so they can leave, and instead returns [...]

David Gee spent six years in the Gulf and has never met an intelligent woman

September 15th, 2009Esra'a (Bahrain)

David Gee is an English author and a wannabe satirist. He lived in the Gulf for six years trying to be funny and failing miserably in the process. In order to evidence his failure at humor he felt the urge to publish his poorly designed “novel” that recycles tedious stereotypes about the Gulf and specifically [...]

Arabs Need to Talk to the Israelis

August 20th, 2009Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA)

written by:
Shaikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa
Crown Prince of Bahrain
We need fresh thinking if the Arab Peace Initiative is to have the impact it deserves on the crisis that needlessly impoverishes Palestinians and endangers Israel’s security.
This crisis is not a zero-sum game. For one side to win, the other does not have to lose.
The peace dividend [...]

AudioPodcast: Revealing the situation of migrant workers in the Middle East

April 7th, 2009Esra'a (Bahrain)

This week we’re talking to the editor of our Migrant-Rights.org website, which aims to explore, expose, and find ways to improve the horrific conditions of migrant workers in the Middle East, specifically the Gulf.
This is one of the most ignored topics in the region despite it being by far one of the most important. Millions [...]

Mega Urban Developments In Gulf Region A Natural Disaster Waiting to Happen

March 8th, 2009Green Prophet

(Palm Island in Dubai)
A couple of weeks ago I was in New Orleans with my parents at the annual craziness known as Fat Tuesday during Mardi Gras. Besides the excess of everything I saw there including waste, and the nasty black eye I sustained from a large set of beads being thrown on my head [...]

Not all Arab countries discriminate against religious minorities!

February 5th, 2009Esra'a (Bahrain)

I’ve grown really tired of repeating myself to those who assume that all Arab and Muslim countries discriminate against religious minorities. Yes, it happens in many countries. Yes, we talk about it here as much as possible, to inspire action, not racism or hatred, which is sometimes what it has led to.
I’d like to [...]

Should I study in Iran?

January 24th, 2009Layal (Bahrain)

I am a Bahraini student in my last year of high school and I’m seriously thinking of continuing my higher education in Iran.
The university I’m interested in is The University of Tehran, the one located in Kish. What is Kish like? Is it safe?
Basically what I’m asking here is….would you recommend me to study [...]