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Monday, August 6, 2012

Israel to remove police rep in Turkey

Tue Sep 20, 2011

Israel says it will take its police representative out of Turkey in a move that signifies further deterioration of ties between the two sides.

On Monday, Israel's Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said the representative “will be transferred [to Israel] in the coming days," reported the Israeli-based newspaper Ha'aretz.

Trying to explain the move, he said, "Lately, there have not been working relations between the police representative and the Turks. In addition, we are concerned for the safety of the representative.”

The move comes amid Tel Aviv's continued refusal to apologize for its May 2010 military attack on a Turkish-flagged relief aid flotilla bound for the impoverished Gaza Strip, which killed nine Turkish activists.

The six-ship flotilla was carrying around 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the Israel-blockaded Gaza territory, when the deadly incident occurred.

The move has prompted Turkey to suspend all bilateral military ties and expel Israel's envoy from Ankara.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/200141.html.

Turkey blast kills 3, injures 15

Tue Sep 20, 2011

Three people have been killed and 15 others have been seriously injured in a powerful bomb explosion in the Turkish capital of Ankara, says the Turkish interior minister.

Idris Naim Sahin said bodies of the three people were found in a building near a car that exploded near the Cankaya district administration offices close to Kizilay square downtown Ankara on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

Sahin said the incident was “highly likely to be a terrorist attack,” adding that the car was purchased a week ago but was not yet registered.

The blast blew out the windows of the shops and offices in the area, damaging cars and sparking a fire that was later put out by firefighters at the scene.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion in Ankara.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/200191.html.

Sudan, South Sudan Sign Deal On Cross-Border Arrangements

18 SEPTEMBER 2011

Khartoum — Sudan and South Sudan have signed an agreement to monitor shared borders and open crossing points, few days after Khartoum said it was experiencing an influx of southerners returning to the north.

The agreement was announced on Sunday following a meeting in Khartoum between Sudan's defence minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein and his southern counterpart John Kong Nyuon.

Hussein told reporters that ten crossing points would be opened along the 2200 km borders, which remain partially un-demarcated even after South Sudan gained full independence in July this year.

The deal comes amid rising tension between the ex-war foes after fighting erupted in Sudan's borders states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile between the country's army and combatants who fought alongside southerners during the civil war.

Sudan accuses the south of supporting its erstwhile allies in the two states, a charge Juba denies.

Hussein revealed that 300 monitoring teams consisting of six individuals from north Sudan army, six from the southern army and six Ethiopian peacekeepers would oversee cross-border arrangements and investigate any violation on the ground.

According to the Sudanese minister, the crossing points would be devoid of the northern and southern army.

Sudan says that 80 percent of the administrative borders with the south had been defined. The South recently accused Khartoum of blocking trade routes to the south, saying the action had led to increasing prices of fuel and basic commodities.

The two sides agreed on Sunday to meet next month, after consultations by a joint technical committee with the members of border demarcation, to decide where to locate the ten crossing points.

"This agreement will strengthen the exchange between the two people ... We don't see any conflicts," Hussein said

For his part, John Kong Nyuon described the relations between the two countries as improving and important, adding that "without border security citizens won't be happy."

Southerners "returning" to the north

Meanwhile, Sudan has claimed that dozens of southern Sudanese families had been returning to the north.

The governor of Sudan's southern state of White Nile Youssef al-Shambali reported to the US-funded Sudan Radio Service (SRS) on Friday that these families are returning on daily basis and for unknown reasons.

"Between 40 to 45 South Sudanese families and not individuals, to the north generally, not only to Whit Nile State alone. They are on their way back to Khartoum and to different States in Sudan for reasons best known to them. That is what we are experiencing," he said.

In response, South Sudan Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told SRS that those southerners were going back to retrieve their belongings which Khartoum did not allow them to carry across the borders.

"These people are going back to bring their dues that have been blocked and delayed by Sudan government. They (Sudan government) refused to allow them come back to South Sudan with their dues and their own belongings. They have to go back to bring their dues. They just want to hide the truth without admitting the real reasons behind their returning," the minister said.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201109190375.html.

Haneyya: Israeli occupation is 'in decline'

19/09/2011

GAZA, (PIC)-- Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haneyya has said that the Israeli occupation is “in decline”, and that the Palestinians benefited most from the Arab Spring.

“The Zionist occupation is in decline, in light of the disappearance of its allies who protected it over the past decades,” Haneyya said on Sunday during a graduation ceremony at Al-Aqsa University near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

In the speech, the premier also condemned the entry of ultra-Orthodox Jews into Al-Aqsa Mosque earlier that day, saying: “Al-Aqsa (Mosque) today is being exposed to attempts by Zionists to desecrate and break into it, in a desperate attempt to change the features of Jerusalem and take it from the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims.”

Source: The Palestinian Information Center.
Link: http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7WyvUO7oGjxsTB3%2b%2bnp7JpqtS3Y1EKtDi%2bj49tib62LYI3p%2b9nee6nrt5%2b8b7TY8Mu0t2hambNy0fShLTLGw5ucrfWFjO%2fdyzgZbXEl5%2bZl0%3d.

Algerian communal workers stage strike

2011-09-19

Algerian municipal workers began an eight-day general strike on Monday (September 19th), El Watan reported. The communal workers council (CNSC) organized the labor action to call attention to members' living conditions and wage demands.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2011/09/19/newsbrief-04.

February 20 Movement resumes Morocco protests

2011-09-19

Morocco's February 20 Movement, which spearheaded demonstrations across the kingdom, organized new protests on Sunday (September 18th), AP reported. At least 3,000 people marched in Casablanca and another 2,000 people demonstrated in Tangier to denounce government corruption.

Reforms proposed by King Mohammed VI were approved in the July 1st constitutional referendum, but protestors say the measures offer little change. Morocco's parliamentary elections are slated for November 25th.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2011/09/19/newsbrief-03.

Online shopping soars in Morocco

Armed with credit cards and internet access, an increasing number of Moroccans are choosing to shop without leaving home.

By Rachid Jankari for Magharebia in Casablanca – 19/09/11

Morocco has witnessed a consistent 90% growth rate in the e-commerce sector, where total sales are expected to reach 700 million dirhams this year.

According to the Center for Interbank Payment Systems (CMI), revenue generated for the first six months of 2011 exceeded 230 million dirhams, as compared with 120 million dirhams over the same period last year.

Online purchases and sales rose by 2.4% from 277,000 transactions, as compared with 115,000 over the first six months of 2010, according to the CMI. The vast majority of buyers are local, as 95% of transactions involve the use of Moroccan payment cards.

While the number of transactions has risen, the average amount spent per order has fallen. The value of the average e-commerce order now stands at around 800 dirhams, as compared with 2,000 dirhams last year.

The decrease in order size in "the Moroccan sector is due to the rise in the number of e-commerce sites and a diversification of supply thanks to the arrival of new players", said Maroc Telecommerce Development Director Samira Gourrom.

"For instance, our platform now has more than 120 affiliated retail websites if all segments are taken into account," she added.

An additional 20 retail websites are expected to be created by the end of this year. These additions will bring Morocco's total CMI-affiliated retail sites to 140 with an anticipated turnover of 700 million dirhams as compared with 300 million dirhams in 2010.

These optimistic forecasts are based on the steady rise in the number of credit and debit cards in circulation across Morocco, which has now reached 6.5 million.

"The big news in 2011 has undoubtedly been the arrival in the e-commerce market of new companies operating in the field of deals and activities other than those that were the first to exist in this field, namely tourism, air travel and IT," said Jamal Skiti, the president of the Association of Technopark Companies of Casablanca (Astec).

General internet use has been increasing alongside commerce growth. There are now more than 2 million internet subscribers and 13 million internet users in Morocco, and there are more than 40,000 sites registered under the .ma domain.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/09/19/feature-03.

Mauritania permits private broadcast media

While Mauritania is set to allow private TV stations, some are concerned that licensing requirements will allow the government to maintain control of information.

By Jemal Oumar for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 19/09/11

Mauritania will soon open the nation's airwaves to private media. The High Authority for Press and Broadcasting (HAPA) promised Thursday (September 15th) to open the field to private enterprise no later than November 15th.

The agency said that it "invites all interested parties to show their desire to create commercial private radio and television stations in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania". Fees for television applications amount to 500,000 ouguiyas, versus 200,000 ouguiyas for radio station applications.

"In the first stage, the government will allow the creation of five television satellite channels and five radio stations in the commercial field," Mauritanian Information Minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub said.

The minister said that "the government has established a broadcasting company, and the ball is now in the court of private investors to submit their applications for creating satellite television channels and radio stations."

The head of the Union of Mauritanian Journalists, Houssein Ould Imedou, praised the move an important step towards ending the state monopoly on media.

"This decision will enable citizens to own media outlets that would represent their views and expresses their desires without any censorship or dictates," Ould Imedou told Magharebia.

The union chief said that he expects the media reforms to boost competitiveness "with the entry of new actors who will be forced by the logic of competition to improve their output and respect professionalism and viewers".

On the other hand, writer Said Ould Habib voiced concerns that state control would continue through other means.

"I think that opening the media field for the private sector under a broadcasting company belonging to the state would further consolidate the latter's domination over the media scene," he told Magharebia. "This doesn't constitute a serious will to have media freedom because the government would still be able to control the output of these private media outlets, and in this way, freedom of media would have no meaning."

Media professional Mokhtar Ould al-Tameen also believes that press freedom is needed but he wondered about the ability of independent media to improve Mauritanian journalism.

"We've had written press since the beginning of the 1990s, but it has committed major mistakes and has been largely corrupt," Ould al-Tameen said. "Then came the electronic press that made the sector even more corrupt, and when the new television channels open, they will join the same circle and won't be an exception."

"We should have improved the level of written and electronic media so as to be prepared for opening radio and television stations," he added.

In his turn, sociologist Ibrahim Ould Sidi expressed fears that private radio and television stations would be dominated by tribes, adding that this would be "at the expense of professionalism and efficiency".

"And since the channels that are allowed in the initial stage have a commercial nature, we are afraid of the spread of patronage, abuse of power and businessmen's monopoly of the media scene, in which case professionalism will be absent," he added.

However, young political activist Jeddou Ould Ham believes that independent media is an opportunity for various political forces to express their views without harassment.

"Politicians have long criticized the pro-regime parties' monopoly of official media, especially radio and television stations. With the opening of independent channels, everyone will have multiple opportunities and the monopoly of a certain group will be broken," Ould Ham said.

"We understand that there will be shortcomings in the beginning," he added. "However, the positive points will be more than the negative points."

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/09/19/feature-02.

Restoring forests and planting trees on farms can greatly improve food security

Nairobi, Kenya (SPX)
Sep 20, 2011

Restoring and preserving dryland forests and planting more trees to provide food, fodder and fertilizer on small farms are critical steps toward preventing the recurrence of the famine now threatening millions of people in the Horn of Africa, according to forestry experts from the CGIAR Consortium.

Across the Horn, drought-induced famine has claimed tens of thousands of lives and swelled refugee camps in Kenya, Ethiopia and elsewhere, with millions of starving people - many of them children. Bearing the brunt of the crisis is Somalia, which not coincidentally is also a country that has lost a significant amount of its forests.

Experts say forest destruction and other forms of human-caused land degradation have done far more than the drought to turn vast areas of once grazeable and farmable land into a lunar-like landscape.

"Forests and trees frequently form the basis of livelihood diversification, risk-minimization and coping strategies, especially for the most vulnerable households such as those led by women," said Frances Seymour, director general of the CGIAR's Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).

"However, deforestation and land degradation have hindered capacities to cope with disasters and adapt to climate variability and change in the long-term."

New research by CIFOR carried out in 25 countries worldwide has shown that forests serve as a crucial defense against poverty, providing about a quarter of household income for the people living in or near them. Forests in perennially parched areas of the Horn are critical to retaining moisture and nutrients in the soil, while offering a bulwark against wind erosion. They also provide sources of food and fuel, particularly in tough times.

"There is a mistaken view that because these are dry areas, they are destined to provide little in the way of food and are simply destined to endure frequent famines," said Dennis Garrity, director general of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

"But drylands can and do support significant crop and livestock production. In fact, the famine we are seeing today is mainly a product of neglect, not nature."

Forest and agroforestry experts say the famine should prompt significant new investments in proven approaches to reforestation and agroforestry that elsewhere in Africa are restoring forests as protectors of drylands and providing important sources of food and other valuable agriculture products.

For example, in Niger, a program launched in 1983 has transformed 5 million hectares of barren land into agroforests. ICRAF experts found that during the drought that hit the country in 2005, farmers who embraced agroforestry were able to sell trees for timber and use the money to buy food. They also were able to supplement their diets with fruits and edible leaves harvested from drought-resistant trees.

In Ethiopia, reforestation projects known as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), implemented by the World Bank and World Vision, are restoring some 2,700 hectares of degraded land. The projects already are providing income-generating wood and tree products for local communities, improving pasture and achieving a drastic reduction in soil erosion.

Meanwhile, using trees in a wider variety of farm applications is rapidly making agroforestry a popular approach to improving food production in the drylands of Africa. So-called "fertilizer trees" that capture nitrogen from the atmosphere and deposit it into the soil are being used to restore degraded farmlands in Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Niger and Burkina Faso.

There are also a wide range of naturally growing trees suitable for livestock consumption that have long been used by livestock keepers in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the dry season when grass and crop residues are scarce.

"We need to pay far more attention to the role of forests and trees to serve both as protectors of productive farm lands and as ways to sustainably and substantially increase food security in the Horn," said Lloyd Le Page, CEO of the CGIAR Consortium, who sees the food crisis in the region as a call to action for agricultural innovation. He noted that the intensified focus on the link between forests and food security is part of a wider effort within the CGIAR to approach farms as agriculture ecosystems that depend upon and contribute to the health of broader landscapes.

Scientists are concerned that despite clear evidence of their benefits - and of the disasters that occur in the wake of their loss - dryland forest protection and restoration is receiving scant attention compared to humid forest preservation. They point out that this disparity is particularly evident within discussions of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

"It's ironic that dryland forests are not front and center in the climate change debate, because climate change is likely to bring more frequent and more severe droughts to dryland areas, and the adaptation challenge for affected communities will be great," Seymour said.

She also noted that protection of both dryland and humid forests can reduce the likelihood of future climate change-induced droughts through mitigation of forest-based greenhouse gas emissions. Humid forests in particular serve as vast "sinks" that absorb and store carbon and thus help slow the pace of climate change in the long term, but there are also many opportunities to maintain and enhance the amount of carbon stored in dryland landscapes.

Source: Seed Daily.
Link: http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Restoring_forests_and_planting_trees_on_farms_can_greatly_improve_food_security_999.html.

F-22 fighters allowed back in the air: US Air Force

Washington (AFP)
Sept 19, 2011

The US Air Force said Monday its fleet of F-22 fighter jets will be allowed back in the air after officials grounded the planes over concerns about the aircraft's oxygen system.

The F-22 Raptors, the most advanced combat aircraft in the world, were barred from flying for four months, a highly unusual move that reflected serious worries over safety.

"We now have enough insight from recent studies and investigations that a return to flight is prudent and appropriate," Air Force chief of staff General Norton Schwartz said in a statement.

"We're managing the risks with our aircrews, and we're continuing to study the F-22's oxygen systems and collect data to improve its performance," said.

Commanders ordered a "stand-down" of the Raptor fleet on May 3 after 12 separate incidents over a three-year period in which pilots reported "hypoxia-like symptoms," the Air Force release said.

In one case, an F-22 reportedly scraped tree tops before landing and the pilot could not remember the incident, indicating a possible lack of oxygen.

Analysts say the Air Force has struggled to pin down the source of the problem with the Raptors despite elaborate safety investigations.

The fleet will undergo "an extensive inspection of the life support systems before returning to flight, with follow-on daily inspections," the Air Force said.

In addition, pilots will use additional protective equipment and undergo physiological tests, it said.

Under the decision, pilots will be allowed to fly at 50,000 feet (15,200 meters). Between January and April, the Raptors were not permitted to venture beyond 25,000 feet.

The Air Force has more than 160 F-22 Raptors in its fleet and plans to build a total of 187.

The radar-evading aircraft, designed primarily for dogfights against rival fighter jets, have not been used in the NATO-led air campaign in Libya or the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Source: Space War.
Link: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/F-22_fighters_allowed_back_in_the_air_US_Air_Force_999.html.

US Air Force vows to spare F-35 from budget cuts

Washington (AFP)
Sept 19, 2011

The US Air Force vowed Monday to "protect" costly weapons programs despite budget pressures, saying the country needed the F-35 fighter jet, a long-range bomber and other aircraft.

While acknowledging the need for reductions to the defense budget, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley proceeded to list several big ticket programs that were not up for negotiation.

"There are certain capabilities we will protect. We will apply best military judgment to oppose reductions that would cause irreparable harm," Donley told retired members of the Air Force in a speech.

The firm line taken by Donley comes as the Pentagon seeks to fend off possible deep budget reductions by lawmakers. Congress has to find a way to trim the country's deficit by a November 23 deadline or else automatic cuts will be triggered that could derail the Pentagon's budget plans.

With an aging fleet of fighter planes, it was crucial to build the next generation combat aircraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to ensure US air superiority, Donley said.

"With a fighter fleet now averaging 22 years old and with two decades of declining fighter force structure, modernizing our aging and smaller fighter force depends on the fifth generation capabilities of the Joint Strike Fighter," Donley said.

"Simply put, there is no alternative to the F-35 program. It must succeed," he said of the aircraft, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays.

The F-35 has come under growing scrutiny amid speculation that the Pentagon may be forced to downsize the program, including possibly eliminating a version of the plane designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings.

The civilian head of the Air Force also argued for maintaining funds for a planned long-range bomber, space satellites, nuclear forces, unmanned robotic aircraft and benefits promised to service members when they joined.

Donley said that budget reductions would require the Air Force to accept "greater risk in some areas, terminate some lower priority programs, streamline others," but did not provide details.

In his speech to the Air Force Association, Donley also said that within 10 years the force could be "potentially smaller than in previous decades" but did not offer an estimate.

Source: Space War.
Link: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_Air_Force_vows_to_spare_F-35_from_budget_cuts_999.html.

KSA jails holding 30K political prisoners

Mon Sep 19, 2011

Activists in Saudi Arabia say there are more than 30,000 political prisoners, mostly prisoners of conscious, in jails across the Kingdom, Press TV has learned.

According to the activists, most of the detained political thinkers are being held by the government without trials or legitimate charges and that they were arrested for merely appearing suspicious.

Some of the detainees are reported to be held without trial for more than 16 years.

Attempting to incite the public against the monarchy and allegiance to foreign entities are usually the ready-made charges leveled against political dissidents.

Families of political prisoners have repeatedly pleaded with the ruling monarch to at least give their loved ones a fair trial. However, the king has for years ignored their calls.

Over the past months, Saudi activists in the Eastern Province have staged several anti-government protests, demanding reforms and immediate release of political prisoners.

Their campaign for human rights reform, freedom of expression and political reforms ended with an unexpected outcome: the anti-terror law, which gives the ministry of interior superior powers to detain suspects incommunicado for up to 120 days amendable to indefinite extension.

The law also defines terror crimes as any action endangering national unity, an ambiguous definition which can be extended to peaceful demonstrations.

Human Rights Watch says more than 160 dissidents have been arrested since February as part of the Saudi government's crackdown on anti-government protesters.

According to the Saudi-based Human Rights First Society (HRFS), the detainees were subject to torture both physically and mentally.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/200079.html.

Saudis Split on Female Olympians, Athletic Hijabs

Written by Richard S. Willis
Thursday, August 02, 2012

Women otherwise involved in rights issues don’t necessarily support Olympic participation

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – In this bustling, overcrowded city on the Red Sea, the 2012 London Olympics hardly raises an eyebrow although seventeen men and two women are participating. But the debate over whether Saudi Arabia’s two female athletes – Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shaherkani – should compete, let alone abandon the hijab head covering to conform to the Olympic International Conference’s rules, is unsurprisingly divided along gender lines.

The debate has been reduced to name-calling with a number of Saudis describing Attar and Shaherkani the “prostitutes of the Olympics.” It has highlighted the ongoing issues regarding a woman’s place in Saudi society.

“There are not many Saudi fathers and brothers who want to see the women in their family compete on a pitch or in an arena with thousands of men staring at them,” Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, an unemployed car salesman told The Media Line. “What does that say about the woman who exposes herself in such a way?”

Attar, 19, who is attending Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, is competing in the women’s track 800 meters. Shaherkani, 16, is participating in the women’s judo event. Shaherkani garnered the most attention since the opening day of the Olympics when the International Judo Federation banned Shaherkani from competing because her hijab posed a safety risk. Following negotiations between Shaherkani’s father, the OIC and the federation, the federation ruled the girl may participate wearing “suitable headgear.”

Wearing the hijab was an issue taken out of Shaherkani’s hands. The Saudi government made it clear that women can compete only if they “wear suitable clothing that complies with Sharia (Islamic law), are accompanied by their guardian and they do not mix with men during the games.”

However, the hijab controversy, while seized by women’s rights activists as another infringement on Saudi female athletes, prompted little outcry among women in Saudi Arabia. Rather, the issue boils down to what is appropriate behavior.

Abeer Al-Hussaini received her bachelor’s degree from a Florida university. The 26-year old wears her hijab loosely and considers herself liberal on social issues. Yet, she says her advocacy for women in Saudi society has its limits. “I wish the girls in the Olympics well, but it’s not something I would do. And even if I did, my father would not even consider it. There is too much at stake. Even if my family supported my right to compete in sports, our relatives, our neighbors would condemn it. There is too much at stake. It just does not affect me but my entire family.”

Indeed social pressure is immense to toe the line. While societal pressure provides checks and balances to ensure conformity and stability, the burden usually falls on women.

A woman lecturer at Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University outside of Riyadh, told The Media Line that traditions and customs are so entrenched in Saudi society that few women have the strength to break the bonds that establish their roles in society.

“Forget about Islam,” said the academic who spoke on the condition that her name not be published. “The traditional roles of men and women are clearly defined with men providing the financial means for the family and women providing babies and a nice home. That’s changing with better educational opportunities for women and new jobs for them.”

However, she noted that women drawing attention to themselves is a “red line” that few Saudi women are willing to cross.

“It’s almost incomprehensible to the average Saudi to see a beloved daughter on television parading on the field for all to see,” she said. “It is too much for family members to see their daughters exerting themselves in some outfit even remotely form-fitting. It is a big shame for the family. As hard as it is to understand, it boils down to ‘what will the neighbors think’ ”

What the neighbors think is found on social media websites. In addition to labeling Saudi female athletes as prostitutes, one Twitter writer suggested that Attar would purposely fall down while running to show off her body.

Many Saudis, however, were quick to defend the athletes. @SkittlesFairy responded to a critic by writing, "You remind me of Europe in the Dark Ages, you insult this and slur people in the name of religion. This religion has nothing to do with you."

Saudi Rasha Al-Dowasi, tweeting as @Rsha_D, wrote, “Muslim athletes from Muslim countries have been participating in the Olympics for years. Sport only becomes prostitution when Saudi women practice it.”

Khalid Khalifa, who describes himself as a Saudi comedian on his Twitter profile as @KhalidKhalifa, wrote, “The person who made this Hashtag (“Prostitutes of the Olympics”) is a reminder: idiots still exist. He/She should be neutered. This gene cannot evolve.”

The Princess Nora University academic cautioned against taking Twitter flame wars as an accurate pulse of Saudis.

“Most Saudis have never left the GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates), or even Saudi Arabia,” the academic said. “They don’t read or watch the Western media; they don’t tweet, watch the Olympics or even think about the women’s rights in the same context as Westerners do. There is a right and wrong. And displaying your body immodestly is wrong.”

Summer Khoury, a Palestinian expatriate who works for a charity organization in Jeddah, told The Media Line that she wants to see more Arab women represented in the Olympics, but understands Saudis’ trepidation with women’s participation.

“Things here in Saudi Arabia are moving very fast,” Khoury said. “There is an explosion of women working in the shops and malls, and even mixing with men. It was unheard of just a few years ago. When society shifts so rapidly, you have people lash out crudely. But it’s just the process how a society evolves.”

Copyright © 2012 The Media Line. All Rights Reserved.