Three Main bloggers are interviewed about the new power of blogs in the Middle East countries. freedom of speech and expression. Speakers: Dr Mina Nima, Nir T. Boms, Ammar Abdulhamid. 3 bloggers and media specialists: an Iranian, a Syrian and an Israeli. February 2009 – Sciences Po. Paris.
Continue reading “Cyber dissidents: Fighting for a new battleground”
On July 24, I was invited to attend President George W. Bush speech on his Freedom Agenda, an event hosted by USAID. Prior to the speech, and alongside a number of colleagues from Belarus, Cuba, Burma, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Zimbabwe, we had a brief encounter with the President. One the most memorable aspect of the meeting was when the President whispered in my ear that he was sorry for not doing enough about Syria. Continue reading “Activists honored by President George W. Bush”
On April 25, a day after my congressional testimony before the Near East and South Asia Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Tharwa Foundation took part in organizing another Hill event, this time focusing on Damascus Declaration and its potential role in leading the transition to democratic rule in Syria. In addition to speeches by representatives of the Damascus Declaration abroad and yours truly, a host of American officials and experts also took part in the event, among them: Ambassador Theodor Kattouf, and Congressional adviser Alan Makovsky. Below are some photos from the event. Continue reading “Syria in Transition”
It was dazzling, I am told, that public celebration declaring Damascus the capital of Arab culture for 2008. Pavements, throughout the city, even those finished mere weeks prior to the celebrations were (re)dug and redone so that more of our illustrious officials can cash in on the event, or, to be more precise, so that some can cash in more than others. All in all, the entire budget dedicated to this event needs to be spent, and officials will always find ways to achieve that. But in this, Syria may not be different than any other country, I guess. Continue reading “Assad’s Syria – many circuses, little bread, no freedom!”
The Ammar Abdulhamid Archive 