April reading

My reading tips for now include meeting a lot of individuals, from several conflict zones (in different respects). Internet media freedom also feels like one of our days most current and relevant topics and is seen in several contexts below.

Afghanistan
The National meets Afghan villagers talking about their everyday security situation. BBC meets Afghans looking for jobs in Iran. Human Rights Watch looks at personal freedom of women in Afghan law.

Central Asia
BB has met the oldest person in Kazakhstan! IWPR discusses policing and dissent in Kyrgyzstan. Elin Jönsson's book on the 2005 massacre in Andzijan, Uzbekistan is given a prize named for Anna Politkovskaja.

Palestine
Dagens Nyheter has met one of the individual victims of the Gaza war who received perhaps the most international attention for her family's fate.

Other Middle East
Svenska Dagbladet interviews a Sahrawi activist for freedom and independence.

Emile Hokayem for the National discusses the regional security position of the UAE

The National also takes a loook at recent perceived negative media attention for Dubai and the UAE. The National also visited camps for expat labourers in Dubai.

In Saudi-arabia a discussion of female marriage-ages has begun.

Human Rights Watch takes a look at Baha'is in Egypt.

Arab Reform Bulletin looks at Bahrain and constitutional development.

Daniel Barenboim performed in Cairo, although without his Diwan Orchestra, reports the BBC. How activist's can use internet communication technology as exemplified recently is explored by Swedish Medievärlden. BBC brings up the same topic here.

Marc Lynch discusses encouragement and support for activists not least in the Internet context.

BBC meets Armenians in Lebanon, discussing the country's ethnic and political jigsaw puzzle.

MERIP on the civil war and political spectrum in Iraq. The legality of Kurdish security forces is explored by the BBC. BBC also meets gay Iraqi men finding out more about their lives and situation. also bloggers and internet activists in Iraq are given attention by the BBC.

Turkey
ICG has issued a report on Turkish-Armenian thawing relations. Speaking of this, Swedish Radio reports this today on the thaw (today is the remembrance day for Armenian victims in the killings of 1915 also). The National discusses the Ergenekon trial. Thomas Gür writes for Svenska Dagbladet on the role of the US visavi developments in Turkey. The National explores religion in Turkish politics. Ingmar Karlsson for Newsmill speaks out for Turkey's position in Europe but is certainly not unchallenged. Swedish radio follows prime minister Reinfeldt visits Turkish Kulu meeting Turkish swedes, reported also in Turkish media. Ülkü Holago for Svenska Dagbladet explores the meaning of Kulu for Sweden.

Sweden
Svenska Dagbladet reviews the recent reissual of a classic Swedish work of the prophet Muhammed, also (maybe less than) implicitly criticizing those attempting to understand rather than entrench...

Bitte Hammargren blogs about the Swedish political debate on Middle East affairs and responibility, as well as agendas...

Dagens Nyheter interviews lawyer and author Malin Persson Giolito about gender, career ambitions and life. The same paper looks at gender roles, child-raising and awareness about possibilities.

Dagens Nyheter (again!) visits a corner of Stockholm with strong personal meaning for me!