Twittern(function() { var po = document.createElement(‘script’); po.type = ‘text/javascript’; po.async = true; po.src = ‘https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();SMN No. 5, July 2, 2010 On a castle wall in old Damascus are plastered two large photos of a former political activist. On one of the photos, Tohama Maarouf is pictured with her [...]

Twittern(function() { var po = document.createElement(‘script’); po.type = ‘text/javascript’; po.async = true; po.src = ‘https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();SMN No. 5, July 6, 2010 A recent government decision to sack 1200 school teachers for wearing a traditional veil that covers the face has provoked a heated online debate in Syria. The Niqab [...]

Twittern(function() { var po = document.createElement(‘script’); po.type = ‘text/javascript’; po.async = true; po.src = ‘https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();SMN No. 5, July 7, 2010 Hundreds of cyberactivists from various Arab countries are campaigning over the internet against what they call republics-cum-monarchies in the Arab region. Over 700 hundred members, including tens of [...]

Twittern(function() { var po = document.createElement(‘script’); po.type = ‘text/javascript’; po.async = true; po.src = ‘https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();SMN No. 5, July 8, 2010 Unlike most Syrian Facebook groups that usually criticise social and political conditions or pledge their support to a personality or a phenomenon, “Soul” is blazing a trail as [...]

Twittern(function() { var po = document.createElement(‘script’); po.type = ‘text/javascript’; po.async = true; po.src = ‘https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();SMN No. 5, July 9, 2010 A website specialising in gay issues in the Middle East reported recently that the authorities had stepped up their crackdown on homosexuals in Syria. The website, gaymiddleeast.com, reported [...]

Twittern(function() { var po = document.createElement(‘script’); po.type = ‘text/javascript’; po.async = true; po.src = ‘https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js’; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); SMN No. 5, July 13, 2010 Facebook has become a platform for young Syrians opposed to compulsory military service in their country. Every young Syrian man has to serve for one year and [...]