Through Abu Aadvark, I discovered that one of my favorite Arab columnists, Mona Eltahawy, has been banned from writing for the Saudi-owned Al-Sharq Al-Alawsat daily. The reason is unclear, says Abu Aaadvark, who also wondered if it could be Egyptian pressure. "Perhaps she offended the wrong Saudi? She wasn’t officially told she was banned nor given any reason, but there you go. She’s just gone," he said.
I’m assuming she was banned simply because of her enlightening, yet unorthodox opinions. It is too bad, really. Until when are we going to be stuck with writers babbling the same old rhetoric that we grew up listening to? It really is sad and very frustrating. Her writing renewed my hope in Arab media.
I feel lucky that this past March I had a chance to meet her when we both took part in a panel discussion on reporting in the Middle East that was organized by the University of Wisconsin. In person she is just as impressive as she is in print. She is very smart, very articulate and extremely passionate. I will reiterate now what I said back then: The Arab world definitely needs more Mona’s.
The good news, though, is that she is still writing for a number of international publications. You can also read her articles on her website. She’s also writing for Jordanbased Maktoob. She will never be silenced. Al-Sharq Al-Awsat really made a very poor decision.
Wallak
If I”m rude by your standards then thats fine lol
LOL, Walak calling someone else rude If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle..
Thats interesting, I didn’t know that Natasha was pro-Israeli. I mean I can see her resentment to Palestinians for reasons I won’t get into but I would say she’s pro Israeli
Thanks for the link on your website Natasha. It’s nice to know there are still pro-Israeli Jordanians out there.
http://www.friendsofmicronesia.com/
anon: “when I posted that, I was quoting and against the quote. So I was on your side ”
sorry anon, but you are so rude it’s hard to tell if you are friend or foe.
Wallak ya idiot
when I posted that, I was quoting and against the quote. So I was on your side but obviously you are an idiot.
Walak
You’ve got everything wrong…You dont even know the basic debate skills.
Do you really understand ENGLISH or what other people are saying?? You keep interpreting what people are saying the way YOU want…You were the one who started this stupid discussion and totally drifted everyones attention from the original post. Can you just shove it and give us all a break..
“Why does each topic posted have to turn into Arab-American dispute, or Palestinians & Israeli”
when anon posted this “But rather than dwelling endlessly on [the palestinian conflict], we would do well to spend time encouraging our young people to become more active members of their communities and to not live caught between two worlds: a Muslim one at home and in the mosque, an “infidel” one outside.”
then the americans and the jews came to his rescue and the whole thing went down the drain. I actually have followed many such posts. the discussions tend to head in the wrong direction the moment a sanctimnouus american or jew starts giving lectures to arabs, even as the killings and the tortures and the assasinations of arabs conintue unabated on an hourly basis committed by jews and americans. These lectures from self-rightous butchers tend to piss people off. that’s my 2 fils on your question.
Jareer
why don’t you start by leaving as you are one of the main people that is always attacking others and starting crap
Why does each topic posted have to turn into Arab-American dispute, or Palestinians & Israeli’s conflict ! Why do we have to see attacks on personalities and people in each topic? This is not helpful; I think we come here to exchange opinions and enrich each other on what we know, and not transmit our resentment and hatered to the opponent; if this continues, I think it will be deterrant to the blog readers not to share, or even, not to come back later to this blog !