Overview:
Importance:
Middle East Online is considered one of the larges news websites in the Arab World. According to the Director of the website, Mohamed Sanaglha, the number of its visitors is an average of 275 thousands/day . The website is produced from London. It includes many sections, as follows:
1 - Homepage
2 - Arab Gates: There are 21 gates for Arab countries. Each gate includes the most important information about each country.
3- International news: including political and economic news, funny news, and the latest studies and researches around the world.
4- Opinions: includes a group articles written by well known writers.
5- Economy: covers economic issues around the world.
6- Technology: This section covers research and news related to the Internet. It also tackles challenges to freedom of expression on the Internet.
7- Reportages: This is one of the most important sections. It covers a variation of issues and includes many human rights related reports. The section is mainly interested in issues related to women's rights, freedom of expression, the rich-poor gap, violence, religious freedom, and rights of people with special needs.
8- Life: tackles similar issues as those tackled in the Reportages section.
9- Culture: this section covers cultural issues, including freedom of electronic publishing.
10- Arts: covers cinema, theater and arts.
11- Literature: it includes numerous literature subjects including articles and novels, advertisements on latest books, and some poetry.
12- Tourism: includes reviews of many tourist sites inside and outside the Arab region and tourism companies' news.
13- Education: this section concentrates on calls for developing educational curricula, and covers students' news.
14- Sport: Arabic sport news particularly football.
15- Environment: including news and studies about environment, pollution, methods of protecting the environment, and issues related to the right to a clean environment.
16- Sciences: Covers scientific issues, including new technologies, environment, space, and the human.
17- Health: Concentrates on combating poverty, diseases, and calls for the protection of the environment.
18 - Cars: Car races mainly.
19- Letters to the Editor: this section involves news, analytical articles about the future of political reform in the Arab world, concentrating on regional democratic issues. The majority of the letters are attributed to well known writers. Public participation is focused on complaints and demands for the release of hostages and detainees, especially in Iraq.
20- Links: Links of the most important Arabic and foreign newspapers, whether daily, weekly, or monthly. This section also includes links to most important search engines and music websites.
Promotional Tools:
The website depends on the multiple interests in issues, written content, and images.
The search engine on middle-east-online.com:
There are many tools of search on the website. These include direct access to the different sections and the search engine. For the search engine, there are two ways of searching:
a- General search: it finds the keyword in the published subjects' headlines.
b- Advanced search: the reader can concentrate the search on certain parts within the text or within the main subjects existing on the website. A keyword can be searched in the headline, introduction of the body, the body of the text, or in the captions of images posted. The search can also be by writer. The reader can also determine the time period for the search.
Human rights on Middle East Online:
Publishing rates:
On average the website publishes one human rights related story every 3 days. This result is found through doing a search on subject, which gives a good indicator on the strong correlation between the text and human rights. When searching through headlines, the average falls to one story every 30 days or more.
Human rights issues tackled:
Most human rights related stories focused on political participation, human rights movement activities, freedom of expression. This reflects a more oriented political interest in human rights and those with higher voices.
Content coverage:
While the website focuses on covering human rights violations, it has content that could be understood as promotional material for specific countries. Some content also can be considered criticism of the concepts of human rights.
Political and Geographical Scopes:
It seems that the website had given more prominence to Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya, with material that could be understood as propaganda. At the same time, the website focused on human rights violations in Algeria, Egypt, and the US.
The four rights:
The news material on the website has a similar pattern to that of alarabiya.net. Women's rights issues came first, then the right of minorities and refugees, with the sanctity of private life coming at the end of the list.
Analysis of news content
Human rights:
Middle East Online is the only website out of all websites in this study that has criticized the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), an international organization that has served humanity during times of peace and war. The website did not only criticize the international organization but also had content that was full of accusation and insult.
Examples:
The collusive red cross
The website posted an article written by Ali Al-Sarraf on 27 May. In this article the writer described the Red Cross as an international organization that aims at concealing crimes and violations.
Al-Sarraf accused the international organization of double standards, and said that it only interferes when violations are committed by third world officials, while giving a blind eye to violations committed by the US. For the writer, the ICRC is a pretentious organization that serves the interest of great powers.
The writer called for the organization to be dismantled and banned from continuing its activities as long as it works in partnership with those who commit crimes against humanity.
Fables and Lies: The Universal Declaration for Human Rights
The website published on 11 December an article written by Dr. Khalil Hussein in which he criticized the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. He said that the birth of the UDHR was wrong as there were double standards to standards. In 1948, when the Universal Declaration for Human Rights was conceived, colonization was still rampant and the declaration did not refer to the nations and people under occupation.
According to Dr. Hussein, the declaration is a tool used by the powers in a unipolar world to impose force, achieve their interests, and justify interference into other countries' internal affairs.
For the writer, human rights is a power tool used against a number of country. For example, human rights issues are raised during north-south dialogues or during bilateral or multilateral relations by the strong party as it sees fit. The article also considered the UN Decision on 15 March 2006 to establish the International Council for Human Rights a defeat to the US.
The great democracy deception: the gulf region as an example
The website published an article on 19 September written by Mohanad Habib Al- Samawy in which he discusses democracy as neither being a universal necessity, a historical determinant, nor a universal necessity. Democracy is marketed by the US using fake symbols and statements through media targeting the world, particularly the Arab World.
The writer finds in Gulf countries, such as Qatar, Bahrain and the Emirates (UAE), an environment invalid for democracy as the only political option. He claims that the citizen in these countries does not think of democracy or demand elections and they don't attempt to form political parties. This is because, the writer continues, in the Gulf, people simply live in welfare, with a better living standard than their European counterparts, where all their daily requirements and needs are made available and achieved and where there is no human rights violations perpetrated by their governments.
The article sees that democracy is demanded when people live under very difficult circumstances with living standard falling. The writer sees that if governments raised living standards and services for its citizens and distributed wealth fairly the people won't demand democracy, thus the concept would be lacking a core to it.
Come and investigate: The Gaddafi Development Foundation investigates the Abu Saleem prison incidents
On 13 October Middle East Online posted a news story on prisoners' protest in the Libyan Abu Saleem prison. One of the prisoners died. The news story focuses on the statement made by the Gaddafi Development Foundation regarding the incident. The foundation invited international human rights organizations to visit Libya to investigate the incident and monitor prisons' conditions, confirming that they are within international standards.
The statement, as published by the website, explained the background behind the protests by prisoners who were against a judge's decision to postpone a trial following a request made by their lawyers. The statement described the prison conditions as excellent, where prisoners enjoy good living conditions, good treatment, many visitations with an ability to contact the outside world easily. The statement used the prisoners' ability to contact media and satellite channels to say what happened to them as evidence of the good conditions they live in. The statement saw the organizers of the protest as irresponsible elements seeking to incite disturbance and chaos, harming other prisoners' interests.
The four human rights
Women's Rights:
Middle East Online is interested in women's right, which occupied the first rank among the four rights referred to in this study. The International Woman's Day was an opportunity for the website to discuss women's social and economic participation in Yemen.
Examples of articles posted include:
Yemeni women facing the trilogy of marginalization, illiteracy and social injustice
Ahmed Ghorab wrote a report from Sana'a on 9 March, in which he confirmed that Yemeni women suffer the trilogy of marginalization, illiteracy and social injustice. He argued that, though most Yemeni laws are based on gender equity, many social powers use wrong interpretations of religion to justify and consolidate discrimination and violence against women. In many cases the society neglects clearly stated religious orders in Quran favoring women's rights. Instead they follow old inherited traditions. The writer says, discrimination against women is not questionable as it is not considered a crime, but an acceptable attitude necessary to prepare females for their future role. According to traditions this role makes men always the guardians of women regardless of her position in the family or her age.
Ghorab used statistics clarifying woman's low participation in decision making positions, stressing the big difference between the large number of female voters and the number of female candidates.
In his report, Ghorab stated that the number of Yemeni voters increased from 500 thousands during the 1993 elections to 1.5 million in 1997, and then reached 3.5 million in 2003. On the other hand the number of candidates decreased from 52 women in 1993 to less than the half in 1997 and reached only 11 female candidates in the 2003 elections. The writer finds that men in Yemen are in need for the votes of women without having them to be a competitive equivalent.
Arab women discuss in Washington woman's conditions in the Arab World
A report published on the website covered a conference held in Washington discussing Arab women's conditions. The website chose a headline that brings together contradictions and raises doubt in the mind of the Arabic reader. This is especially the case after reading the subtitle, An American institution close to the Bush Administration organizes a conference on Arab women sufferings and calling for their liberation. It seems by this wording that the website was drawing a mental picture, using the unpopularity of the Bush Administration in the Arab World, unfavorable of the conference's participants and goals.
The Sudanese feminist Fatma Ahmed Ibrahim receives the Ibn Rushd Award
On 17 October the website posted a news story on the award given to the Sudanese women's activist, Fatma Ahmed Ibrahim, by the Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought for her long struggle against injustice and her position supporting the casuse of Arab women. The website introduced Ibrahim and her struggle during occupation. Her name became a symbol of the struggle of Sudanese women against military oppressive governments.
The Tunisian woman: half a century of accomplishments
In an article, that could be considered a propaganda tool for the Tunisian regime, women conditions in Tunisia was praised. On 14 August the website posted an article written by Jamal Al-Sharif commemorating the anniversary of the Tunisian personal status law in Tunisia. The writer argues that the law is in harmony with international human rights law. He also adds that president Zayn El-Abedin Bin Ali pledged that there will be "no turning back" for Tunisian women's rights and accomplishments that have been taking place since 1987, pledging that there will be more accomplishments. The article confirms that the era of Bin Ali will witness more gains for women as is clear in the amendments of the personal status law on 12 July 1993.
The Tunisian modernization project begins with woman
The article of Mohammed Bou Sneina published on 24 April enumerated the number of Tunisian NGOs, which is about 8600 inside Tunisia and 500 outside the country. In addition, the writer states that Tunisia has 9 political parties. According to the writer, this shows how the Tunisian civil society is one of the most vibrant civil societies in the region, especially during the era of president Bin Ali. The writer states that there are around 200 NGOs headed by women. He adds that NGOs are really important in the political electoral program of the president during the 2004 presidential elections.
The president had also marked the 23rd of April of every year as the National Day for NGOs. He was keen, as the writer describes, since 7 November 1987 to empower women enriching their transformation from complete equality to active participation in the political life and development. This plan comes after the president had worked for a long time on reinforcing women's basic rights and enriching her gains. The writer also said that Bin Ali believes that women's rights cannot be separated from the complete cosmos of human rights, and that the democratic structure cannot be completed without the successful participation of women.
Man is the problem, woman is the solution
In the occasion of the issuing of the 2006 Human Development Report, the website posted an article by Ali Al-Sarraf on 18 December. The writer argues that because man wants to remain in power, he claims superiority over women in the name of religion and thus forces this concept as rejection of it would mean lack of faith and blasphemy. The writer blames dogmatic Islamic scholars for the delay in the emancipation of women.
Reviewing the Human Development Report, Al-Sarraf asserted that Islamic moderate movements witnessed developments in their vision of women in the past five decades by respecting human rights and supporting democracy. The majority of those movements also witnessed development in the enlightened leaders among the younger generations.
At the end of his article the writer concluded that for modernization to be achieved, women have to be liberated. For him, if male domination is the problem, then we have to achieve gender equity and the liberation of women.
Syrian Women Observatory: A website monitoring Syrian Social issues.
On 15 December, the website introduced one of the Syrian NGOs working on women's rights. It introduced the Syrian Women Observatory and its website considering it one of the most important websites covering the Syrian society in general. It is also a platform for all women's rights activists and those working on the rights of people with special needs.
Quarter of Syrian women suffer domestic violence
In a report on violence against women in Syria posted on Middle East Online on 13 April, Hassan Soleiman showed that most women in Syria who suffer from domestic violence are married. He adds that 70% of violence against women are perpetrated by husbands and fathers. In most cases, men have used violence because women have resorted to unrespectable language or have neglected their domestic duties. Because women are afraid of their family and because they have an urge to maintain family stability, they are usually silent about the abuse they suffer, particularly that the Syrian society thinks that women are shameful if they complain from their husbands. At the same time, Syria has taken great steps towards women's rights. Recently, Dr. Najah Al-Attar has been appointed as the first female vice president in Syria.
The report adds that half of homicides in Syria are committed against women in the name of honor. The writer mentions how Syrian law allows for lightened sentences against men involved in honor crimes.
Minorities and tolerance:
- The Danish Cartoons
Regarding interfaith coalition
In an article written by Dr. Gamal Eddin Benhayoun published on the website on 20 March, the writer introduced his position from the second international Imams and Rabbis conference for peace", which was held in Spain. The writer sees such a conference emphasizes the importance of religion as a tool for peace and dialogue not a cause for violence and hatred as was the case for centuries when religion was used to encourage wars and hatred"
The offending cartoons: conflict of civilizations or mismanagement of the crisis?
Adam Erkik wrote from Ireland on 8 March an article on the reactions to the Danish cartoon. According to Erkik, the media promoted the cartoons and gave larger importance to what they really are. He found reactions to the cartoons as emotional, reducing Islam to mere symbols, while neglecting other important issues such as liberties. The writer asks when will Muslims start respecting their own religion and principles of Islam, such as democracy, liberties, human rights?
The culture of stupidity when insulting the prophets
On 8 February Massoud Ako wrote in an article that the cartoons did not offend Islam as much as it insulted callers of freedom, democracy and human rights. On the other hand, the writer asserted that burning embassies was not the appropriate response.
Islamophobia: analytical reading
On 11 October Middle East Online posted a research paper written by Khaled Soleiman in which he analyzed fear of Islam. For the writer, Islamophobia is both an old and new phenomenon. It is as old as the religion itself and was revived again following the 9/11 attacks in 2001 by Al Qaeda
The writer put forward some recommendations to deal with this phenomenon that if not dealt with could result in intolerance. The writer was not only concerned that intolerance would exist on the level of Islamic - Western relations but also that the Muslim world would witness the disappearance of tolerance and coexistence.
The writer concludes that there is a Zionist conspiracy to distort Islam and Muslims in western media. He also concluded that the western countries evoke disturbances among Muslims and question the message of Islam to weaken the faith of Muslims.
- People without nationalities (Bedoun):
Bedoun (without nationality) in the Emirates:
The writer Mohammed Ali published an article on 28 December tackling the issue of Bedoun (people without nationality). The article was previously published on alarabiya.net. HRinfo's research team had found that there were several articles published on different websites at the same time. Regarding the mentioned article, Middle East Online commented on the article saying that UAE is on its way to end the problem of Bedoun in a manner that is much more positive than other Gulf countries who also suffer from similar problems.
- Christians
The Copts and the political rise of the Muslim Brotherhood
On 25 February the website posted a book review of a book titled "The Copts and the political rise of the Muslim Brotherhood" published by the Swasiya Center for Human Rights known of its affiliation to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The book contained a debate on the position of the Muslim Brotherhood towards Copts. The book stated that throughout its history the Muslim Brotherhood treated Copts tolerantly and recognized Copts citizenship even under the Islamic rule.
- Bahaists
Egypt: Bahaists in the cross wind
On 26 July the website published a book review of a book titled "Bahaism: Doctrine and Colonial Goals". The book calls upon Egyptian officieals to stand against Bahaists' atheism and eliminate them. Bahaists in Haifa believe in peace despite the woes of wars In a report posted on 20 July written by Michaela Cancela-Kieffer, a writer from Haifa in Israel, while the war between Hezbollah and Israel was going on. The website commented on the report, saying that Haifa is the most sacred place for Bahaists who believe that all Prophets are messengers of peace and who call for the unity of all religions
- Shiites
The website is generally interested in minorities' issues, with a special focus on Shiites. It dedicated a large space studying the relationship between Shiites and different Arab governments, especially in Egypt and the Gulf. The website introduced to its visitors numbers and statistics of Shiites and their history and the main forms of discrimination against them. It also mentioned the major political reasons behind current actions taken by governments in the region, especially in the Gulf, to manipulate the demographics. On the topic of Shiites, the website had the most important Saudi writer on sectarian issues in the reiong, Ali Al-Girash.
Towards a unique relation between Shiites and Gulf regimes
Ali Al-Girash's study posted on the website on 1 May dealt with the relation between Shiites and Gulf regimes. The study monitored factors of variation in the Shiite situation from one country to another in the Gulf region despite the social, cultural and political similarity. These factors include the governmental ideological and political orientation, the constitutional system, the power and influence of religious scholars on authority, the size and power of the Shiite community, and foreign relations. The study also included a historical survey of the different phases in history with regards to the relation between Shiites and governments in the Gulf. The writer used Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait as case studies for his research.
Al-Girash argued that one of the most obvious reasons for sectarian discrimination against the Shiites in the Gulf region is the absence of fair constitutions based on equality and freedom with regards to practicing religious rituals. Another reason is the insistence of fundamentalists on questioning the national loyalty of Shiites with no appropriate punishment for those fundamentalists. At the same time, Shiites are deprived of senior positions. Also, they are not justly represented in the parliament reflecting their true presence in the community. Al-Girash also saw that Saudi Araba plays a role in this discrimination as there is a coalition between the regime and the Wahabi school, which claims that the doctrine and thoughts of Shiites are against Islam.
As for the Shiites in Bahrain, the writer considered them the beating heart of Shiites in the Gulf area. He discussed the deprivation of the Shiite majority from voting on the national charter after king Hamad bin Eissa came to power. He also stated how the current government is trying to use the king's authorities in the constitution to change the demographics of Bahrain so as to have Shiites equal or less, in terms of number, than other sects in Bahrain. This is being done by giving the nationality to huge numbers of non Bahrainis and hiring them in important sectors especially the army and security forces.
As for Kuwait, Al-Girash sees it as the best Gulf country with regards to the treatment of Shiites. There is a clear constitution that guarantees equality between all citizens. Kuwait also has a long experience in democracy and the Shiites there have good relations with the ruling family.
Excuse us Mr President, questioning the loyalty of Shiites is sectarianism itself
Responding to the statement of Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak in which he said that Arab Shiites were loyal to Iran, Al-Girash wrote on 14 April an article. In the article, he described Mubarak's statement as sectarianism itself encouraging division and civil war not only in Iraq but in all the countries with multiple sects.
Al-Girash also asked the Egyptian President: are the Shiites responsible for dividing Arab countries into tiny, weak, fragile states instead of unifying them? He also asks: Did the Shiites ever fail to defend their homelands?
- Refugees:
Besides, the traditional issues of refugees in Palestine and Iraq, the website dealt with the refugees' conditions in Europe, whose numbers increased as a result of worsening conditions in Africa and the Middle East, while the US made it more difficult for refugees to enter its lands. In addition, Middle East Online gave attention to the conditions refugees are going through while travel to Europe, and those trapped on borders, particularly the Moroccan borders, a popular passage to Europe. The website gave attention to the dangers and the sufferings that often lead to death of those trying to reach Europe.
On the other hand, the incident of the Sudanese refugees in Mustafa Mahmoud Square in Cairo did not have the same attention.
The Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue: realities and prospects
On 22 February Haitham Abu El-Ghezlan wrote on Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The writer explained the development of the issue since 1948 when around 150 thousand Palestinian refugees moved to Lebanon. At that time, the Lebanese government treated the situation as temporary, providing temporary aid. The writer also described how the situation developed through time.
The article monitored violations of the Palestinian refugees' rights. According to the writer, refugees in Lebanon suffer and face many kinds of restraints on their freedom. Discrimination against Palestinians is evident in Lebanese laws, especially when compared to the treatment of other non-citizens, and clearly with regards to the right to possession and inheritance of assets.
Palestinians in Lebanon have similar concerns to Lebanese citizens, from obtaining the Lebanese nationality to the disarmament of refugee camps in accordance to UN SC Resolution 1559.
Morocco: The land of scattered dreams
A report published on 20 July, on the occasion of the African-European conference, tackled the conditions of refugees on the Moroccan borders where Illegal migrants are being arrested with their UNHCR documents confiscated and destroyed before returning them to the Algerian borders.
This is in violation of Moroccan law which states that no person should be deported unless to three countries: 1) Homeland in the case that the refugee application was rejected; 2) the country that issued the deportee's passport; and 3) any other country that allows the deportee to enter their lands legally.
In this case, Algeria does not stand as one of the three options stipulated in the laws, which clearly insinuates that Moroccan authorities have violated the law.
Iraqi refugees are mass migrating to Europe, particularly Sweden
On 22 December an investigation by Sofi Mongalfi tackled the increase in refugees in Europe. According to the report, Iraqi refugees constitute the majority of the 40 nationalities seeking asylum in Europe. This is of course due to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.
The greater portion of Iraqi refugees head to Sweden because it is the most European country open for immigration, and because it is considered a humanitarian and secure country that respects human rights. The writer adds that most refugees in Sweden have already had family links that have migrated during the 1990s migration wave.
The website chose the subtitle "Europe is paying the price for America's invasion of Iraq" to describe this influx.
Refugees are terrorists according to American laws
On 28 September, the website published a report on refugees in the US, in which Middle East Online considered Washington rejection to grant asylum to thousands in danger because of their stance against their rulers in the fight for freedoms.
The US received 41,500 refugees in 2006, a much greater number than the number of asylum seekers following 9/11, which was than 30 thousands throughout the period of two years.
Sanctity of private life:
The research team did not notice that the website is interested in the right to privacy. However, there were some subjects which were indirectly related to this issue.
Espionage:
The digital revolution is also a revolution in terrorism and criminality
The website published a report on 16 March covering an international conference held under the guardianship of the International Telecommunication Union in Doha, Qatar. The report referred to the abuse of internet, as the technology facilitates all types of violations, including robbery, sabotage of information centers, and artificial espionage. A French expert participated in the conference and recommended at the end of the report to end free e-mail services and imposition of strict monitoring of Internet use.
Washington spies on international financial institutions
The website posted on 23 June a piece of news on the confession made by the US Secretary of Treasury of spying on financial institutions claiming that this is necessary to combat terrorism. The website treatment of this story was almost a call for the US to spy on banking transactions.
A follow up:
The research team followed up on Middle East Online during the period 21 April - 21 May 2007 - after the workshop HRinfo held to discuss the primary results of the study, in which Mohamed Sanaglha, the director of the website, participated, was convened - it was found that the media content of the website concentrated the human rights movement, the right to political participation, in addition to freedom of expression, and protection from discrimination.
The website continued to give the same attention to the countries mentioned in the beginning of this chapter. However, coverage on Egypt, the US, and Libya improved. Tunisia still occupied the first rank among the website's interests.
During this month, the website's contents concentrated on human rights violations. However, it still acted as a propaganda tool for some countries. In general, the promotion of human rights preceded criticism of right concepts.
Conclusion:
On average, the website posts one human rights related piece every three days, when using a search for subject (an indicator considered more accurate as the relation of the material with human rights is clearer) The rate falls to one human rights related story over a period of 30 days when searching through headlines.
Most content material focused on the right to political participation and the human rights movement's activities, in addition to freedom of expression. This reflects the websites interest in civil and political rights and focus on groups who have a louder voice. The website concentrates on human rights violations. At the same time, however, it is distinguished in terms of providing propaganda for some countries practices and its criticism of the concept of human rights.
Also, the content reflected a priority to women's rights related issues over the rights of refugees and minorities. Similar to the other websites, Middle East Online gives the right to privacy the least attention.
Middle East Online is the only website among others that criticized an international organization with a long history in serving humanity during times of peace and war, namely the ICRC.
The website depends mainly on studies and articles in publishing its media messages. Women's rights occupied the first rank among the four rights included in the study and the celebration of the International Day for Women was a chance for the website to discuss political and social participation of women.
In general, the website connects women's rights to poverty, ignorance and harmful social customs. Yemen and Syria occupied the first rank in violating women's rights. The website discussed violence against women, circumcision, and racial discrimination against women. It also tackled weak political participation and political abuse of women along with the absence of laws to protect women. The website's message was in appreciation of the role of women. Women's rights in Tunisia gave opportunity for the website to use as propaganda for the country.
The website is interested in rights of minorities, particularly the right of Shiites. It dedicated a large space to study the relationship between Shiites and different governments in the Arab World, especially in Egypt and the Gulf region. The website provided numbers and statistics of Shiites and their history and the main forms of discrimination against them. It also mentioned the major political reasons for current relations and the procedures taken by governments in the region to manipulate the demographic formula especially in the Gulf. The website hired the Saudi writer Ali Al- Girash who is one of the most prominent writers on the issues of sectarianism in the region.
The website dealt with issues related to refugees, with a conventional focus on Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. However, the website added a new dimension to refugees' problems by focusing also on Europe and the US, as the number of refugees in the west increase due to the deterioration in Africa and the Middle East. It mentioned how the US puts obstacles to restrict refugees from entering American territories. It also highlighted the situation of asylum seekers trying to reach Europe via Morocco and the suffering they face, which on several occasions has lead to deaths.
However, the Sudanese refugees' crisis in Mustafa Mahmoud square in Cairo did not receive the same attention.
Finally, the website did not give any attention to the right to privacy.
