By Shelagh Smith The strike of the workers of Numilog in Bejaia, Kabylia, is playing an important role in building confidence and solidarity in the Algerian workers movement. Their conflict with the transport and logistics firm, part of the huge Cevital group, began in July when three workers were sacked for setting up a trade…
Well-known human rights NGO, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) is facing a coordinated assault by the authorities following the arrest and detention of key members of staff last week. Two of those arrested Karim Ennarah, head of EIPR’s Criminal Justice Unit, and administrative director Mohamed Bashir, have been added to a case opened…
Moroccan youth and feminist activists are appealing for international solidarity with Fadila al-Makhloufi, a member of Al-Mussawah (Equality) feminist group and the Youth Challenge Movement after her arrest and detention on 22 October. Fadila was interrogated by the Royal Gendarmerie and investigated by the General Prosecutor in Tinghir, in the south east of Morocco in…
Workers at Kenana Sugar Company have returned to work after more than a month on strike in what has become the longest-running walkout in Sudanese history. An agreement signed off by company representatives, local and national government officials, a senior politician in the Forces of Freedom and Change and two members of the Initiative for…
By Mirfat Sulaiman As the war on Yemen enters its 6th year, the administration imposed by the Saudi Coalition in Aden is facing protests by army veterans and workers. While the government of Mansour Hadi – in whose name Saudi-led forces invaded Yemen in 2015 – resides in hotels in Riyadh, Aden is governed by…
By Shelagh Smith On 15 September an appeal court in Algiers sentenced journalist Khaled Drareni to a two-year prison sentence over his coverage of the Hirak protest movement. Two activists, Samir Benlarbi and Slimane Hamitouche, were each sentenced to a year in prison, eight months of which were suspended, in the same sham trial. The…
Devastating floods caused by extremely heavy rains in Ethiopia and Sudan have left hundreds of thousands homeless in Sudan. Middle East Solidarity spoke to Marwa Kessinger who is one of the many Sudanese activists abroad who is mobilising support and solidarity for those affected. “Sudan is experiencing the highest floods on record since 1946. More…
Over a thousand workers at Kenana Sugar Company in Sudan are starting their second month on strike to demand basic trade union rights, increased wages to offset the spiralling cost of living, the removal of figures associated with the old regime from the company and the reinstatement of 34 workers sacked for taking part…
By Shelagh Smith An Algerian court on August 10 sentenced journalist Khaled Drareni to three years in jail. Drareni was charged with “inciting an unarmed gathering” and “endangering national unity” based on his Facebook posts. He had been detained since March awaiting trial. This harsh verdict is being widely condemned by Algerian and international human…
Massive demonstrations rippled through Beirut on 8 August as protesters took to the streets calling for revenge on the politicians who bear collective responsibility for the huge explosion at the port on 4 August. Protesters stormed the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Economy, the Ministry of the Environment and…
Anne Alexander This is an article from the current issue of Middle East Solidarity magazine – help us continue our work by donating £2 for a digital copy online Sudan’s revolutionary movement has surged ahead with renewed confidence as marches to commemorate the one year anniversary of the ‘March of Millions on 30 June 2019…
Sarah Hegazi was a courageous fighter against injustice and oppression and an inspiration to the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights far beyond Egypt, says Alice Finden. This is an article from the current issue of Middle East Solidarity magazine – help us continue our work by donating £2 for a digital copy online This summer, activists…
Campaigners have vowed to keep up the fight to stop British weapons fuelling Saudi Arabia’s devastating war on Yemen, after the government said it would resume granting licenses for arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition on 7 July. A landmark judgement by the Court of Appeal in June 2019 ruled that it was unlawful for…
This is an article from the current issue of Middle East Solidarity magazine – help us continue our work by donating £2 for a digital copy online Tens of thousands of prisoners remain at risk of Covid 19 in Egypt’s overcrowded and insanitary jails, while their families have been denied visiting rights and information about…
The grandiose plans to create a new capital city for Egypt are testament to Al-Sisi’s determination to prevent a repeat of the mass protests which led to revolution in 2011, argues Fareid Atta. Far from creating a sustainable new city to relieve the pressure of overcrowding in Cairo, housing in the New Administrative Capital will…
