Week of June 27, 2016 Roundup

This week: #Brexit, #AlQaa, #Liliane_Daoud , #Turkish_Israeli_Agreement and cartoon from Al Watan Newspaper

Editor’s note: The Arab Social Media Roundup is a pilot project from Meedan, starting in June 2016. This roundup is provided as an example of content for readers. To subscribe to the newsletter, please email hello@speakbridge.io

Translated Social Media Trends

#Brexit
How did Arabs discuss Brexit results? Some of the most prominent emerging themes were: the future of Saudi investments and Gulf money in the UK; the fear of refugees fleeing the crisis in Syria; and multiple people talking about the right to democratic choice in comparison to some Arab countries.

• “Can we have a referendum in Egypt about staying or leaving the Middle East .. or the Arab League”
• “#Britain_Outside_of_the_EU Many of the Arab nations are observing this event some may not understand the consequences and the different dimensions but the majority heave a sigh for their stolen freedoms”

Read more: https://speakbridge.io/medias/embed/ArabsOnBrexit

#AlQaa
Some 8 explosions hit the Lebanese town of Al Qaa’ in the northern Bekaa Valley in the past 24 hours. The latest attack struck in the evening as some locals gathered to mourn victims of the morning suicide attacks. The town, which is predominantly Christian, is a few kilometers away from the Syrian border and has witnessed clashes in the past between the Lebanese army and extremist groups. According to reports, the Lebanese army has raided homes of Syrian refugees in the area. As news emerges, Lebanese people are sending messages of support to Al Qaa and its people, challenging sectarian friction while also criticizing the state and different political forces.

• “Undocumented Syrian refugees who live in the projects of #AlQaa were given warnings to go settle their status with the authorities”
• “After the ceremonial statements we witnessed before and after the burial of #AlQaa martyrs, I am sure what will start now isn’t political or security procedures but a time out in the wait for another #explosion”

Read more: https://speakbridge.io/medias/embed/AlQaa_attack_Lebanon

#Liliane_Daoud
Activists and journalists react to the detention and deportation of TV host Liliane Daoud by Egyptian authorities hours after she ended her contract with the Egyptian channel OnTV. According to various accounts, Daoud, a Lebanese national, was deported from Egypt without any of her belongings or her daughter. Journalists and activists have been actively targeted by the Sisi government in recent weeks — this news came on the same day an Egyptian activist was barred from traveling to Beirut. This development comes months after a Twitter campaign calling for the deportation of Daoud by supporters of the Egyptian regime, due to Daoud’s outspoken support of activists.

• “Organizations, parties and numerous public figures express their solidarity with ‘Liliane Daoud’ and refuse ‘terrorizing of free speech’”
• “This is the end of the Egyptian media .. this regime wants to hear its own voice only”

Read more: https://speakbridge.io/medias/embed/Newsletter_June20

#Turkish_Israeli_Agreement
After six years of a freeze on diplomatic relations,Turkey has officially normalized its relationship with Israel. An agreement is set to be signed Tuesday, which will include an exchange of ambassadors. The agreement is said to include a ban of any Hamas activity on Turkish lands, as well as the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip. The move didn’t impress many Palestinians, who believe Erdogan uses the Palestinian cause when convenient to stir the emotions of Arabs and Muslims and for his own political games. What else are those observing saying on social media?

• “I hope from now on we won’t see any Turkish flags or shawarma restaurants calling themselves Turkish shawarma!”
• “10 thousand tons of aid getting in with Israeli supervision does not mean the siege on #Gaza is broken. It waters down the Palestinian right to electricity, water, travel with the humanitarian need”

Read more: https://speakbridge.io/medias/embed/Newsletter_June20

Are you interested in covering any of those stories with translated social media? Please get in touch.

Arab Humor

The spread of international Donald Trumpism !!!

#AlWatan_Newspaper
#Caricature
#Cartoon

Source: Al Watan Saudi Newspaper, cartoonist: Mahmood Hindawi.

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