Media review: How can one suicide incident be a heroic act, while another is considered an act of madness?

Media review: How can one suicide incident be a heroic act, while another is considered an act of madness?

    Friday, March 01, 2024   No comments

A member of the editorial board of the Washington Post and its columnist, Shadi Hamed, writes that some of the reactions to US Air Force soldier Aaron Bushnell recently burning himself in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington while shouting “Free Palestine” were not limited to rejection, but also included anger at what he did.

The writer commented on these reactions by saying that some people's quickness to explain Bushnell's behavior as resulting from a psychological illness suggests double standards.

He cited as evidence Michael Starr's description in his article in the Jerusalem Post newspaper of the suicide incident in protest against the Gaza war, as "a state of hysteria," while journalist Mark Joseph Stern labeled those who commit this act as "suffering from mental disorder."

When it came to the suicide of Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi by setting himself on fire on December 17, 2010, in protest against the police confiscation of his small cart - an incident that sparked the Arab Spring revolutions - no one questioned whether he was suffering from a mental illness, and even President Barack Obama He praised him at the time as a “hero,” according to the Washington Post article.

Western media rarely described Bouazizi's death as a suicide, and in the face of this double standard, writer Shadi wonders: How can one suicide incident be a heroic act, while another is considered an act of madness? Psychopathy?

The article compares Bushnell's suicide with Bouazizi's suicide, noting that the American soldier apparently thought carefully and alerted the media to it hours before carrying out his act, unlike the Tunisian street vendor whose action was in response to the authorities confiscating his goods and the police's mistreatment of him.

One critic noted that while Bouazizi was protesting against his government, Bushnell was preoccupied with a “distant ethnic and religious conflict.” In his article, the writer believes that the American soldier has no “kinship ties” to the region, “so why does he have an overwhelming feeling about other people’s problems?”

US government employees to stage one-day hunger strike on Thursday to denounce Joe Biden’s policy on Gaza

US government employees to stage one-day hunger strike on Thursday to denounce Joe Biden’s policy on Gaza

    Monday, January 29, 2024   No comments

The British daily, The Guardian reported that Feds United for Peace, group of workers from more than two dozen agencies, to stage one-day hunger strike on Thursday

US government employees are planning a “day of fasting for Gaza” this week to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the territory and to denounce Joe Biden’s policy toward Israel.

Representatives for Feds United for Peace, a group of several dozen government employees frustrated with the Gaza crisis who organized an office walkout earlier in the month, told the Guardian that on Thursday its members will stage a one-day hunger strike. Participating federal employees are expected to show up to their offices dressed in black or wearing keffiyeh scarves or other symbols of Palestinian solidarity.

A federal employee speaking on behalf of the group said the Day of Fasting is a response to Israel’s use of “starvation as a weapon of war by intentionally withholding food from entering Gaza”, citing UN reporting that up 2 million people in the territory are at risk of famine.

Mexican actress Melissa Barrera continues to support Gaza despite her exclusion from “Scream 7”

Mexican actress Melissa Barrera continues to support Gaza despite her exclusion from “Scream 7”

    Tuesday, December 26, 2023   No comments

 Despite being excluded from starring in the movie “Scream 7” due to her posts in support of Palestine, Mexican actress Melissa Barrera continues to express her positions rejecting the Israeli war of annihilation in the Gaza Strip.

On Christmas Eve, the actress took to her Instagram Stories and used the date of Christmas to draw the world's attention to the problems facing Palestine, writing: "I hope this Christmas is...weird."

She added: "I hope you do not ignore the fact that you are celebrating the birth of a child (Jesus Christ) who was persecuted and targeted and whose family was forced to flee to Egypt, while millions of Palestinians from the specific part of the world are now being persecuted and targeted and forced to flee their homes under random and relentless bombing."

Melissa’s position in support of Palestine and her sharing of supportive posts for Gaza on social media platforms led to her exclusion from starring in the “Scream 7” film series, which was acknowledged by “Spyglass”, the company that produced the film, saying in a statement, “Barrera was expelled for showing her support for the Palestinian cause.” .

The company quickly severed its ties with the heroine of the movie “In the Heights,” who was preparing for the starring role in the new part of the “Scream” series after starring in the fifth and sixth parts during the past two years.

Three days ago, the film's director, Christopher Landon, announced his withdrawal from the film, saying: "I think now is the right time to officially announce my departure from (Scream 7), and this will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart breaks for everyone." "But it's time to move on. I don't have anything."

Although Landon did not directly link his departure from the film to the Gaza issue, critics linked his withdrawal to the gap created by Barrera's exclusion from the film, as Landon considered it a gap that could not be filled and was determined to make Barrera the heroine of the film.

On October 27, 2023, Barrera wrote on Instagram, saying: “We come together as artists and advocates, but more importantly as human beings witnessing the terrible loss of life and horrors unfolding in Palestine and Israel.”

She added: “Please join us in calling on Congress, the President of the United States, and other world leaders to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost. We must end the bombing of Gaza, ensure the safe release of all hostages, and demand access.” Sufficient amount of humanitarian aid to the people who need it most.”

Melissa Barrera was born on July 4, 1990. She grew up in Monterrey, the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon in northeastern Mexico, and studied musical theater at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

She attended the American School of Monterrey, where her love for music and singing emerged, and she made her first television appearance on the “Mexican Reality” program in 2011.

In 2013, she was part of the duo Melissa E. Sebastian, with whom she recorded her debut album and her first top 10 radio hit came with her debut single "Mama Maria".

In 2014, she got her first starring role in the movie “Soap Opera”, “Always Yours Acapulco” in 2015, and in the same year she recorded the theme song “To Fall Again” alongside the Mexican singer Kalimba, for her TV series “Too Much Of love."

Barrera is best known for her roles in television series such as “Judas’ Wife,” “The Other Side of the Soul,” “Too Much Love,” and the Netflix series Crew Club.

Outside of Mexico, she is best known for her role in the “Scream” films and her starring role in the “Stars Live” series and the musical films “In the Heights” and “Keep Breathing.”

Senegal: dead in protests after the prison sentence of the opposition leader

Senegal: dead in protests after the prison sentence of the opposition leader

    Sunday, June 04, 2023   No comments

After Senegalese opposition figure Osman Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison for "corrupting the youth", the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and a number of regions are witnessing violence.

On Thursday, the capital of Senegal, Dakar, and a number of regions witnessed violence after a criminal court sentenced opposition leader Osman Sonko, a candidate for the 2024 presidential elections, to two years in prison on charges of “corrupting the youth” and acquitted him of rape charges against him.

Two police officials told "Agence France Presse" that 3 people were killed during demonstrations in Ziguinchor (south), noting that a policeman was stoned to death by young men on the outskirts of Dakar, and no official confirmed this information publicly.

In the evening, it was noted that there were restrictions that greatly impeded access to social networking sites.

"This situation is similar" to what Senegal witnessed in 2021 of bloody violence, "and it is likely to greatly limit people's ability to communicate," NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, told AFP.

Attorney Ousmane Thiam, who attended the hearing, explained that “corrupting the youth,” which includes hiring or encouraging the employment of a person under the age of 21, is a misdemeanor under Senegalese law, not a crime like rape.

Sonko would have been stripped of his electoral rights if he had been convicted in absentia of a crime such as rape.

However, the reclassification of the facts as a misdemeanor still under the electoral law appears to threaten Sonko's eligibility and ability to run for president in 2024.

Sonko came third in the 2019 elections.

Sonko, who did not attend the trial and took refuge in the south of the country, confirms that this case is a conspiracy orchestrated by the president, who denies this.

Since February 2021, when the alleged rape case hit the headlines, Sonko has been fighting a battle in the judiciary and the political arena to ensure his survival against President Macky Sall.

About 20 civilians have been killed since 2021 in disturbances largely related to his status, and the authority and his camp exchange accusations in this regard.

Senegal, which is considered a relatively stable country in a turbulent region despite some political problems, witnessed new clashes between Sonko's supporters and the security forces linked to his trial and then his return from the south of the country to Dakar on Friday.

He was able to mobilize the youth, but he was arrested on Sunday and forcibly returned to his home in the capital, where he was kept in the midst of a heavy police presence. Since then, the police have responded with tear gas or even arrest for any attempt to approach him.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Sonko announced that he was "detained" and called on Senegalese to demonstrate "in abundance".

Young men attacked and looted the homes of members of the republican camp. The response came with reprisals against the property of members of the opposition and Sonko's party.

President Sall promised, on Wednesday, firmness in the face of violence and decided to start a "national dialogue" that is supposed to reduce tension.

It is noteworthy that Sonko (48 years) is the head of the "Bastef" party and the leader of the opposition in Senegal, and he condemns the exploitation of the judiciary and making it a tool to achieve political ends. He also gives speeches stressing politics and belonging to Africa, and attacks elites and corruption.

He also criticizes the economic and political domination exercised by France and multinational corporations, and defends religious and traditional values, knowing that he is very popular among young people in Senegal.

The release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on bail

The release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on bail

    Friday, May 12, 2023   No comments

Today, Friday, a court in Islamabad released former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, 70, after the Supreme Court overturned his arrest warrant, which caused riots across the country.

"The court granted Imran Khan two weeks' bail, and ordered the authorities not to arrest him again during this period, as part of a corruption case," Khawaja Harris, one of his lawyers, told reporters before the court.

Khan was granted conditional release in a number of other cases.

The court decided that he should not be arrested again, before Monday, in any of the other ten cases he is being prosecuted for, or in the case of acts of violence committed by his supporters this week.

Khan was arrested last Tuesday while a court in Islamabad was hearing his testimony in a corruption case, and then placed in pre-trial detention the next day for eight days.

However, the Supreme Court confirmed that his arrest was "invalid and illegal," and considered that "this arrest came at the initiative of the Anti-Corruption Office, and violated his rights to resort to the judiciary," because "it should not have happened in a court." The court decided that today, Friday, he would appear again before the court, where he was arrested.

On Thursday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced that "Khan will be arrested sooner or later."

For his part, Khan says that he is "subject to judicial harassment at the push of the government and the army to prevent his return to power."

Rights activists say Pakistani courts are often used to stifle political dissent.

It is noteworthy that Khan was ousted from power after a vote of no confidence in Parliament last April, and since then more than 100 lawsuits have been filed against the 70-year-old opposition leader, including charges of “terrorism, incitement to violence and graft.”

Since his overthrow, Khan faces several legal measures, knowing that he is still very popular, and hopes to return to power in the legislative elections scheduled for next October.

It is noteworthy that at least 8 people were killed, and as many as 290 were injured, in clashes across Pakistan, over Khan's arrest.

Police arrest former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan

Police arrest former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan

    Tuesday, May 09, 2023   No comments

Pakistani police on Tuesday arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on the background of his corruption trial, police said.

A large number of policemen appeared surrounding Imran Khan during his arrest, in an atmosphere of screams and chaos in a dramatic scene, where he was taken and placed in a military vehicle, under a great security alert.

His lawyer said in a video posted on Twitter that he was detained outside the Islamabad High Court, and was "severely injured" in the process.

In turn, the deputy head of the "Tehreek-e-Insaf" party, Fouad Chaudhry, announced that Khan had been kidnapped, and Chaudhry wrote in a tweet on "Twitter": "Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was kidnapped from the court building, and dozens of lawyers and ordinary people were tortured, and transferred Imran Khan to an unknown direction.

At the end of last month, a Pakistani court issued an arrest warrant against Khan on the grounds of the "threat" case against a female judge in a criminal court.

And the media reported that "the court issued its decision due to the repeated absence of Imran Khan from attending the trial session," noting that the decision came after the rejection of a petition submitted by Imran Khan's lawyer to exclude him from attending the trial, due to what he described as "threats on his life."

Khan's supporters confronted the police with stones and petrol bombs, after attempts to arrest him, last week, and 100 police officers were injured.

In March, the Islamabad High Court ruled that former Prime Minister Imran Khan would be granted protection from arrest as lawsuits against him increased.

The court's decision stipulated that Khan could not be detained for at least another week in seven separate cases related to clashes that erupted on March 18 between his supporters and police outside a court in Islamabad, where Khan was due to appear on corruption charges.

Khan was ousted by a no-confidence vote in parliament last April, and more than 100 lawsuits have since been filed against the 70-year-old opposition leader, including charges of terrorism, incitement to violence and graft.

Since his overthrow, Khan faces several legal measures, knowing that he is still very popular, and hopes to return to power in the legislative elections, which are scheduled to be held next October.