Wishing for a Merry Christmas period and a safe, if not Happy, New Year, the Arab world celebrates Christmas 2011-2012, in its own distinct way. On Christmas Day, we remind ourselves that the Arab Middle East is the birthplace of Christianity and home to the world's most ancient Christian denominations. Here's a scan of Christmas around the Middle East, as marked by the minority Christian Arab communities distributed around the region to varying degrees of concentration, from Lebanon to Egypt and even some of the Gulf states. Christmas in 2011 ...

Christians in Egypt are complaining of the after-effects of the Arab Spring. What exactly is their gripe with Egypt's crusade for change? Has their protest been lost or drowned out by global protests among the world's protest fever? In amongst all the cacophony of revolution, uprising and protest and the vying for change in the Arab world, there is another story that has at times been neglected. The predicament of the Coptic Christians of Egypt has perhaps been overlooked leading up to Christmas for the Eastern Church. It could be ...

2011 was a bad year for Arabic celebrities. Arab Revolutions stole the thunder – and made a lot of noise - as revolution news merged with entertainment, as it were. Notably entertainment-worthy, were flamboyant leaders astonishing us with their theatrical speeches and spoofed speech-songs like the unforgettable, ‘Zenga-Zenga’. Gaddafi’s superstar hit, courtesy of inventive Israeli DJ who didn’t miss an opportunity to spread the Revolution on YouTube, captured the Arab and Western world’s attention, and moved the real entertainers – musical artists and actors of the region- to the side-line ...

The relationship between Arabia and Persia can be summarized as one of stop-starting antagonism, the pair lurching between states of 'best of friends' and 'worst of neighbors'! A clash of cultures, religious sects and long-standing stigma of the other. Arabs regard Persians with a long-standing suspicion and mistrust. They harbor the fear of possible Iranian hegemony in the Persian Gulf. This appalls them more so as they view their Persian neighbors as 'knowingly' devient. (or mis-led) Persians see Arabs as inferior and regard them with an equally matched distaste. Each ...

Islamic guide to vegetable shopping - what's in and what's in the bin! On the back of the mockery that has already not surprisingly arisen concerning the Muslim cleric who spoke out on his distaste for women handling phallic or ' penis-resembling' fruit and vegetables , Al Bawaba has thought to make light of the situation at hand. Forgive us if we've squeezed the lemon. According to the unnamed, possibly Egyptian, Muslim cleric living in Europe, some fruits and vegetables, specfically those most penis-like to the female imagination, should be ...

For Shia Muslims, 'Ashura' is a solemn day of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussein in 680 AD at Karbala in modern-day Iraq. Who is Hussein and why is his death significant to Islam? Imam Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib At a scan : Father: Imam Ali Amir Mu'minin Mother: Fatimah az-Zahra - the daughter of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH) Kunniyat (Patronymic): Abu Abdullah Laqab (Title): Saiyd-ush-Shohada Birth: He was born in Medina on a Thursday, 3rd of Shaban 4 A.H (year of Hijrah) ...

Is the celebrity voice of Egypt unanimously anit-Islamist? Who did the Egyptian celebrities and film stars vote for in the first round of parliamentary elections consuming Egypt last week? With word on Egyptian-Hollywood-street abuzz with the anti-Islamist sentiment held by the acting and artistic community, Al Bawaba wanted to separate reality from conjecture and gossip. According to various sources including the esteemed ‘Al Ahram’ newspaper, candidness and transparency were not easily found among most voting celebs, who for one thing have their popularity to consider when committing to their political ...

So far the new successor or transitory power since Mubarak - the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) - has been seen as a continuation of the old guard and Mubarak regime. This has not been adequate for a people, and indeed a 'square', baying for real change. Protesters (and hopeful voters) out in force at Tahrir Sqare hope to see today's Parliamentary run of elections as rather a continuation of the fight for Egyptian freedom and against militarism. Though it seems an unsettled time- in light of deadly ...

Cairo in Crisis : It's being tagged the second Egyptian Revolution of 2011. What happened to the much fan-fared November Egyptian elections? The elections are hanging in the balance, once again in limbo, until further notice. Frustration about the army's commitment to the handover to civilian rule has built up in the last few months and fury has once again spilled over into streams of people flooding Tahrir Square to voice their grievances. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) which took over from Mubarak on Feb. 11, wants ...

Libya is Gaddafi free. Caught reluctantly but not so dramatically as historical fugitives or renegade fighters, Saif al-Gaddafi is in National Transitional Council (NTC) hands. Appearing downcast and pitiful in contrast to his fight-to-the finish mantra. Not so defiant and full of hot air as when, in the height of his country's revolution-turned full-blown civil war, he had only disdainful words and a finger for his people-- 'tooz'!(Arabic colloquial for literally a 'fart' on you; blast you!). Now a farewell from Libya and the non-Libyan spectators to this 2011 dramatic ...

This month a report came in that Ariel Sharon had stirred from his 5-year slumber. Apparently, he has been flinching and giving signs of life in response to stimulus such as pinching and sound. He has moved his fingers. While this digital reflex is enough to render hope to his son, it is not enough to declare an 'Israeli Awakening' at all comparable to the Arab predecessor or 'Spring'. Some theories hold that he is the Messiah. In that vein then, has the Arab Awakening been the forerunner for the ...