Here’s Al Jazeera’s coverage of the Middle East this week.
Istanbul is reeling from a deadly bomb, the Arab world is running out of water, and the death penalty in Iran. Here’s your review, written by Abubakr Al-Shamahi, Al Jazeera Digital’s Middle East and North Africa editor.
A surveillance video captured by security cameras shows a woman walking with what appears to be a bag. He stands up and sits on the bench Istiklal Avenuea busy pedestrian street in the center Istanbul. Then he got up and went. The video is not good, but Turkish authorities say the woman left her purse behind. A few minutes later, the explosion killed six people, including a child.
For many people in Istanbul, the bombing reminded them of the dark days of 2015 and 2016. Back then, Turkey’s largest city, along with the rest of the country, faced many terrorist attacks, some by ISIL (ISIS), others by. groups affiliated with the Kurdish PKK.
I used to live in Istanbul, and I remember always walking past the Reina night club, the place where the most of the victims were. It was there that the terrorist ISIL shot and killed 39 people celebrating the New Year 2017. I would say that security in Istanbul has improved since then, but seeing the explosion in Istiklal, inside the city, has brought back fear, and in some cases, disobedience.
Officials say the main suspect in the attack has been arrested, and he has admitted to being trained by the PKK across the Syrian border. The PKK denies this, and says it is not involved in any way. Whoever did this, don’t let Turkey go ahead with the military operation against the PKK in Syria that they have been threatening for months now.
The water crisis in the Arab world
With the COP27 climate conference in Egypt this week, there has been a lot of interest in all areas. environmental problems. Chief among them is that the area is drying up – and eating. Take it Iraq – Ancient Mesopotamia, literally “the land between two rivers”. Due to the lack of rainfall, the overuse of dams in Turkey, the water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have dropped significantly, making the fields less fertile. Bad for agriculture, but good for archeology – the reservoir created by the Mosul Dam has dried up so much that the ancient city of Zakhiku has recovered.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Arab world, in Morocco, such problems are many. The dried up rivers in the Dadès valley have left the locals with only memories of the water that used to flow through their villages. They blame poor water management, mines and nearby solar power plants.
Death penalty in Iran
Anti-government protests in Iran they are now at their peak of two months, and show no signs of stopping. But even the government does not interfere. The first protest-related penalty was handed down on Sunday, followed by four more since then. But you may have seen another number circulating on the Internet – yes 15,000 to be killed it has been ordered. It’s wrong, and we’ll tell you why.
And Now For Something Different
Iraq He has been in turmoil for 40 years, and with it, the fame of Baghdad Al Rasheed Hotel. Located on the banks of the Tigris, the hotel was a place to be seen – literally. Under Saddam Hussein, the hotel had two-way glass and hidden cameras. Funnily enough, the lobby floor once had portraits of President George HW Bush, so people would walk around face down. After the US invasion that ousted Saddam, the hotel was looted and shelled, before becoming a US military base. But now, finally, good days have returned to the hotel, which is known as one of the best in the city.
In short
Iran charged after an oil tanker was hit by an explosive-laden “bomb” off the coast of Oman – The UN organization of The Palestinian people doesn’t have enough money for a million – Azerbaijan arrested five people accused of espionage Iran – Israel air attack kills two soldiers in Syria – FIFA announced Tel Aviv-Doha charter flights for World Cupbut Qatar says no to normalization – Netanyahu of Israel was tasked with creating a government – Palestine shot after killing three Israelis in West Bank settlement – 15 years old Palestinian girl shot dead The Israeli army – The family of Shireen Abu Akleh news received where US he wants to investigate his murder Israel – Two Egypt girls who were found dead Syria camp hosting ISIL families
Word of the Week
“I haven’t celebrated in a long time, I want to celebrate with my friends, so bring the cake.” – Egyptian freedom fighter Alaa Abdel-Fattah, in a letter to his mother in prison. Abd al-Fattah had gone on hunger strike, and stopped drinking water, to protest his arrest, to attract public attention. COP27. His family was shocked after he kept quiet for a few days, but now he has told them to explain why he solved his hunger problem during his weekly meeting with his mother. Abd el-Fattah is just one of thousands of political prisoners Egypt. Critics have accused the country of using COP27 to cover up its poor human rights record, and have warned attendees that the COP27 program could be used for surveillance.
