This article is worth a read, because Der Spiegel is sadly one of the few serious news outlets. The moral: be very wary of anything you read about the Syrian conflict. Most of it is unverified and originates from propaganda. Most news outlets are responsible for just repeating what others publish without verifying.

Unfortunately the Arab Spring did not bring an era of democracy, enlightenment, and tolerance. Here's example number three. In Spanish, so summary: Tunisian woman sentenced to death for topless photo.

Unfortunately the Arab Spring did not bring an era of democracy, enlightenment, and tolerance. Here's example number two.

Unfortunately the Arab Spring did not bring an era of democracy, enlightenment, and tolerance. Here's an example.

Another sign that perhaps this whole Arab Spring ordeal is not going to be the great liberating, democratizing, modernizing cornerstone in the Arab world.

Caveat: I use those adjectives as perceived from my Western point of view of what human rights and tolerance mean.