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Stories about West Asia & North Africa
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From MENA to WANA: Why terminologies matter
By adopting WANA to describe the vast interconnected geographical region, we can better honor its rich diversity and the people who call it home.
Why do girls and women keep dying in Turkey?
A confession by one of the detained village residents brought further horror to a story that is all too familiar in a country that withdrew from Istanbul Convention in 2021
Paralympics ceremony in Syria faces backlash and censorship amid accusations of paganism
The use of an Olympic torch at Idlib’s Paralympics ceremony led to backlash from extremist groups and the suspension of the event.
Ahead of its controversial elections, Tunisia bans magazine Jeune Afrique for criticizing the president
With most opposition candidates arrested or banned, and Jeune Afrique censored, Tunisia’s upcoming elections signal a bleak future for its democracy.
Tech giants criticized for silencing Pro-Palestinian narratives
Social media platforms are accused of suppressing Palestinian voices, raising concerns about the impact on democratic debate and freedom of expression globally.
From revolution to exile: The journey of Iranian activist Nasrin Bassiri
Nasrin Bassiri’s journey from revolutionary hope in Iran to exile in Berlin captures Iranian women's relentless fight for freedom.
One hundred Turkish lira for your data: How Turkish citizens lost all expectations of data security and privacy
Data leaks have become so common in Turkey that most Turkish citizens do not expect any privacy online anymore.
Starlink in Sudan: A lifeline or war facilitator?
Sudan's conflict has crippled telecommunication as both sides leverage and disrupt internet services to gain control.
Floods in Libya a month before the anniversary of the Derna floods raise fears
With the Derna disaster anniversary approaching, new floods in Kufra, intensified by the climate crisis, have reignited people’s fears.
Life in Gaza is even harder than it appears on screen
Two weeks ago, I drank some water, and my stomach still hurts. The water was supposed to be potable just as Gaza is supposed to be liveable.
In Turkey, a street interview lands a citizen in jail
“Insulting the president,” and “inciting hatred and hostility among the public,” are both common charges leveled against government critics in Turkey.
Turkey is committed to undermining NATO
"Hesitation to hold Turkey accountable is partially understandable. NATO was created to counter the systemic threat posed by the Soviet Union. It has no developed mechanisms to counter internal threats ..."
Internet shutdowns in Sudan allow the bypass of regulations
Sudan’s internet shutdowns bypass legal frameworks, raising concerns about human rights and highlighting the growing influence of decentralized technologies like Starlink.
Covering Gaza: The deadliest war for journalists
Israel’s ongoing attack has tragically become the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded.
Turkey blocks access to Instagram
According to the most recent Internet Censorship report produced by the Free Web Turkey platform, in total, “access to 219,059 URLs, including 197,907 domain names were blocked in Turkey in 2023.”
Turkey and Armenia resume talks, marking historic diplomatic breakthrough
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 during the first Karabakh war in a show of solidarity with its long-time ally Azerbaijan. Since then, ties between Turkey and Armenia have remained strained.
Erdoğan threatens to intervene in Israel, though pundits call it an empty threat
Since October 2023, Turkey went from trying to mediate between Israel and Hamas to recalling its ambassador to Tel Aviv and announcing total restrictions on all trade with Israel until the war on Gaza ends.
Turkey's bill on stray dogs is not really about the safety of the streets
it is easier to address visible, attention-drawing issues such as stray dogs, rather than more subtle, insidious issues such as workplace safety and gender-based violence.
In Iran, persecuted minorities can also turn into persecutors
For the past four decades, the Islamic Republic has systematically repressed religious minorities. However, within society, some oppressed minorities have mirrored this behavior and become oppressors themselves.
Hand gesture during Euro match leads to a diplomatic row in Turkey
After a Turkish football player made a controversial, ultranationalist gesture during a match, Turkey's ambassador to Germany was summoned to the Foreign Office, launching something of a diplomatic row.
About our West Asia & North Africa coverage
