Featured stories about Middle East & North Africa
Stories about Middle East & North Africa
22 September 2017
Saudi Arabia Eases Restrictions on Messaging Apps, But WhatsApp and Viber Are Still Blocked
Since 2013, the Saudi government has partially or fully blocked chat and call applications including WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook Messenger and FaceTime.
20 September 2017
Sentenced to One Year in Prison for ‘Inciting Protest,’ a Moroccan Journalist Goes on Hunger Strike
Several journalists have been arrested by Moroccan authorities over their coverage of the unrest in the Rif region.
14 September 2017
Among a Rising Tide of Extremism in Syria, Women's Freedoms Hang in the Balance
Extremist groups like ISIS, Hezbollah and al-Nusra are undermining the freedoms that Syria’s women and girls enjoyed, which were a longtime strength of Syrian society.
8 September 2017
Palestinian Human Rights Defender Arrested for a Facebook Post
In a Facebook post, Amro criticized the Palestinian Authority's arrest of journalist Ayman Qawasmi .
6 September 2017
A Year After Newspaper Ban, Independent Media Remain Under Siege in Oman
Azamn newspaper was banned over a report on interference with the independence of the judiciary. One of its journalists remains in prison.
The King's ‘Throne Day’ Speech Leaves Many in Morocco Unimpressed
"The King is very much concerned about his image. Nothing is left to coincidence, everything is calculated."
Iran's Foreign Minister Says He Won't Tweet in Persian Because of Twitter Censorship
The rhetoric of the Rouhani administration is giving off less hope for online freedoms, and the popular foreign minister's statements about not tweeting for Iranian audiences has increased concerns.
Damascus International Fair, the Syrian Regime's Attempt to ‘Beautify’ Wounds of War?
"Assad's 'healthier and homogeneous society' is built by systematic killings, demographic evacuations & wiping out whole neighborhoods."
4 September 2017
50 Shades of Erdogan's Propaganda
The enemies of Turkey's authoritarian government are everywhere and state propaganda is taking on an increasingly absurd hue.
25 August 2017
Macedonian Citizen Fined 400 Euro For Insulting Turkish President Erdoğan on Facebook
A Macedonian court ordered a person to pay 400 euros for writing "ironical statements and insulted a leader of a foreign country."
24 August 2017
A Look at Some of Syria's Destroyed Heritage
"This is like blowing up the Taj Mahal or destroying the Acropolis in Athens. This is a disaster."
17 August 2017
In Tunisia's ‘State of Emergency’, a New Police Protection Law Could Allow More Abuse — With Impunity
Supported by the interior ministry and police unions, the bill is being criticized by human rights groups.
Palestinian Journalists Become First Targets of Controversial Cybercrime Law
The journalists were accused of "leaking information to hostile entities" under a newly-adopted cybercrime law.
15 August 2017
Reformist Members of Iran's Parliament Push to Free Green Movement Leaders Under House Arrest
Reformist members of Iran’s Parliament have established the Committee to Seek an End to House Arrests following the recent hospitalization of 79-year-old political opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi.
10 August 2017
Paddling Against Pollution: One Man’s Mission to Protect Iraq’s Rivers for Future Generations
For the past seven years, Nabil Musa has been traveling around Iraq on a one-man mission to promote the importance of clean waterways for current and future generations.
9 August 2017
Rights Group Website and Columnist's Blog Become Latest Targets of Egypt's Censorship Campaign
From May 24 to August 6, Egyptian authorities blocked 133 websites, according to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression.
8 August 2017
Jordanian Rapper Emsallam Hdaib Talks About LGBTQ+ Rights, Freedom of Expression, and Resistance
“Sometimes it feels like Jordan is an open air prison especially when you think of visiting the nearest countries to it.”
7 August 2017
Syrian Town of Arbin Picks Up the Pieces After Deadly Airstrike During Truce
"This act is in violation of international norms and laws, a breach of the ceasefire agreement."
6 August 2017
‘They Can't Stop Us’ — World Mourns Execution of Palestinian-Syrian Activist Bassel Khartabil Safadi by the Assad Regime
"This is a loss for Syria. This is loss for Palestine. This is my loss." - Noura Ghazi Safadi
5 August 2017
Behind Bars for 30 Days: EU Leaders Condemn Turkey's Detention of #Istanbul10
The European Commission called for the “immediate release” of the group, calling the detentions part of a “deeply worrying pattern” of imprisonment in Turkey.
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
Joey Ayoub is Middle East and North Africa editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
Lova Rakotomalala is the French editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
