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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from December, 2015
Strangest Twitter Moment of 2015? Elijah Wood Wades into the Gollum-Erdogan Spat
"You shut up. I skip all the scenes you are in anyway. You can't walk properly. You can't even throw the ring properly... indecent."
Finding the Cultural Bridges of the Middle East in Literary Istanbul
Conversations with literary masters in Istanbul lead Arash Azizi to ponder the cultural disconnect, especially in terms of literature, between the countries of the Middle East.
32 Stories That Capture the Happiness, Heartache and Resilience of 2015
Global Voices’ community-driven newsroom worked hard this year to build understanding across borders. Take a look back at some of the people and places we learned about in 2015.
The Best Stories of 2015, Handpicked by the Global Voices Community
We asked our editors, authors and translators from around the world which stories published on our site in 2015 were their favorites. Here's what they said.
For Artists, the World Was a Canvas for Change in 2015
As 2016 approaches, revisit 16 stories from the Global Voices' archives of art with a powerful purpose.
The 7 Most-Read Stories of 2015 on Global Voices
The following seven stories received the most attention from audiences and also received hundreds of shares, likes and comments on social media and our site.
Syrian Filmmaker Naji Jerf Killed in Turkey After Exposing ISIS Crimes in Aleppo
Syrian film-maker Naji Jerf, 38, was shot dead in broad daylight in Gaziantep, Turkey, for uploading a video exposing ISIS crimes in Aleppo, Syria, on YouTube.
After Her Son's Murder, a French-Moroccan Mother Teaches Young People the Importance of Unity
Latifa Ibn Ziaten talks to French students about her son's murderer. And why they shouldn't follow in his path.
Christmas Around the World in 17 Photos
Many thanks to the Global Voices members who shared photos from their celebrations and Christmas dinner tables.
Activist-Journalist Reflects on Meeting the Iranian Ambassador at a New York Holiday Party
"Iran will one day shine in a way that the Iranian Ambassador will greet Iranian women and journalists without fear and with pride."
Advox by the Numbers: 2015 in Digital Rights
In 2015, Turkey blocked 166 websites for publishing one controversial image, Thai activists knocked 5 government websites offline in a virtual "sit-in", and Mexico spent $6.3 million on surveillance software.
This Year on GV Face We Took You to Gaza, Budapest, Beirut, Paris and Beyond
This has been a fascinating year on GV Face, our Hangout series where we try to understand the world through discussions with our on-ground experts -- Global Voices community members.
Award-Winning Citizen Journalist Ahmad Almossa Killed in Idlib, Syria
Ahmad Mohamed Almossa, a member of Syrian citizen journalism collective Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), was assassinated by masked men in northern Syria, the group announced on Twitter.
The Syrian Conflict Won't Steal My Christmas
In a country in the throes of war, celebrating Christmas can be an act of both profound naïvete and staunch resistance.
Saudi Women Vote in Historic Elections; Now They Want More Rights
Twenty-one Saudi women won seats in municipal elections for the first time ever. Now Saudi women, banned from driving their own cars in the conservative kingdom, demand more.
In US Republican Politics, ‘Hating on Iran Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry’
The Republican debate became a forum for factual inaccuracies and demonizing Iran.
A Tajik Singer Calls on the World Not to Forget Aylan Kurdi
'Whose knife is in my heart and my sight? What country is my lonely body buried in?'
Syria's Most Vulnerable Live a Hard Life in Jordan's Refugee Camps
Yemeni blogger Noon Arabia visits a few of the camps where some of Jordan's 650,000 Syrian refugees are living under difficult circumstances.
Iranians Photograph the First Snow of the Season
It often comes as a surprise to those unfamiliar with the country that Iran experiences all four seasons, including a snowy winter.
A Syrian Family in California Feels the Post-Paris Chill
Life is full steam ahead for this resettled Syrian family, but they worry their relatives, hoping to come to the US too, may not be allowed in anytime soon.
A Citizen Reporter's Journey Through the Rubble of Aleppo Air Strikes
That often means Rami Jarrah is rushing to the aftermath of a bombing, as he did recently when he encountered a panicked father, frantically searching for his loved ones.