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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from December, 2017
Massive Protests in Iran as People Weigh in on Its Origins
Here is a look at what is happening in Iran, how it differs from 2009's protests, and why there is a lot more to this situation than meets the eye.
Incarceration of Left-wing Japanese Newspaper Editor Sparks Fears of Threat to Free Speech
"We are very concerned that these types of suppression against citizens by the police will expand. The whole purpose of [conspiracy law] is to repress citizen movement and the press."
In 2017, Stories of Resilience, Creativity and Love Were Plentiful
Injustice abounds, but the human spirit is alive, kicking, and as beautiful as ever. Take a look at these highlights of Global Voices' coverage in 2017.
Macedonia's Former Government Tried to Cover Up Its Own Wiretapping Operation, With Help from a Foreign Company
New revelations show the depths of manipulation perpetrated by the populist propaganda machine of Macedonia's former government.
In Hopeful Step Toward Reconstruction, Iraq's Mosul Celebrates First Christmas Since Fall of ISIS
"Iraq would not be without its Christians, Yazidis, and other communities."
In Memory of Aleppo
"We are alive, we will keep going, and the dream will be realized"
In Lebanon, Civil Society Groups Are Launching a New Waste Management Coalition
"The government should listen to what this coalition and the Lebanese people are saying"
In Egypt, Both Sexual Harassment and Child Marriages Continue to Plague the Country
"Sexual harassment is a major problem in Egypt. Studies show that large majorities of women have been subjected to it [...] And the problem is deeply rooted."
Concerns over United States President Trump's Latest Controversial Foreign Policies Loom Large in Africa
"This is not a very diplomatic strategy. Then again, it is coming from a man whose vision and politics are limited by his lack of awareness about the outside world."
Graphic Journalists and Illustrators Draw Alternative Narratives in Syria
"Contrary to a common prejudice, comics can help address serious, difficult issues. This form allows, if not requires, the reporter to be part of the story he tells."
Refugees in Lebanon Are Still Being Scapegoated in the Media and in Academia
"How can one claim that these people are here to receive aid from international organizations, when many are, in fact, not receiving any?"
A ‘Detainee of All Eras': The Prominent Case of Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdelfattah
"His trial is an attempt to silence criticism of a judiciary that has itself become a source of human rights violations."
The Ahwazis of Iran Face Death Sentences after False Accusations of Opposing the Government
An Iranian court sentenced two Ahwazi Arab men to death and gave six others three to 25 years for the crimes of alleged membership in non-existent opposition groups.
Audrey Azoulay, the Second Woman at the Head of the UNESCO
She won the title after five voting rounds, with 30 votes in her favor against 28 votes for her opponent Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, from Qatar
Syrian and Lebanese: On the Conflict of Identities
"Being half-Lebanese, half-Syrian is like being a child whose parents are separated and both hate you because each half of you reminds them of the other...."
Palestinians Aren't Surprised by US Jerusalem Move As World Already ‘Ignores Their Existence’
"A nation built on ethnic cleansing, colonialism and white supremacy has always supported colonialism and ethnic cleansing in Palestine."
Jailed Bahraini Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Faces Additional Fifteen Years in Prison
Rajab is in prison for his human rights-related activities and for freely expressing his opinions.
Animal Carcasses, Tires, and Medical Waste: A New Report Highlights Health Risks of Lebanon's Trash Crisis
"When they burn we can’t breathe […] We’ve had to go to the hospital because of this."
Weaving Objects of Loss and Memory With Hayv Kahraman
Kahraman’s new work is a masterful exploration of the issues of identity, personal struggle, and human consciousness.
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