Stories about Middle East & North Africa from November, 2016
‘We Will Not Surrender': Opposition Voices Rally to Support Turkey's Besieged Media
Yet another independent media outlet in post-coup attempt Turkey is on the brink.
Sweden Joins International Effort to Recognize ‘World Kobane Day’
Several Swedish cities have joined the “World Kobane Day” movement in solidarity with the city that fought and defeated ISIS in 2015.
Melbourne Locals Welcome Syrian Refugees With Open Arms—and Butterflies
"Our butterflies are a reminder that even the smallest action can have a far-reaching effect."
To Some Iranians Watching the US Elections, Democracy Really Seems Like a House of Cards
For some Iranians the 2016 US presidential elections has been shadowed by a demagoguery they know only too well from their own political sphere's struggles for democracy.
Demystifying Social Media Censorship — in Arabic, Spanish and English
Social media platforms have terms of use that restrict several types of content including nudity, hate speech, and violence. But these difficult-to-define rules are always subject to interpretation.
Iran’s Keywan Karimi: The Filmmaker as Graffiti Artist
Working under threat of imprisonment for practicing his craft, Iranian filmmaker Keywan Karimi has turned the difficult conditions of artistic production into an aesthetic.
It Took 2.5 Years, But Lebanon Finally Has a President Again
After a 2.5-year power vacuum, Lebanon finally has a president again. But what does it mean?
Pro-Kurdish Party's Leaders Arrested in Turkey Amid Strengthening Crackdown
Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag were arrested as part of a counter-terrorism investigation, media reported.
Indian Shooter Heena Sidhu Says ‘No’ to Iran's Hijab Rule, and Social Media Rallies Behind Her
"Heena Sidhu pulls out of the Asian Airgun Championships in Iran because of a compulsory hijab rule. A ridiculous rule. And, a brave stance."
In Oman, Independent Media Suspended Until Further Notice
Albalad is the second independent media to stop publishing of its own accord this year. Another newspaper, Alzamn, was suspended by the government last August.
‘My Life for Iran': The 4th Anniversary of Iranian Activist Sattar Beheshti's Death
Sattar Beheshti has come to embody the spirit of resistance in Iran, in an ongoing struggle against freedom of expression and government repression.
Sleeping or Dead – Part 1: “Everything Screams Death”
"An electric current that would be enough to re-power my neighborhood...ran through my body." The first in a six-part series by Sarmad Al-Jilane about his experiences in a Syrian prison.