Stories about Middle East & North Africa
When the messages stopped
"After Israel has bombed Gaza into the Dark Ages again, arrested and killed hundreds elsewhere, what then? Will Israeli soldiers occupy the Strip? Will they tighten the siege forever, or in their words, repeatedly 'mow the lawn?'"
Portraits of exile: Feminista group's ongoing struggle for justice in Iran
Activists Maryam Bahrami and Setayesh Hadizadeh share their 80-day sit-in experiences in Berlin, advocating for reduced Germany-Iran diplomatic relations to protest human rights violations in Iran.
When Palestinians ‘die’ and Israelis get ‘killed’ in the same war
"In news reporting, every semantic choice, nuanced omission, prioritization, and bias holds the power to shape how readers interpret information, particularly evident during wars such as the conflict in Gaza."
Digital apartheid and the use of social media algorithms in humanitarian crises
Big tech platforms extensively censor Palestinian voices, shadow banning them and their supporters, violating their rights to free speech, assembly, information access, political participation, and protection from discrimination.
A silent ‘coup’ in Turkey deepens political and judicial crisis
Both decisions — rejecting the Constitutional Court's decision and filing a criminal complaint against the members of the court — have been critiqued by officials as well as independent lawyers and observers.
Italy's plan to set up asylum-seeker center in neighboring Albania sparks debate
A center will open in Albania to temporarily accommodate immigrants en route to Italy, while their asylum applications are assessed.
Digital Blackout: Systematic censorship of Palestinian voices
During the continuous Gaza bombardment and worsening humanitarian crisis, Palestinians face a communication blackout and tech censorship, hindering access to crucial information and the documentation of human rights violations.
In Turkey, the state is targeting scores of journalists
According to Reporters Without Borders, Turkey is ranked 165th out of 180 countries where "authoritarianism is gaining ground, challenging media pluralism" and "all possible means are used to undermine critics."
Human rights organizations call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza
Global Voices aligns with human rights organizations in urging an immediate ceasefire, stressing the urgent necessity to stop the loss of innocent lives in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and beyond.
Jamaicans express disappointment over their country’s ‘no-show’ UN Gaza vote
Jamaica was the only Caribbean nation to not vote on the UN resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.
Deconstructing the ‘beheaded babies’ misinformation in Israel’s war on Gaza
"We have seen journalists, in particular, spread unverified information that is being used to justify Israeli and even American calls and actions to annihilate an entire population.”
Decoding Chinese views on Palestine-Israel: Interview with independent journalist Vivian Wu
Global Voices interviewed US-based Chinese journalist Vivian Wu to explore how Israel's war on Gaza conflict is perceived in the Sinophone world.
Interview with Israeli-American journalist Joel Schalit: ‘Israel's government wants to put a formal end to democracy’
Global Voices interviewed Joël Schalit, co-founder of The Battleground, about Israel's war on Gaza. Schalit is an Israeli–American journalist who covers European and Middle Eastern politics, including for Israeli media.
South American presidents react to the Israel-Gaza war
Chile and Argentina have the largest Palestinian and Israeli communities in the region. How have their presidents reacted to the war in the Middle East?
‘Am I dead?': A witness's testimony from Gaza
'I returned home with the weight of the painful images etched into my mind, a haunting memory that will remain with me for a lifetime.'
Civil society organizations call on tech companies to respect Palestinian digital rights in times of crisis
Tech companies must acknowledge their vital role and responsibility and adhere to business and human rights principles, along with international human rights laws, in upholding and protecting freedom of expression
Portraits of exile: Iranian ‘soldier of justice’ Sholeh Pakravan
In a heart-wrenching moment behind prison walls in Iran, Sholeh receives news about her daughter Reyhaneh's execution for killing a former intelligence ministry worker who had attempted to rape her.
Is there a double standard in how foreign-funded Persian media covers the opposition?
Four experts explain why there is a double standard in how the foreign-funded big Persian media are covering the Iranian opposition, neither criticizing them nor demanding transparency.
Still fighting the natives: A march for Palestine in London
The National March for Palestine began at the BBC’s London headquarters. Activists sprayed the doors with blood-red paint.
Malaysia and Indonesia throw support behind Palestinian cause
Thousands of people in Indonesia and Malaysia rallied over the weekend to show their support for Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
The roots of the war on Gaza explained
In addition to the tragic loss of life and the staggering number of injuries, the conflict has also resulted in widespread displacement and a profound disruption of daily life.
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
