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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from 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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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."
‘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
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.
‘With Empty Hands But Deep Beliefs,’ Jamal Hosseini Lost His Life Fighting for Human Rights in Iran
The third anniversary of the mysterious death of Jamal Hosseini, a bridge between underground activists in Iran and the global community of human rights activists.
The New Wave of Independent Musicians Performing in Moroccan Arabic
“The alternative scene embodies freedom in genre; freedom to explore and create new genres”.
Netizen Report: Tech Community Mourns Open Source Activist Executed in Syria
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Will Palestine's New Cybercrime Law Pave the Way for More Rights Violations?
The law places several restrictions on free expression through vague terms like "social harmony", "state security" and "public order".
Global Voices Honors the Life of Open Web Activist Bassel Khartabil, Executed by the Syrian Regime
We honor all of Bassel's work as a leader in the open web movement, and the efforts of all those who advocated for his release over the past five years.
About our West Asia & North Africa coverage
