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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from February, 2016
Saudi Arabia Sentences Twitter User to 10 Years in Prison and 2,000 Lashes for Apostasy
Saudi Arabia has sentenced a Twitter user to 10 years in prison in addition to 2,000 lashes for publishing 600 tweets "which spread atheism" online.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi Briefly Goes Up for Sale on eBay
A bid offering Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi for sale went up on eBay minutes after he said he would even sell himself to bail out the country.
Fearing Foreign Influence, Iran's Hardliners Bash the BBC Ahead of Legislative Elections
"Those that claim that foreign media is supporting the reformists are charlatans."
Why Are People Calling John Kerry a “Thug” Online?
As the Geneva 3 Conference kicked off on January 29, tens of thousands of tweets used the hashtag #KerryTheThug to condemn US Secretary of State John Kerry's comments on Syria.
Egyptian Writer Ahmed Naji Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for His ‘Sexually Explicit’ Novel
Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji has been sentenced to two years in prison for publishing a chapter of his "sexually explicit" novel in a magazine.
Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef Slams the Military with Kofta_Time Hashtag
"I will take the AIDS from the patient then give it to him as a skewer of Kofta to nourish him," announced army Major General Ibrahim Abdel-Atty in 2014.
Iranian Newspapers Document Abuse and Mistreatment of Afghan School Children
“There’s no official directive condoning physical violence against Afghan students. The problem is society’s views.”
Thirty Saudi Religious Police Complete Course on How to Fight Black Magic
Thirty members of the Commission for the Protection of Virtue and Prevention of Vice completed a five-day course on how to fight black magic, identify sorcerers and even break their spells.
Online Documentary Preserves Oral History Surrounding 1950s Yugoslav Anti-Veil Law
The law was adopted "... to achieve the goal of removing the century-old sign of subjugation and backwardness of of Muslim women..."
How the Diplomatic Crisis Between Iran and Saudi Arabia Killed Sara Masry’s Blog
The diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran has meant the end of Saudi citizen Sara Masry's blog, launched after seven months of studying in Tehran.
Blast Kills at Least 28 in Ankara, Turkey
This is the second major bombing to hit the Turkish capital in less than six months.
In Bahrain, Journalism Is a Crime
American journalist Anna Therese Day was arrested, along with her crew, and deported from the restive country as it marked its fifth anniversary of anti-government protests.
How Syrian Activists in Raqqa Are Resisting ISIS
A group of citizen journalists are documenting life under ISIS in the Syrian city of Raqqa. Find out how Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently is resisting the militant group
Bahrain's Government Continues to Strangle Dissent Five Years After Uprising Began
"Despite pledges from the authorities to prosecute security forces responsible for human rights violations in 2011, the Bahraini people are still waiting for justice."
This Valentine's Day, a Crash Course in Thinking Critically About Love
Could Valentine's Day be a good date to think critically about love and its relationship with politics, social conventions, or even violence against women?
Finally, a Wall to Unite People, Not Divide Them
Throughout history, walls have been a symbol of separation, segregation, and division. But a new phenomenon called the “wall of kindness” is doing just the opposite.
Satirists React to Arrest of Prominent Egyptian Cartoonist Islam Gawish
Egyptian cartoonist Islam Gawish was detained briefly for running a website without a license and drawing cartoons with "political connotations." He was released after a backlash on social media.
When a Syrian Town Has So Many Foreign Fighters That English and German Are Common Languages
Manbij is populated by so many foreign fighters that English and German are now commonly spoken languages in the small town.
Netizen Report: The EU Wrestles With Facebook Over Privacy
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
After Revealing Workplace Sexual Harassment, an Iranian Newscaster Says It's ‘Time to Break Free’
Sheen Shirani has reportedly fled the country after posting evidence on Facebook that her bosses sexually harassed her. The case highlights the precariousness of women's roles in Iran's professional settings.
Iranian Couples Are Increasingly Living Together Outside of Marriage
A look at why young Iranian couples are choosing to live together unmarried despite going against the law.
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