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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from October, 2016
Iran Is Poised to Limit Press Freedom Even More Than It Already Does
The government of President Rouhani is preparing two bills that media experts and journalists say could further erode press freedom and freedom of expression in Iran.
Protests Erupt in Morocco Following Fish Vendor's Brutal Death in Garbage Compactor
The brutal death of a fish vendor in a garbage compactor has sparked large national protests across Morocco.
A Syrian Refugee in the US Wants Americans to Understand Their Country's Vetting Process
The city of Boise, Idaho, is taking in a lot of Syrian refugees: 122 so far this year. Asmaa Albukaie, who arrived in November 2014, was the first.
‘The End of the World’: A Poet’s Journey from Syria to Algiers
Syrian-Palestinian poet Dima Yousef left Yarmouk, Syria, in 2015 for Algiers. This is her story.
Hello Vodafone: What Does It Mean When a Global Telco Giant Enters Iran?
Vodafone's partnership with an Iranian telco is a welcome improvement to the local telecommunications market. But the potential for complicity between Vodafone and Iran's surveillance infrastructure is hard to ignore.
Netizen Report: Protesters Flush SIMs, Set Fire to Modems in Saudi Telecom Boycott
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Morocco Unblocks VoIP Applications Ahead of UN Climate Conference
"To avoid being seen as a police state during the #COP22, Morocco temporarily unblocks VoIP services," tweeted one user.
Farewell to Renen Raz, Beloved Anti-Colonial, Queer Israeli Activist
Renen Raz, an Israeli anti-colonial and queer activist, died this week. He's now being remembered for his passion for social justice in Israel-Palestine.
Saudi Mobile Data Quality Provokes National Protest Against Bad Service
Saudi social media users are protesting against the nation's mobile network operators' bad service and the continued blocking of VoIP apps that are supposed to be available for free.
Upcoming Book Celebrates Citizen Journalism in the Deserted Syrian City of Daraya
A small publishing house in Spain wants to launch a free book about one of Syria's best-known citizen journalist groups: “Enab Baladi.”
She Needs Justice: The Week That Was at Global Voices Podcast
This week, we’ll introduce you to women seeking or achieving justice in Poland, Uruguay, Russia and Syria.
Reality, Conspiracy and the US ‘Internet Freedom’ Agenda: Deconstructing Iran's Case Against Nizar Zakka
Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison by Iranian for leading U.S. funded projects in Iran. We deconstruct this situation.
Turkish Village Preserves “Bird Language” in a Cell-Phone World
“Our purpose is to promote bird language to our country and to the world.”
WhatsApp Reportedly Blocked in Yemen, Mobile Operator Cites ‘Technical Issues’
Censorship of online content has surged in Yemen since the beginning of the conflict opposing Houthi rebels and forces loyal to president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
Airstrikes by Saudi-Led Coalition Kill At Least 140 in Yemen, Injuring Hundreds More
Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition targeting a funeral left at least 140 people dead, making this the single largest massacre since the start of Yemen's civil war in 2015.
“With a Nobel, but Without Peace”
The 2016 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Colombia's President Santos for his efforts to end a five decades-long civil war, with Syria's widely celebrated White Helmets missing out.
For Lebanon’s Elderly, the Ongoing Garbage Crisis Is a Tight Noose
Lebanon's most vulnerable are paying the ultimate price for the country's waste crisis.
Tunisian Teen Risks Suspension for Denouncing Poor School Conditions on Facebook
The school administration has accused Hamza Batti of engaging in a "smear campaign" against it.
Will Lebanon Meet Its Renewable Energy Pledge by 2020?
Lebanon is no stranger to environmental and energy crises, but many are trying to tackle them.
Netizen Report: Open Source Developers Endure Long Prison Sentences, And Worse
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
#FreeBassel: Missing for More Than a Year, Syrian Web Developer is Not Forgotten
October 3, 2016 marked the one-year anniversary since Syrian-Palestinian software engineer Bassel Khartabil, also known as Bassel Safadi, disappeared from his prison cell in Syria.
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