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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from February, 2015
Iran Reacts to the Latest Snowden Leak on SIM Card Hacks
Iran's Minister of Information and Communication Technologies told Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency that he urges all state employees and ordinary Iranians to rely on their landlines for most communications.
Libyan Kids Have Been Out of School for Months, so One Woman Is Bringing the Classroom to Them
Haifa El-Zahawi, a Libyan who lives in New York, has given kids in her home country access to education for the first time in months thanks to a Skype connection.
Why John Legend Should Perform In Bahrain
On the eve of John Legend's concert in Bahrain, a former Bahraini torture victim now living in exile asks the US singer to spare a thought for the country's persecuted.
Banksy Visits Gaza, Calls on World to Act
Famous British street artist Banksy went undercover in Gaza and released a series of thought-provoking graffiti as well as a mini documentary, calling on the world to act.
Why Did Egyptians Tie and Behead a Dog as Onlookers Watched?
News of the public "slaughtering" of a dog in Cairo as onlookers watched has sent shock waves around the world, with many questioning how people have become this violent.
ISIS Destroys 3,000-Year-Old Sculptures at a Museum in Mosul, Iraq
Armed with sledgehammers, drills and pickaxes, militants belonging to the ISIS are videotaped destroying 3,000-year-old ancient artefacts in a museum in Mosul, in Northern Iraq.
ISIS Burns Mosul Library in Iraq, Destroys Thousands of Valuable Manuscripts and Books
While reports on the attack on Mosul Library have just made the headlines, UNESCO says attacks on libraries, museums and universities have been going on for several months.
Facebook Campaign Garners Iranian Journalist Masih Alinejad Women's Rights Award
Iranian journalist wins Women's Rights Award for her Facebook page "My Stealthy Freedom."
The ‘Spy Cables’ Reveal Inconvenient Truths about Israel's Mossad
Al Jazeera and The Guardian newspaper have released leaks from spy agencies across the world. Here are the first few stories pertaining to Israel's Mossad.
A Love Letter to Jailed Syrian-Palestinian Bassel Khartabil
As the ongoing strife in Syria fades from international headlines, Leila Nachawati writes an appeal inspired by a love letter to jailed blogger Bassel Safadi written on Valentine's Day.
Iranian Classroom Condemns Anti-Afghan Discrimination With ‘We Are Ashamed’ Campaign
Afghan refugees in Iran often face widespread discrimination and experience racist treatment from Iranians. The #ashamed campaign has more than 20,000 likes on Facebook.
Egyptian Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Sentenced to Five Years in Jail
Prominent Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, an icon of the Egyptian revolution, was sentenced to five years in prison today.
Uncertainty Over Saman Naseem's Execution in Iran
Several conflicting reports about Naseem's execution and continued incarceration have circulated online.
Kuwait Sentences Opposition Politician Mussallam Al Barrak to Two Years in Jail for “Insulting Ruler”
Kuwaiti opposition politician Mussalam Al Barrak was sentenced to two years in jail for telling the country's ruler that the people would not allow him to practice “autocratic rule.”
How Children in Egypt Are Playing Out ISIS Execution Videos
Should children watch ISIS crimes shared on video? This question was raised after children from Egypt's El Mahalla El Kubra have been video-taped "slaughtering" other children ISIS-style.
A Tajik Nurse Kidnapped in Yemen Arrives Home and Gets Straight Back to Work
Happy endings are rare in Tajikistan, so when they happen, they should be celebrated.
Lebanon's Storms Add Insult to Injury for Syrian Refugees
Lebanon's latest storm highlights plight of Syrian refugees living in poor conditions.
Banned From Filmmaking, This Iranian Director Ignored His Government—and It's Paying Off
In 2010, the Iranian government slapped filmmaker barred Jafar Panahi from filmmaking for 20 years. Panahi has defied the ban, going on to win Berlin International Film Festival's Golden Bear.
On the Responsibility of Students
"Let us remember the countless students around the world who have succeeded in transforming their society for the better, for their friends and loved ones, neighbors and strangers."
Ali Abdulemam: ‘I Have Not Lost My Identity. I Am Bahraini.’
In late January, the government of Bahrain revoked the citizenship of blogger Ali Abdulemam, along with that of 71 other Bahrainis, many of them journalists and activists.
Can Istanbul Be Saved from Overdevelopment?
Build, build, build. Turkey's largest city is under a redevelopment siege threatening the buildings and communities that are part of its fabric.
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