All Middle East
First LookTurkish prosecutor states Saudis killed journalist KhashoggiIstanbul's chief prosecutor asserts Saudi Arabia strangled and dismembered dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Calling for the extradition of 18 Saudi nationals, Turkey insists that the Kingdom is deflecting accountability.
Syria crisis: Will donor fatigue push refugees back too soon?Solving a problem on the order of the Syrian refugee crisis requires patience. It's taken years to find ways to support both the displaced families and their host countries, and rebuilding will take time.
First LookIsrael publicly cozies up to Arabian Gulf to balance Iran's growing influenceThe formerly discrete nature of Israel-Gulf relations has become increasingly public, from the United Arab Emirates to Oman. Countering Iranian influence and a stagnation in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks is emerging as a priority in the region.
First LookMosul, in the wake of war, embraces its cultural heritageAfter suffering under an Islamic State regime where no music and little culture was tolerated, Mosul, Iraq, is slowly regaining its artistic roots after its liberation by Iraqi-US forces in 2017. Today, a community of artists and activists is breathing life into the city's cultural exchange.
In Iran, US sanctions are being felt, with harsher measures to comeDo sanctions on countries hit the right targets? While humanitarian goods are exempt from US sanctions, one Iranian charity says it’s struggling to buy medicine because of restrictions on banks.
First LookMillions of Shiite Muslims make peaceful trek to Iraq's KarbalaMillions of people from all over the world are making the pilgrimage to the Iraqi city of Karbala. The pilgrimage, described as a "walk to heaven" by one traveler, is the first since Iraq's government declared victory over the Islamic State group in January.
First LookUS sanctions against Hezbollah and Iran hurt Shiite militiasThe renewal of US sanctions against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon is starting to be felt across the so-called 'Axis of Resistance', especially as Tehran reels from deep economic woes.
First LookSyria frees Japanese journalist after three years captivityJumpei Yasuda was held hostage for 40 months by an Al Qaeda-affiliated group in Syria before finally being released on Oct. 24. His kidnapping underscores a worrying trend of journalists being taken captive in the Middle East.
For Iran's women's movement, progress is slow. But it's progress.Observer or participant? When assessing change, frame of reference matters. So it is with the progress of Iran's women's movement. As one woman told us: “You don’t change a patriarchal society overnight.”
First LookHuman Rights Watch report highlights torture at the hands of PalestiniansA report released by the Human Rights Watch on Oct. 23 accuses both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas of suppressing dissent in the West Bank and Gaza respectively through arbitrary arrests and torture.
First LookIraq tries a new approach to filling cabinet positions: open to all via online platformPrime Minster-designate Adel Abdul-Mahdi opened an online portal allowing anyone to apply to run one of Iraq's 22 ministries. What his administration wasn't prepared for was receiving more than 15,000 applications in a matter of days.
How Syrian refugees strain – and strengthen – JordanWhat role does culture play in a nation's ability to handle a huge influx of refugees? Jordanians say their hospitality stems from their Bedouin roots and ancient desert customs. Part 2 of On the Move: the faces, places, and politics of migration.
First LookPalestinian activist, Ahed Tamimi, takes her cause abroadArrested for slapping an Israeli soldier in front of her West Bank home, the 17-year-old is meeting dignitaries and activists across the Middle East and Europe after serving an eight-month prison sentence, showing signs of a changing Palestinian activism that dismays Israeli officials.
First LookElection postponed in Kandahar after attack on security meetingAfghanistan's election has been postponed for a week in Kandahar province after an elite Afghan guard opened fire at the end of a meeting between Kandahar and US officials. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault that killed police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq and wounded three Americans.
First LookUpcoming Afghan elections test country's commitment to women's rightsSince the US invasion in 2001, one of the few areas of progress in Afghanistan has been the advancement of women. They face many challenges as elections near, including passing legislation against violence and changing cultural norms.
At stake in Khashoggi affair: control of the Arab world’s narrativeIf human rights and a free press are fundamental values in the West, what obligations does it have to ensure the Khashoggi affair does not squelch voices of dissent across the Arab world, as many fear?
First LookWater pollution threatens Mandaean religious practices in IraqMandaeans, a minority religious group following the teachings of John the Baptist, have worshipped at the banks of the Tigris River for hundreds of years. Today, industrial chemicals and untreated sewage make it difficult for the Mandaeans to practice religious rites.
A seat at the table: Wave of Arab women running in local elections in IsraelPaths to progress must often pierce both tradition and discrimination. But as one Israeli Arab woman tells us: ‘It’s time for people to take us seriously.... We can contribute, too.’
First LookChildren of ISIS fighters struggle for survival in IraqSome of the most invisible victims of the Islamic State's caliphate are children of the fighters themselves. Traumatized, alone, and stigmatized by the actions of their parents, their lives reveal the long road of recovery ahead in sectarian-ridden Iraq.
First LookJoint 'inspection' planned for Saudi consulate in IstanbulTurkish officials have announced that the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul will be inspected on Oct. 15 after Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi disappeared there almost two weeks ago.
