Middle East & North Africa
Sakharov Human Rights Prize Awarded to Jina Mahsa Amini
The European Parliament posthumously presented the Sakharov Human Rights Prize for Freedom of Thought to Jina Mahsa Amini. Her death stirred Iran into a new attempt at protesting the current repressive theocracy that enforced hijab wearing, among other restrictions for women.
International Court Addresses Syrian Torture Case
The International Court of Justice has addressed the 12-year legacy of torture and false imprisonment of the Syrian Assad Administration for the first time on Oct 11, 2023. The case, brought forward by Canada and the Netherlands, accused Assad of violating the UN’s Convention against Torture (CAT), which Syria has opted in to.
ISIS Leader Taken Down in US Air Strike
A United States helicopter raid eliminated senior ISIS leader Abd-al-Hadi Mahmud al-Haji Ali in northeast Syria.
Egypt Caught in the Crossfire Amid Sudan Military Outbreak
As decades-old tensions erupted in Sudan over the weekend, several Egyptian officers became caught in the crossfire as Sudan’s rivaling military factions fight for military control, decimating local communities and sparking international outrage.
Saudi Arabia Leads Landmark Diplomatic Efforts Between Syria, Iran, and Arab States
Saudi Arabia has pushed forward several diplomatic initiatives in recent weeks, signaling a wider effort to bring stability to the region and restore cooperation between various Arab states.
United States Sends Armed Submarine to the Middle East as Tensions with Tehran Escalate
The United States Navy announced that it has deployed a guided missile submarine, the USS Florida, to the Red Sea.
Lebanon's Attempt to Change Time Zones Causes Chaos
Last week, Lebanon experienced life in two time zones – not for geographic reasons (Russia, after all, has 11), but political ones.
Israel Repeals Disengagement Law from West Bank Passed Nearly 20 Years Ago
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, voted last week in favor of repealing the disengagement law that was passed in 2005 that resulted in the evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
“We Are Not Going To Stop”: US and Iran Go Hit-for-Hit in Proxy Drone Strikes in Syria
The last week has seen a rapid escalation in foreign intervention in Syria as a stand-off between Iran and the United States of America comes to a head.
Mada Masr Journalists Referred to Trial in Egyptian Press Crackdown
Three journalists have been brought to trial on charges of insulting (pro-government) Egyptian members of parliament.
With Pressures Rising Two Months Before Elections, Turkey's Opposition Reshuffles
Despite last month’s earthquake, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that national elections will move forward as planned.
Iranian Protests Reignite as Hundreds of Schoolgirls are Hospitalized for Gas Poisoning
Tensions in Iran have skyrocketed after public outrage over the poisonings of several schoolgirls was revealed this weekend.
Judicial Reform in Israel Sparks Mass Anti-Government Protests
On Saturday night, over 150,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv in the largest anti-government protests yet in response to the current government’s proposed judicial overhauls.
Jordan Hosts Peace Talks with Israel and Palestine Amid Escalating Tensions
On Sunday, Feb. 26, Israeli and Palestinian delegations were hosted in Aqaba, Jordan in an attempt to curb an increase in violence in the West Bank. Representatives from Egypt and the United States were also in attendance to watch the talks.
Earthquake in Turkey and Syria Inspires Activism at NYU
Speaking at the Turkish Cultural Association’s vigil, NYU Professor Ayse Baltacioglu-Brammer said, “Your friends, your colleagues from Turkey, from Syria, they are not well.”
UN Conference on Nuclear Proliferation, WMDs in the Middle East Meets in New York
From Nov. 14 to Nov. 18, representatives of 21 nations in the Middle East met at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to discuss nuclear non-proliferation and efforts to improve compliance with bans on biological and chemical weapons.
Iranian Navy Boat Attempts to Blind Two US Navy Vessels
Tensions are soaring between the United States and Iran after an Iranian patrol boat was caught attempting to blind US Navy ships.
FBI Investigating the Death of Palestinian Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh New Challenge to Israel Government
The US Justice Department has confirmed that the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank is under review by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s Visit to Korea and the Future of the Korean Political Economy
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud landed in Seoul since his last visit three years prior for his busy day in Korea.
Iranian Military Targets Kurdistan Population with Recent Attack in Iraq
Several Kurdish political parties were targeted in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region when Tehran launched rocket and drone attacks in Sulaimaniya and the region’s capital, Erbil.