MIDDLE EAST

Today, polio has almost been completely eradicated globally — except in Pakistan and Afghanistan. From anti-vaccine rhetoric to bans on door to door vaccination campaigns, the Taliban has directly impacted the healthcare sector’s abilities to effectively carry out polio vaccination efforts in Afghanistan; preventing the eradication of the disease in the country.

Kuwait’s Emir recently issued a decree suspending the state’s popular National Assembly and abrogating parts of the constitution for no more than four years. The move comes as the latest of the Gulf country’s efforts to improve the efficacy of its deadlocked political system which has been marked by excessive parliamentary debates. The move has not drawn widespread protests domestically or regionally, but international experts question whether or not the Emir’s actions will actually move Kuwait closer to a sound democratic process.

For years, Afghanistan served as the world’s leading producer of opium, a key ingredient in the street drug heroin. The country reached this level of production after years of widespread and violent conflict. In April 2022, the Taliban declared a complete ban on the crop and spent the next several months eradicating it from the country. With opium production off the table, Afghanistan’s rural population is struggling to make ends meet, worsening the already poor humanitarian situation in the country. 

Water scarcity in Saudi Arabia has become a major threat to human life. In response to this threat, the Crown Prince has developed Vision 2030, which is meant to improve life in Saudi Arabia through three central pillars: economy, vitality, and ambition. However, despite this plan, the country still struggles with water accessibility. 

Internet blackouts have become a modern concern for many nations undergoing warfare and violence. Denying access to the internet has been determined to be a violation of human rights on the international level, yet instances continue to occur around the globe. Yemen, a nation undergoing a lengthy civil war, is an example of where internet blackouts have proven to become frequent and problematic for citizens’ safety and daily lives.

In 2011, Bahrain witnessed swaths of protesters swarming the streets of the country and demanding social change and reform in the Sunni-led government that had long oppressed Shia Muslims. The government brutally crushed the uprising within weeks, but the desire for more freedom never died in the population. In August 2023, hundreds of inmates in a prison notorious for detaining political prisoners went on a mass hunger strike. After weeks of strike, the government agreed to provide more humane conditions for the prisoners. 

Saudi Arabia has recently been experiencing an emerging arts and culture boom. The state has become a hub for both national and international artists, particularly for youth. However, some critics speculate that this new funding and celebration of the arts is a strategy to distract from other potentially unpopular legislation. 

The first time the ancient protective Lamassu statue in Khorsabad was uncovered, its head was chopped into pieces and stolen by looters. Then it was reburied for its safety and preservation during an ISIS rampage. Archaeologists now unearth it for the second time and finally reveal it to the world. 

Following the deadly earthquake in Morocco on September 8th, the international community offered a flood of support to the Moroccan government. Controversy arose when Morocco did not accept the help and condolences of all states, specifically states in which Morocco has a tumultuous history. It is idealistic that aid remains unaffected by politics, however that is not the case in many relief efforts; as seen in Morocco. 

Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing one of the worst economic crises in modern history. Unemployment rates are growing, the national currency, the Lebanese Pound, is decreasing in value, and protests have risen against political corruption and inability to manage the plummeting economy. As working-class families struggle to make ends meet, the nation remains leaderless in the depths of an economic crisis. 

On September 27, 2023, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent its third spy satellite into orbit. Nations around the world are beginning to feel threatened by the reconnaissance abilities this terrorist organization now holds. 

A well-known drug in the Middle East, captagon, has transformed Syria into a narcostate. The extensive production of this drug has affected militia, rebel groups, and surrounding countries. Now, as Syria is approaching readmission into the Arab League, President al-Assad is using his opportunity to crackdown on the illicit as a political bargaining chip. 

Mahsa Amini’s death at the hands of the Iranian morality police sparked various women’s rights movements. Since her passing on September 16, 2022, decades of bottled-up rage and unrest were unleashed into a global fight for freedom. 

This article discusses the importance of community spaces and engagement among Palestinian youth in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, especially when these communities have a higher exposure to conflict. The article specifically highlights the growing skateboarding culture facilitated by a non-profit called SkatePal.

The struggles of displaced Afghans reveal backlog, unfair application adjudication, and other decades old problems in a key U.S. immigration program.

Exacerbated by the aftermath of a once in a generation earthquake, refugees in Turkey face increasing public backlash amidst political and economic tensions in Turkey.

Neom: the future. Saudi Arabia envisioned Neom or also considered the Line as a stable microclimatic environment that prioritizes walkability, clean energy, and technology to move away from traffic, pollution, and other infrastructure challenges that plague urban life. The Line symbolizes the beginning of environmentally sustainable infrastructure that can enrich the lives of humans.

Embroidered pieces such as dresses, decors, and handbags can be found in many Palestinian households in the diaspora and beyond. In displacement and under occupation, generations of Palestinian women embroider their stories to resist erasure with the art of tatreez, making statements that openly say they are proud to be Palestinian.

The U.S. has long seen Pakistan as an ally in South and Central Asia despite a long history of the Pakistani government supporting terrorist groups who have sought to attack America, a policy that continues today.

Afghanistan currently faces the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world which has led to billions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid but corruption, theft and hidden agendas have led to a distribution system that, in its current form, could be actively making the problem worse. 

The United States and its allies have abandoned Afghanistan after their two-decade-long occupation, leading to the country's descent into a humanitarian crisis and a terrorist-led government. Meanwhile, these nations have shifted their focus to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with rhetoric about defending values of democracy and political freedom, but to the Afghan people, this rings hollow. The US's current policy towards Afghanistan is focused on containment rather than support for any specific actors, and their cooperation with the Taliban is reminiscent of Reagan's failed policy of "constructive engagement" with Apartheid South Africa.

The China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran marks a significant shift in relations between the two regional rivals and may pave the way for humanitarian recovery in Yemen, a country devastated by the proxy war between the two nations. The deal involves reopening embassies, respecting state sovereignty, and avoiding interference in foreign affairs.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar drew over 1.5 billion viewers and faced controversy over bribery allegations, migrant worker exploitation, and criminalization of homosexuality. Despite using the event to foster international relations, Qatar's imposition of cultural values contradicted its efforts to build ties and exposed the need for better governance by FIFA.

This article discusses the concept of honor and shame in Arab societies, with the term "a'aib" representing shame and its impact on women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and taboo subjects. This socially constructed idea perpetuates negative psychological effects and reinforces honor-based social conduct.

The United States and its allies have abandoned Afghanistan after their two-decade-long occupation, leading to the country's descent into a humanitarian crisis and a terrorist-led government. Meanwhile, these nations have shifted their focus to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with rhetoric about defending values of democracy and political freedom, but to the Afghan people, this rings hollow. The US's current policy towards Afghanistan is focused on containment rather than support for any specific actors, and their cooperation with the Taliban is reminiscent of Reagan's failed policy of "constructive engagement" with Apartheid South Africa.

The Table of Six, a coalition of opposition parties in Turkey, has unveiled a detailed plan to change the country if they win the upcoming presidential election. The alliance aims to restore a healthy democracy, promote separation of powers, and restructure the parliamentary government, but faces significant hurdles such as a lack of security in the electoral process and Erdogan's control over the media and government structures.

The power struggle within the Lebanese Judicial system leads to inconclusive evidence of who is responsible for the deadly Beirut explosion. Victims are now calling for an independent investigation by the UN Human Rights Council to hold the Lebanese government accountable.

This article looks at the current food insecurity issue in Lebanon, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut explosion incident, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.