Middle East

After Jina Amini died while in custody of Iran's morality police, rappers and rap music have been a vocal presence in the deadly protests taking place in the country.

In Iran, political dissenters find expression through rap music

3:19pm November 12, 2022

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon speak to Nahid Siamdoust, assistant professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, about the role of rap in protests and political dissent in Iran.

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Struggle for gender equality in Iran began generations before the latest protests

5:04am November 10, 2022

In light of the ongoing protests in Iran, NPR history podcast Throughline explores Iranian women's long history of political activism.

The climate summit is drawing attention to Egypt's poor human rights record

5:04am November 10, 2022

by Ruth Sherlock

The United Nation's annual climate conference is supposed to be the forum for the world to address global warming — but in Egypt many activist voices aren't being heard.

As Netanyahu forms Israeli government, U.S. may boycott one of his far-right allies

3:42pm November 07, 2022

by Daniel Estrin

As the former Israeli prime minister returns to power, he's expected to give a post to a politician once convicted of inciting racism — whom the Biden administration might choose not to engage with.

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Crates are brought out of King Tut's tomb in 1923, shortly after its discovery.

100 years after unearthing King Tut's tomb, archaeologists make new discoveries

5:00am November 07, 2022

by Giulia Heyward

Uncovered coffins, papyrus documents and other artifacts have recently been found at the Saqqara site in Giza, Egypt. It coincides with a new accusation that jewelry was stolen from the site.

As Netanyahu brings in the far-right, the U.S. is paying attention

5:54pm November 06, 2022

by Daniel Estrin

Benjamin Netanyahu's promises of a government that includes far-right figures could strain relations with the U.S. and regional countries it seeks to court.

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World News

Saudi Arabia cracks down on dissidents living abroad

8:09am November 05, 2022

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Ellen Knickmeyer of the Associated Press about Saudi Arabia's crackdown on dissidents living abroad.

World News

Turkey could use a new law, purporting to combat disinformation, to silence dissent

4:39pm November 04, 2022

by Peter Kenyon

A new law purporting to combat disinformation could be used by Turkey to silence dissent.

Afghans are worried about winter hardships amid a tanking economy

5:06am November 04, 2022

by Arezou Rezvani

With a collapsed economy and growing unemployment, many Afghans who've never needed assistance are standing in food lines and worrying about how they'll survive the winter.

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What changed one Iranian woman's mind on the protests in her country

5:06am November 04, 2022

by Peter Kenyon

Like many in Iran, one woman describes how she never thought of taking part in protests until now - despite the intensifying government crackdown.