Society

Corona pandemic in Iran
US sanctions, the Revolutionary Guards and the Corona pandemic in Iran

Iran’s health care system is at a breaking point. While doctors accuse a powerful institution of diverting critical gear, the US government is stonewalling and seems to be pursuing a perfidious strategy.

Corona and prisons in the Middle East
The Corona pandemic and prisons in the Middle East

As the spread of COVID-19 pushes more and more people into self-isolation, those who are already locked up from North Africa to the Gulf face becoming a hotbed for the virus.

Frescoes in the Syrian monastery Deir Mar Musa
Religious authorities and the spread of the Corona pandemic

Religious beliefs play a fundamental role in the hygienic practices, from preparation of food to handwashing rituals. However, some claim that their faith alone is a strong enough disinfectant and thereby help to spread the virus in the Middle East.

Krieg in Syrien und Flucht aus Idlib
Idlib, Assad and the Syrian revolution

Idlib has been on the Assad family’s hitlist for decades. The assault on the province may have come to a fragile halt, but history suggests that it is only a matter of time before the former ophthalmology graduate trains his eye on Idlib once again.

Interview with Afghanistan’s youngest mayor Zarifeh Ghafari
Interview with Afghanistan mayor Zarifa Ghafari

Afghanistan’s youngest mayor, Zarifa Ghafari, talks to zenith about the importance of cleaning up local politics and how the fear of the Taliban stalks Afghans’ day-to-day lives.

Interview with Human Rights Watch’s Omar Shakir
Interview with Human Rights Watch’s Omar Shakir

Human Rights Watch’s Omar Shakir speaks to zenith about what his recent deportation from Israel means for human rights defenders on the ground in the region, and why Israel’s human rights record is worse than ever.

The Legacy and Future of the Internet in the Arab World
The Legacy and Future of the Internet in the Arab World

The regimes of the Arab world are turning the thumbscrews on their citizens online. And yet social media continues to transform the region long after Arab Spring.

Crackdown on Egyptian media outlet Mada Masr
Crackdown on Egyptian media outlet Mada Masr

The raid on independent Egyptian new outlet, Mada Masr, has drawn worldwide attention. One of the last critics of the Egyptian government may be unsilenced for now, but freedom of press in the country remains at an all-time low.