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MIDDLE EAST>Corruption
Middle East | Palestine | Conflict

Women in Gaza: ‘If we want to live here, we want to live in dignity’

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The conflict between Israel and Gaza last July has left the most acute humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip for decades. An international donors’ conference in Cairo last October raised $5.4bn (£3.4bn) to rebuild Palestine – however, according to a World Bank report in May, only a quarter of that sum has actually been delivered to those desperately in need. Life for women in Gaza has never been easy but last summer’s escalation of violence has made the situation much worse for many. Over the last year I have have been in contact with three women whose lives were shattered – and I
Middle East | Palestine | Corruption

Family members deny Gaza women their inheritances

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Many Palestinian women are being deprived of their inheritances in the Gaza Strip, and the problem is widespread and growing, especially among families who own land. Amina Hassan (a pseudonym) and her three sisters say they became the victims of their brother, who seized most of their real estate inheritance. Amina, who lives in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, told Al-Monitor she and her sisters have been suffering from social and financial problems ever since their brother stole their inheritance in 2007 and they initiated legal procedures to claim it in 2008. She said, �
Middle East | Syria | Career

A New Short Documentary Shows Syrian Women Refugees’ Brave Resilience

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The number of Syrian refugees is currently approaching 4 million, with UN data showing women and children make up over three-quarters of that total. Hundreds of thousands from this diaspora are living in sprawling refugee camps along Turkey's southern border, and in a new short documentary by filmmaker Aliya Naumoff, a few women are sharing a look into life in those compounds. Aided by the U.S.-Turkey relations advocacy group the Turkish Heritage Organization, Naumoff traveled to the Harran and Akcakale camps near the border with Syria, where she interviewed a number of women and girls abou
Middle East | Egypt | Corruption

Is the Egyptian state using sexual torture against women?

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The Arab spring promised freedom and justice to the 2011 protestors in Tahrir Square, but a damning new report claims that women are being brutalised by police, military and security forces at an unprecedented level. Four years ago, Cairo was a giant billboard for human rights; the words “freedom”, “justice” and “dignity” were graffitied across the city, with the high hopes of Tahrir Square writ large on city streets. What remains today is a patchwork of paint covering up any hint of political protest. This isn’t the only whitewash in Egypt now. According to a dev
Middle East | Iran | Activism

Leading Activist Arrested Ahead of Her Trial for Peaceful Civil Activities

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Narges Mohammadi is Transferred to Evin Prison Civil rights activist and Deputy Director of the banned Defenders of Human Rights Center, Narges Mohammadi, was arrested at her home in Tehran in the early hours of  May 5, 2015, the Kaleme website, which is close to Green Movement leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, reported. The report also stated that unidentified security agents threatened Ms. Mohammadi with breaking the door to enter her home. Ms. Mohammadi was reportedly transferred to Evin Prison. The reasons for Ms. Mohammadi’s arrest are not clear. She had appeared before Branch 15 of
Middle East | Yemen | Corruption

Blessings in disguise: girl flees Yemen dressed as a boy

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Yemenis who have escaped the clutches of the Houthis have horror stories to tell. Their hopes rested on a thin line between life and death. The story of Zamzam, a young Yemeni girl, is an example of what ordinary citizens are enduring because of the reign of terror unleashed by the Houthis. Zamzam was forced by her mother to cut her long hair to look like a boy. She was put in men’s attire. Her mother was afraid that the Houthis might capture her and harm her at the border checkpoint on the Yemeni side. Umm Zamzam said: “Those were the most difficult and harrowing moments my famil
Middle East | Qatar | Business

Qatar urged to increase women’s economic involvement

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Qatar is struggling to boost women’s participation in the local economy, according to an official report. The country’s Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has issued an update on how it is meeting a range of development targets for 2015 set by the United Nations. While Qatar has achieved many of the goals, the report said, it still faces challenges in encouraging women to play a more active role in the economy – despite having made progress in leveling the playing field for boys and girls in terms of access to education. “Even though the parity rate between the tw
Middle East | Lebanon | Corruption

Lebanese customs agents seize radioactive maxi pads

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Customs agents at an airport in the Lebanese capital seized more than half a ton of maxi pads after radioactive material was detected in the shipment. The Lebanese Finance Ministry said the 30 crates of feminine hygiene products, weighing a total 1,221 pounds, were seized Friday at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut after electronic scanners detected radioactivity in the shipment. Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil ordered a sample from the shipment to be sent to the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission for testing. The shipment arrived at the airport Friday from Dubai, officia

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