Studying in a Saudi Arabian state school as a child in the late 1990s, I encountered the strangest things. While we were encouraged to visit the library to read, the books in my school library were unlike anything one would suggest for a little girl. The one that I will always remember was a book…
When my organization, Empower Women Media, surveyed over 7,000 people across the Middle East, North Africa, Nigeria, and Pakistan, more than 95 percent agreed that women deserve protection from religious persecution. But for countless women, this consensus has yet to translate into reality. In many parts of the world, religion is wielded as a weapon…
Have you ever wondered how we measure something as complex as religious freedom? It’s not as simple as counting votes or currency. Understanding if religious freedom is progressing, especially in regions like the Middle East, requires a thoughtful approach to tracking changes over time that is based on context-sensitive information and thoughtful methodology. The Big…
Egypt, as part of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Committee, was among the Arab countries that not only participated in writing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) but also signed it in 1948, thus laying a foundation for religious freedom (Article 18) and other fundamental human rights. Egypt’s most recent Constitution (2014) proudly…
In a rare and meaningful convergence this year, two of the world’s major religious traditions Islam and Christianity observe sacred occasions at nearly the same time. Muslims around the world mark Eid al-Adha and the annual Hajj pilgrimage, while Christians celebrate Pentecost Sunday, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit. Though arising from different historical…
I first crossed Checkpoint 300 in February of 2014. Checkpoint 300 is located between Bethlehem and Jerusalem and is the main crossing in the area between the two sides of this beautiful but conflicted land. I had been invited to go on a tour of Israel by a group of leaders from the church I…
As conflicts in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq continue to expose the fragility of governance across the MENA region, the urgent need for structural solutions has become undeniable. One of the most overlooked, but foundational, issues is the status of religious freedom. This article argues that sustainable peace will remain elusive unless governments and peacebuilders address…
As the US withdraws much of its government funding for foreign aid work, advocates are anxiously asking: who will fill the aid gap? Meanwhile, there are no signs that other democratic countries will step in. These questions have never been more pressing. The gap left by retreating aid agencies dangerously allows space for China, Islamists,…
Over the past decade, international efforts to promote religious freedom have gained significant momentum, particularly in regions marked by religious persecution and discrimination. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with its intricate religious, cultural, and political dynamics, has become a focal point for many international initiatives aimed at fostering religious tolerance and protecting…
(Los Angeles and Washington DC) – January 25, 2025. Women from the Middle East see a new door open to advance the peace process and multi-faith collaboration. One initiative that has emerged in response to recent conflict is the Abraham Women’s Alliance (AWA). The co-founder and director, Shirin Taber shares, “Research shows that women-led initiatives…