Middle East and North Africa

Countries & Territories: 26
405 million people
4% free
Press:
10% free

News & Updates

Press Release

“Friends of Syria” Must Step Up Efforts for Change

Feb 22 2012 - 11:15am

Freedom House today calls on all governments that will gather this Friday in Tunis for the “Friends of Syria” meeting to recognize the Syrian National Council as the country’s transitional government and to sever diplomatic relations with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Freedom House also urges Russia to stop all transfers of weapons to Syria.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
Freedom Alert

Freedom House Alarmed By Arrest of 14 Syrian Activists

Feb 17 2012 - 3:35pm

Freedom House is outraged by the arrest on February 16 of 14 Syrian bloggers, journalists, and activists affiliated with the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). Among those detained were prominent activist and SCM Director Mazen Darwish and his wife, US-born blogger Razzan Ghazzawi, and journalist Hanadi Zahlout.

Issues: 
Human Rights, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
Freedom Alert

Three Tunisian Journalists Arrested for Publishing Photo

Feb 16 2012 - 5:37pm

Freedom House is deeply concerned by the arrest on February 15 of three Tunisian journalists working for daily newspaper Attounisia, after publishing a front-page photo portraying ‘near-nudity,’ and calls for their immediate release.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
In the News

From Bad to Worse in Egypt

Feb 16 2012 - 4:38pm

The Wall Street Journal
February 17, 2012
by Daniel Calingaert
The repression of civil society is far worse than anything seen under Hosni Mubarak. Read the op-ed here.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Human Rights, Rule of Law, U.S. Foreign Policy
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Experts

Radsch, Courtney C.

Courtney C. Radsch is program manager for the Global Freedom of Expression Campaign.

Kelly, Sanja

Sanja Kelly is the project director for Freedom on the Net, Freedom House’s assessment of global internet freedom.

Mansour, Sherif

Sherif Mansour is the senior program officer for Freedom House’s Middle East North Africa programs.

Algeria
36 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Egypt
83 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
54 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Iran
78 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
89 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Iraq
33 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Israel
7.9 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Jordan
6.6 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
42 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Kuwait
2.8 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Lebanon
4.3 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Libya
6.4 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Morocco
32 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Oman
3 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Qatar
1.7 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Saudi Arabia
28 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
7.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
70 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Syria
23 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
7.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Tunisia
11 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
81 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
United Arab Emirates
7.9 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Yemen
24 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating

Countries & Territories

Algeria
Bahrain
Egypt
Gaza Strip
Iran
Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan
Israel
Israeli-Occupied Territories
Israeli-Occupied Territories and Palestinian Authority
Jordan
Kurdistan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Oman
Palestinian Authority-Administered Territories
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
West Bank
Western Sahara
Yemen

Countries We're Watching

Iran
Egypt

Programs

Iran

Freedom House supports Iran's pro-democracy movement and human rights defenders as they resist the Iranian regime’s surveillance and repression.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Tunisia

Freedom House engages critical rule of law stakeholders to develop a reform agenda for Tunisia as it transforms to a state that is accountable and guarantees citizens’ a role in maintaining a watch

Issues: 
Rule of Law
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Egypt and Tunisia

In Egypt and Tunisia, we work with activists and citizen journalists to observe the elections.

Issues: 
Elections, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Breaking Barriers

Freedom House equips Gulf women to help other Gulf women succeed in male-dominated professions.

Issues: 
Women's Rights
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

eDemocracy

Through an interactive, online website tailored to the experiences and priorities of people in the region, we provide students in the Middle East an overview of democratic principles and systems to

Issues: 
Democratic Governance
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Traditionally the least Free region in the world, the Arab Spring has launched an era of sweeping political changes in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa