Middle East and North Africa

The Arab Spring of 2011 launched an era of sweeping political changes in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, which has historically been the least free region in the world. The fall of longtime leaders and the people's rising demands for a stronger voice in their own governance have brought new opportunities for reform and democratic transition in countries otherwise marked by severe abuses of almost all fundamental political rights and civil liberties. Freedom House is helping citizens to realize these aspirations through a variety of programs across the region. Our work in this region is summarized here.

Asterisks in the country list below indicate a territory rather than a country.

Countries & Territories: 21
420 million people
5% free
Press:
0% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

News & Updates

Press Releases

Iran: UN Human Rights Council Should Investigate Deaths and Abuses of Detainees

March 1, 2018

Iran is detaining more than 4,000 protesters, hijab protesters, and members of minority groups.
Press Releases

Iran: Authorities Should Free ‘Girl of revolution street’ Campaigners

February 7, 2018

Law enforcement authorities should immediately release the 29 women detained for removing their headscarves in protest of a discriminatory compulsory hijab law.
FREEDOM AT ISSUE BLOG

Tunisian Democracy Stands at the Precipice

Dokhi Fassihian
Senior Program Manager, Middle East and North Africa
Theo Wilson
Program Officer, Middle East and North Africa
February 5, 2018

Tunisia’s leaders, particularly President Essebsi, have relied on self-serving political consensus that has slowed democratic reforms and exposed the gap between citizens and government.
Press Releases

Iran: Release Detainees, Uphold Citizens’ Fundamental Freedoms

January 9, 2018

Iranian authorities have detained more than 2,000 demonstrators, at least three of which have died in custody. 

Pages

Experts

Adrian Shahbaz

Research Manager, Freedom on the Net

Adrian Shahbaz is the Research Manager for Freedom on the Net, Freedom House's annual assessment of global internet freedom.

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

Sanja Kelly

Director, Freedom on the Net

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

Issues: 
Internet Freedom
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Dokhi Fassihian

Senior Program Manager, Middle East and North Africa

Dokhi Fassihian is senior program manager for Middle East and North Africa. Before joining Freedom House, she led several nongovernmental organizations working in the area of democracy and human rights and promotion.

Issues: 
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
Algeria
37 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Egypt
82 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
68
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Iran
79 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
85
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Iraq
34 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Israel
7.9 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Jordan
6.3 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
53
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Kuwait
2.9 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Lebanon
4.3 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
46
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Libya
6.5 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
54
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Morocco
33 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
45
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Oman
3.1 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Qatar
1.9 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
5.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
Saudi Arabia
29 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
7.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
72
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Syria
23 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
7.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
86
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Tunisia
11 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
38
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
United Arab Emirates
8.1 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
69
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Yemen
26 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
West Bank and Gaza Strip *
4.3 million people
Scores Overview

Countries and Territories

Algeria
Bahrain
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan *
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Tunisia
United Arab Emirates
West Bank and Gaza Strip *
Western Sahara *
Yemen

Programs

Middle East and North Africa programs

Freedom House supports democracy and human rights leaders across the Middle East and North Africa region in exposing human rights abuses and pressing for reform.

Issues: 
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Lifeline

The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund provides emergency financial assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) under threat or attack and advocacy support responding to broader threats to civil society. 

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Americas

Emergency Assistance Programs

Freedom House administers several funds which offer emergency assistance to organizations and individuals around the world who are under threat because of their human rights work.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights, LGBTI Rights
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Americas

Advocating for Free Expression in Tunisia (Past program)

Freedom House has worked to strengthen freedom of expression and human rights in Tunisia, where the country’s recent efforts at democratic consolidation created opportunities to adopt new laws.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa