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
Food market in Yemen

United States: Press for Cease-Fire in Attack on Yemen’s Port City of Hodeidah

June 13, 2018

A Saudi Arabian-led coalition launched an attack on Yemen’s western port city of Hodeidah on June 13, 2018. 
Press Releases

Saudi Arabia: End Prosecution of Women’s Rights Activists

June 5, 2018

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should drop the charges against Loujain al-Hathloul, Eman al-Nafjan, Aziza al-Yousef, and the other women’s rights activists who have been arrested.
Press Releases

Tunisia: Strengthen Constitutional Protections before Regulating NGOs

May 14, 2018

In response to civil society organizations’ strong opposition to a government proposal to draft legislation that would regulate their work – potentially imposing new registration requirements and extensive financial reporting – Freedom House issued a statement.
Press Releases

Iran: Disrupting Telegram Harms Iranian Citizens

April 26, 2018

Iranian authorities have begun disrupting access to Telegram, the country’s most popular social media platform of around 40 million monthly users. 

Pages

Experts

Adrian Shahbaz

Research Director, Technology and Democracy

Adrian Shahbaz is the Research Director for Technology and Democracy at Freedom House.

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

Sanja Kelly

Director, Internet Freedom

Sanja Kelly is the Director for Internet Freedom.  In that role, she is responsible for creating and implementing Freedom House’s overall strategy on internet freedom, which spans across

Issues: 
Internet Freedom
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Dokhi Fassihian

Director, Middle East and North Africa Program

Dokhi Fassihian is the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Program. 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

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