Middle East churches, Al-Azhar, leaders mourn Pope Francis Pope Francis was praised by several regional leaders and churches, including Lebanon's Maronite Church and Iraqi officials, who noted his historic visit to Iraq in 2021. Lebanon
Pope Francis, voice for Middle East peace and first to visit Gulf, dies at 88 Pope Francis died on Monday after serving as pontiff for 11 years, advocating for human rights and inclusion in the Middle East and beyond. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Algeria-France crisis peaks as Algiers expels 12 diplomats: What we know A rift between Algeria and France has heated up on Monday as Algiers ordered a dozen French diplomats out of the country. Algeria
Feature Syrian Jews urge US sanctions relief to revive ancient community For Syria's Jewish diaspora, the country's economic crisis stands in the way of restoring their ancient heritage. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Are Lebanon, Syria ripe for peace with Israel or on cusp of more escalation? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Feature Fearing for safety, Syria's Alawites who fled to Lebanon have no plans to return By Katya Hovnanian-Alexanian
Feature ‘Afraid of what’s next’: Alawites in Syria’s Homs on edge after revenge attacks By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Reactions to George Floyd murder reveal Islamist fragility in Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticizes the United States for racism while pro-government media alleges that the anti-fascist groups in the protests are being supported by outlawed groups in Turkey. Turkey
Bedouins say Israeli police ignoring violence in their communities Some characterize the Negev as the Wild West because of the lack of law enforcement. Israel
Sudanese immigrants in Lebanon try crossing border into Israel In recent months, Sudanese refugees have been trying to enter Israel by slipping across the tense border with Lebanon. Israel
The killing of George Floyd sparks controversy over African-Iraqi rights Ongoing protests in the United States over the killing of George Floyd have raised awareness among Iraqis about African-Iraqi rights in the country. Iraq
Minorities in Turkey on edge amid threats, attacks Vulnerable groups have faced intimidation or worse in recent weeks in what both the government and the opposition warn are efforts to stoke conflict, though they disagree on who’s to blame. Turkey
Intel: Houthis continue to detain Baha’i prisoners despite promise to release them The political head of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Mehdi al-Mashat, vowed to release six Baha’i prisoners during a lengthy televised address in March. Two months later, multiple sources have confirmed to Al-Monitor that the Yemeni rebels have failed to follow through and that all six prisoners remain behind bars. Yemen
Ankara unfolds Hagia Sophia card against COVID-19 crisis Erdogan’s government has signaled it could consider turning the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque as part of religious messages aimed at keeping its voter base intact under the strain of economic turmoil, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Turkey
Intel: Trump’s religious freedom envoy ‘pleased’ with Iran’s release of Bahai’s President Donald Trump’s envoy for international religious freedom welcomed the release of some Baha’i political prisoners by Iran and by Yemen’s Houthi rebels while also noting concerns about Iran's treatment of the religious group. Yemen
Intel: US watchdog calls on State Department to add Syria to list of religious freedom violators Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should designate Syria as one of the world’s worst religious freedom offenders and put Iraq, Turkey and Egypt on a special watch list, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended in its annual report. Egypt
Syriacs mark Easter in Turkey amid safety fears The indictment of a monk on terrorism charges and the mysterious death of an elderly woman has shaken one of the world’s oldest Christian communities as it celebrates Easter during the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey
Israeli Arabs left to rely on 'self-help' for coronavirus testing The discrepancy in the Israel government's approach to coronavirus testing in Jewish and Arab communities has put the burden on Arab Knesset members and local Arab authorities to organize to try to keep infections under control in Arab towns and villages. Israel
Will Baha'is be released from Yemeni prisons as ordered? At the end of March, Houthi leaders ordered the release of all Baha'is currently detained in Yemeni prisons, including their leader, but there have been no signs of progress in that direction in the ensuing weeks. Yemen
