Ethnic/Religious Minorities

Iraq's grand Sunni mufti forbids participation in New Year's celebrations

Clerics who issued fatwas against participation in New Year's celebrations come up against a wave of criticism.

Iraq

UN seeks to raise awareness of bias against African-Iraqis

Iraqis of African descent seem to be making progress, albeit slowly, against discrimination, with the UN's help.

Iraq

What Israel’s election should actually be about

The issues of ending the occupation, the democratic nature of Israel and relations with American Jewry should dominate the election campaign no less than the character of the political actors seeking office, but they likely will not.

Palestine

Copts once again fall victim to deadly violence in Egypt

In an area of Egypt known for violence against Coptic Christians, a father and son were recently slain, allegedly by an Egyptian who was supposed to be guarding a church.

Egypt

US genocide law triggers mixed feelings among Iraqis

US President Donald Trump has signed legislation calling for greater support for religious minorities victimized by the Islamic State.

Iraq

Iraqi official denies Bahaism as religion

An Iraqi official's statement against the Baha'i religion raises concerns of Baha'is and other religious minorities in Iraq.

Iraq

Last Greeks of Alexandria struggle to keep their community alive

The Greek community of Alexandria long considered itself one of the main actors in the building of modern Egypt, but with their number dwindled to fewer than 1,000, they are now organizing to deepen and expand existing roots by connecting more with local non-Greek Alexandrians.

Egypt

Turkey’s Kyrgyz colony struggles to keep traditional lifestyle alive

In eastern Anatolia, a village of Kyrgyz resettled from Afghanistan has become an unlikely tourism hub and a fortress of Turkish nationalism.

Turkey

Egypt looks to remove religion from ID cards — but is it too little, too late?

A proposed bill to remove religious status from national ID cards is welcomed by activists, but they say much more needs to be done to counter the discrimination and unprecedented levels of persecution suffered by Egypt's religious minorities.

Egypt

Can Israeli Druze bring about cancellation of Nationality Law?

Spurred by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman’s resignation and the realization that elections will likely be moved to early 2019, the leaders of the Druze community are determined to fight against the Nationality Law.

Israel

Iraqi artists, volunteers seek to restore morale in Mosul

Singers, poets and volunteers try to revive pluralism in Mosul but old wounds, particularly between different religious groups, linger on.

Iraq

‘Israelization’ of ultra-Orthodox affects municipal elections

The integration of the ultra-Orthodox community into Israeli society at large and internal divisions within the ultra-Orthodox world have caused many ultra-Orthodox Jews to vote for candidates in the municipal elections, who are not themselves ultra-Orthodox.

Israel