Middle East and North Africa

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

News & Updates

Press Release

Freedom in the World 2012: The Arab Uprisings and Their Global Repercussions

Jan 19 2012 - 9:10am

The political uprisings that have swept the Arab world over the past year represent the most significant challenge to authoritarian rule since the collapse of Soviet communism, according to Freedom in the World 2012, the latest edition of Freedom House’s annual global survey of political rights and civil liberties. 

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Elections, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom, Religious Freedom, Rule of Law, Women's Rights
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Global, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe
Statements

Statement from the Board of Trustees of Freedom House Regarding Egypt

Jan 12 2012 - 4:14pm

Freedom House's Board of Trustees today issued a statement in response to the recent raids by Egyptian authorities on Freedom House’s Cairo office and those of several other NGOs (domestic and international).

Issues: 
Civil Society, Freedom of Association, Human Rights, Rule of Law, U.S. Foreign Policy
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
Joint Letters

IFEX-TMG concerned by attacks on journalists and academics

Jan 11 2012 - 5:49pm

Despite promises by Tunisia's new government to uphold free expression, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 21 IFEX members, is concerned that not enough is being done to effectively uphold this right in light of recent attacks on journalists and academics.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa
Joint Letters

Letter to SCAF President from Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers

Jan 11 2012 - 11:14am

Letter to SCAF President from Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers, January 11, 2012

Issues: 
Civil Society, Freedom of Association, Human Rights, U.S. Foreign Policy
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Experts

Dunne, Charles

Charles W. Dunne is director of Middle East and North Africa programs at Freedom House. 

Mansour, Sherif

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

Calingaert, Daniel

Dr. Daniel Calingaert is vice president of policy and external affairs at Freedom House. 

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

Countries

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

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

Torture - Never Justified

We combine on-the-ground investigations of human rights violations with the power of new media to bring abuses to the public’s attention with the ultimate goal of pressuring governments to respect

Issues: 
Elections, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights
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