Ethnic/Religious Minorities

A Kurdish fighter from the Iranian Kurdish armed faction Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) stands with his rifle at a site near the Iraqi border with Iran in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, on March 8, 2026.

Interview

PJAK leader mocks Iran’s claim Turkey spiked US Kurdish-backed regime-change plan

The PJAK co-leader says he does not believe Washington or Israel would abandon a strategic objective as significant as toppling Iran's government because of Turkish objections.

Siamand Moeini

Siamand Moeini

PJAK Executive Council Member

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (L) welcomes France's President Emmanuel Macron for a joint press conference in Damascus on July 7, 2026.

Explainer

How Macron seeks to carve out France's role in new Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron became the first Western leader to visit Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, showcasing Paris' support for Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa while seeking to secure a share of the country's emerging reconstruction market.

Volunteers of the Druze-led National Guard manage traffic at a checkpoint, Suwayda, Syria, Jan. 22, 2026.

Clashes between Druze fighters, Syrian forces raise fears of renewed violence

The episodes in Druze-majority Suwayda escalated amid kidnappings, various disputes, and absent movement on integrating Druze into state institutions.

A Druze fighter stands at a roundabout draped with the Druze flag and a portrait of a local leader in the predominantly Druze city of Suwayda in southern Syria on July 21, 2025.

Druze gunmen, Syrian government forces clash in Suwayda: What to know

The United Nations recently said that the government has thus far failed to bring calm to the area of southern Syria following sectarian clashes last year.

Latest News

3 IRGC members killed in twin attacks as Iran intensifies Kurdish crackdown

Members of the crowd wave Iranian flags during a funeral procession held for IRGC Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri.

Explainer

Israel's Armenian genocide recognition marks new front against Turkey

Members of the Jerusalem Armenian community hold placards as they march during commemorations for the 94th anniversary of mass killings of their kin under the Ottoman Empire, Jerusalem's Old City, April 24, 2009.

Culture

Turkey’s Erdogan meets Orthodox patriarch amid push for reopening Halki Seminary

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with Orthodox Patriarch of Bartholomew at the presidential complex, Ankara, Turkey, June 16, 2026.

Feature

Backed by Trump and Turkey, Armenia's Pashinyan eyes third term in pivotal poll

US President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on Aug. 8, 2025.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Israeli Arab politician, leader of the United Arab list, Mansour Abbas attends consultations with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (unseen) on who might form the next coalition government, at the President's residence in Jerusalem, on April 5, 2021.

Israeli budget approved in victory for Arab coalition party

The big winner of the approval of Israel’s 2021 state budget is the leader of the Arab coalition party Ra’am, Mansour Abbas.

Ahmed Tibi (C), Israeli member of Knesset for the Joint List, speaks during a demonstration by Israeli Arabs.

War of words rages between Israeli-Arab coalition, opposition legislators

The Joint List, which is part of the opposition, is apparently unhappy with the Ra’am Party, which is part of the coalition, getting so much media attention.

Iranian boys ride their bicycles in Adimi village in Hamoon wetland near the Zabol town in southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, bordering Afghanistan, Feb. 2, 2015.

Top Sunni cleric laments Iran's discrimination against minorities

In his scathing criticism, Mawlawi Abdul-Hamid also recognized the ongoing protests in Khuzestan province, which in his view, should not be reduced to the water crisis.

This picture shows a view of ongoing work at a construction site in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Israel, July 12, 2021.

Affordable housing for Jaffa’s Arab residents: too little, too late

With the prices of houses skyrocketing in the center of Israel, even projects designed for the low-income Arab population of Jaffa have become too expensive for them.

Rabi Aaron Leibowitz (C), the founder of Hashgach Pratit — Hebrew for private supervision — which checks if restaurants abide by kosher practices, signs a certificate for the new bar Eitan Steinberg in the center of Jerusalem, June 8, 2016.

Israeli government advances ground-breaking reform for private kosher certification

New Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana is not afraid of the ultra-Orthodox parties; he advances an unprecedented reform on kosher certification.

Ibtisam Mara'ana

Controversial Arab-Israeli woman appointed to Knesset security panel

Labor party legislator Ibtisam Mara’ana, lambasted over allegedly supporting Palestinian assailants, was appointed this week as member of the Knesset’s prestigious foreign and security affairs committee.

Ethiopian Christian pilgrims hold candles during an Ethiopian Orthodox ceremony of the "Holy Fire" at Deir Al-Sultan Church held on the roof of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem, April 30, 2016.

Egyptian, Ethiopian churches clash over Deir al-Sultan in Jerusalem

A crisis between the Egyptian and Ethiopian churches erupted over the ownership of Deir al-Sultan in Jerusalem.

Coptic Easter Mass

Christians upset as Egyptian government ignores Easter

Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly did not declare Easter an official holiday, upsetting many Egyptian Christians and human rights organizations.

Funeral for stampede victim

Ultra-Orthodox blame own leadership for failing to prevent Meron stampede

More and more decision-shapers within the ultra-Orthodox community are coming out against their own leadership, calling on authorities to thoroughly investigate the Mount Meron stampede.

A projection of an Israeli flag flying before lit candles is displayed on the Old City walls of Jerusalem, as Israel declares a national day of mourning for victims of a stampede during the Lag Ba'Omer holiday at Mount Meron, May 2, 2021,

Israel marks national day of mourning after Mount Meron tragedy

Flags were lowered to half-staff in Israel on May 2, as the country honored the 45 people who perished in the Mount Meron stampede on April 30.

Despite years of warnings that the site was unsafe for such large events, thousands of worshipers gathered at Mount Meron for a celebration that turned into a nightmare.

Warnings foreshadowed deadly stampede in Israel

Despite years of warnings that the site was unsafe for such large events, thousands of worshipers gathered at Mount Meron for a celebration that turned into a nightmare.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at the grave site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer, marking the anniversary of the death of the Talmudic sage, approximately 1,900 years ago, Israel, April 29, 2021.

Dozens killed at stampede in Israel during religious celebration

At least 45 people were crushed to death during the Lag Ba’Omer celebrations at the Mount Meron site.