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I spoke to BBC Newsday about the mass detentions and deportations of African expatriates working in Abu Dhabi.
Here’s the full interview, with my comments at 47:10.
‘They told us they hate Africans’: Hundreds detained, deported from Abu Dhabi
[Published here September 2, 2021]
Kabirat Olokunde, a Nigerian migrant worker, planned to spend her birthday with friends in the city of Abu Dhabi. Instead, she turned 28 in a frigid prison cell, one of about 700 Africans imprisoned by Emirati authorities without charge.
Syrian refugee girls face ‘dangerous’ child marriage trend, says charity
[Published here on June 25, 2021]
BEIRUT, June 25 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Syrian refugee girls are increasingly at risk of child marriage due to a surge in pandemic-linked poverty, legal loopholes and long-term displacement in countries across the Middle East and North Africa, charity Save the Children said on Friday.
Kenyan worker’s arrest shows power, and peril, of online advocacy
June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 / Maya Gebeily / Leave a comment
[Published here June 3, 2021]
BEIRUT, June 3 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – With perfect prose, sizzling sarcasm and a host of anonymous accounts, Malcolm Bidali has waged a one-man social media campaign to improve working conditions for migrant labourers in Qatar for nearly a year.
“It kind of makes me feel like Batman or Superman. You can say the things you want to say, with your own voice and your own style,” said Bidali, 28, speaking to the Thomson Reuters Foundation from Doha.
‘Pyramid’ of corruption pushes Iraq family to emigrate | AFP
March 29, 2021March 30, 2021 / Maya Gebeily / Leave a comment
[Published here March 29, 2021]
Hassanein Mohsen spent months protesting against corruption in Iraq. He also lodged complaints against officials. But now he is shunned as a whistleblower and sees only one way out: emigration.
Killing of Iraq expert stirs fear of new violent phase | AFP
July 8, 2020July 9, 2020 / Maya Gebeily / Leave a comment
[Co-written with AFP Baghdad bureau chief Sarah Benhaida and published here July 8, 2020]
Baghdad (AFP) – The killing of jihadism expert Hisham al-Hashemi has stirred fears Iraq is entering a dark and violent phase, as boiling tensions between pro-Iran factions and the government reach new heights.
At Iraq protests, a cleric’s tweets split his followers | AFP
February 3, 2020February 7, 2020 / Maya Gebeily / Leave a comment
[Published here February 3, 2020]
Baghdad (AFP) – Sporting their signature blue caps, the men marched triumphantly through Baghdad’s protest camp. The die-hard followers of firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr were back in Tahrir Square, and they wanted everyone to know it.
Iraqi families fear worst after protesters abducted | AFP
December 11, 2019December 11, 2019 / Maya Gebeily / Leave a comment
[Published here December 11, 2019]
Baghdad (AFP) – “Last seen: Friday, 9:18pm.” About an hour after gunmen began attacking a protest encampment in Iraq’s capital at the weekend, Mustafa — who had slept there for weeks — went offline.
In the days since, the 20-year-old demonstrator has not reappeared on messaging application WhatsApp, or in real life.
Iraqis shatter taboos in rage at Iran, but bloodshed may follow | AFP
November 29, 2019December 4, 2019 / Maya Gebeily / Leave a comment
[Published here November 29, 2019]
Baghdad (AFP) – By torching Tehran’s consulates and slapping their muddy shoes against photographs of top Iranian officials, Iraqi protesters have shattered a taboo on public criticism of their influential eastern neighbour.
In Iraq protests, counting the dead is a dangerous job | AFP
October 31, 2019November 2, 2019 / Maya Gebeily / Leave a comment
[Published here on October 31, 2019]
Baghdad (AFP) – One protester killed. Then five. Suddenly, more than 40. As Iraq’s anti-government demonstrations turned bloody, a network of rights defenders and medics began documenting deaths to fill a gag order on casualty numbers.
Lilian Cheaito has lived in silent suffering at a Beirut hospital from the moment she was admitted on August 4, 2020, bruised and bleeding from the Beirut blast.
Noel Musanga works as a cleaner and volunteers as a migrant advocate in Lebanon - where a mark-up in telecoms prices will make both of those roles much harder for her.
Take it to the mountain.
Baghdad children conflict diplomacy displaced Geneva government health Iran Iraq IS ISIS Islamic State Islamic State group kurdistan Lebanon oil politics protests Raqqa rebels refugees rights security Syria Syrian Democratic Forces talks US war women