Middle East

World News

Saudi Arabia's Misunderstood Relationship With Extremism

7:51am December 13, 2015

by Rachel Martin

Saudi Arabia has been blamed for exporting a kind of religious extremism that's allowed groups like ISIS to flourish the region. The US embassy in Saudi Arabia says that's not true.

A Saudi woman casts her ballot in a polling station in the coastal city of Jeddah Saturday, as women were allowed to vote in Saudi Arabia's elections for the first time ever.

World News

Saudi Women Cast First-Ever Votes – And Vie For Offices

9:11am December 12, 2015

by Bill Chappell

But if they want to vote, women will have to catch a ride: the conservative Islamic kingdom still forbids them from driving.

World News

Are Efforts To Overthrow Assad Counter Productive?

7:47am December 12, 2015

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard says that in order to defeat ISIS, the U.S. must stop trying to remove Syrian president Bashar al Assad from power. She tells NPR's Scott Simon why.

Politics & Government

Women In Saudi Arabia Can Finally Vote, So Why Is Turnout So Low?

7:47am December 12, 2015

For the first time, women can vote and run for office in Saudi Arabia. Some see it as an important symbol of change. Others aren't even aware of the elections.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the audience Friday during an annual meeting at the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

World News

Putin Says Russia Is Backing Some Syrian Opposition Forces

5:17pm December 11, 2015

by Camila Domonoske

Russia opposes the Islamic State, but supports Syria's Bashar Assad. Now Moscow says its military is providing weapons and supplies to Western-backed, anti-Assad forces on the frontlines against ISIS.

Soheir al Batea died after a surgery for female circumcision in 2013.

Egyptian Doctor Found Guilty Of Female Genital Mutilation Isn't In Jail

4:38pm December 11, 2015

by Leila Fadel

Dr. Raslan Fadl was sentenced to two years in prison after a girl died in his care. NPR found him working at a government hospital.

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World News

Evaluating Britain's Air Campaign Against The Islamic State

4:33pm December 11, 2015

Britain began carrying out airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria earlier this month. Steve Inskeep talks to Michael Fallon, Britain's Secretary of State for Defence about how the campaign is going.

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World News

Saudi Arabia To Hold Historic Elections On Saturday

4:16pm December 11, 2015

It will be the first time that women there can vote or run for office. Women's groups have been pushing voter registration drives, but only a small percentage of the voting population has registered.

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Michael Fallon, British secretary of state for defense, talks to forces at a British air base in Cyprus on Dec. 5, days after a Parliament vote approving U.K. airstrikes against ISIS in Syria.

World News

LISTEN: The Man Who Picks British Bombing Targets In Syria

2:25pm December 11, 2015

by Steve Inskeep

U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon tells NPR that he has insisted on personally signing off before Royal Air Force Tornado warplanes strike any target in the campaign against ISIS.

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Leaked Budget Document Provides Glimpse Into How ISIS Makes Money

4:31pm December 10, 2015

by Stacey Vanek Smith

NPR explores how ISIS gets its money and why that makes it so hard to turn off the money spigot. We examine how ISIS makes up its budget and manages it through its tax system, fees and the antiquities smuggling strategies.