Iran

Young Heratis Have Little Faith in Elections

Many believe outcome of ballot will be determined by foreign powers.

Missing Americans' Last Stop: Ahmed Awa

Afghanistan: Jun ‘09

Leading press freedom organisation praises IWPR investigation on difficulties faced by female Afghan journalists.

Right to Vote Limited for Women

Many women will be prevented from voting in Afghanistan’s elections by the men who control their lives.

Sulaimaniyah Violence Fears

Some warn of post-election clashes if fraud is suspected at the polls.

The Village of Widows

Women in Herat cope alone after losing husbands to drug trafficking.

Rules – What Rules? How Iran's Election Was Funded

As Mahmoud Ahmedinejad drew on state resources to support his campaign, neither he nor his rivals made it clear where they got their funding from.

Iranian Clerics Diminished by Silence Over Protests

Of the senior Shia figures who backed the opposition candidate ahead of the election, few spoke out afterwards when protesters cried foul.

Basra Plagued by Mine Menace

UN critical of pace of landmine clearance, warning it’ll be decades before targets met.

On Seeing the Death of Neda

Syrian journalist tells of being moved by the death of a woman in a Tehran street.