Middle East

Unspalsh/Mohamad Babayan

UN rights chief ‘extremely concerned’ over deadly crackdown on protesters in Iran

6 December 2019
Human Rights

In the wake of recent protests in Iran, the top United Nations human rights official expressed alarm on Friday over multiple human rights violations which have reportedly taken place across the country.

UNAMI/Sarmad Al-Safy

Protests and civil unrest show ‘renewed sense of patriotism’ in Iraq, UN envoy tells Security Council

3 December 2019
Peace and Security

After decades of sectarian strife and conflict, “a renewed sense of patriotism has taken hold”, the head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) told the Security Council on Tuesday.

UNAMI

Iraq: UN ‘deeply concerned’ at continued protester deaths

29 November 2019
Peace and Security

UN chief António Guterres has expressed deep concern over reports of the continued use of live ammunition against demonstrators in Iraq.  

UN Photo

UN commemorates International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

27 November 2019
Peace and Security

The United Nations has underlined its unwavering commitment to the Palestinian people in their ongoing struggle to achieve self-determination, independence and sovereignty.

Giles Clarke/Getty Images Reportage

Courage of terrorism survivors underlines ‘urgency’ of UN Investigative Team’s work in Iraq

26 November 2019
Peace and Security

The leader of the special UN Investigation Team probing crimes committed by ISIL terrorists in Iraq, said on Tuesday that the courage being demonstrated by survivors coming forward “serves to underline the urgency” they need to carry on with their work.

UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

UN condemns deadly attack on one of its vehicles in Afghan capital

24 November 2019
Peace and Security

A UN worker was killed and two people were injured when their vehicle was attacked in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Sunday.

UNIFEED

Syrian Constitutional Committee a ‘sign of hope’: UN envoy tells Security Council

22 November 2019
Peace and Security

The launch of the Syrian Constitutional Committee could be a “door-opener” to finally providing a solution to the country’s brutal conflict, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council.

© UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)

‘Signs of hope’ toward a political settlement in Yemen, UN special envoy tells Security Council

22 November 2019
Peace and Security

The momentum to reach a political settlement in Yemen “has been building”, the United Nations Special Envoy to the country told the Security Council on Friday, attributing the positive development to compromises on “a range of issues”.

UN Photo/Milton Grant

Independent rights experts sound alarm at Iran protest crackdown, internet blackout

22 November 2019
Human Rights

Reports of killed and maimed demonstrators, and a continuing nationwide internet shutdown in Iran’s now week-long protests are of “grave concern”, and the Government and authorities must ensure rights of expression and opinion are protected, a UN group of independent experts said on Friday.

©UNICEF/Delil Souleiman

UN experts urge Turkey to repatriate Irish woman associated with terror group

21 November 2019
Peace and Security

Turkey must ensure that an Irish woman and her infant daughter who are being held in custody there are repatriated, independent UN experts said in a statement released on Thursday. The woman, Lisa Smith, has been described in press reports as a supporter of the ISIL terror group, and former member of the Irish military.