The Middle East saw a slight improvement in freedom in 2022, with four countries witnessing progress in political rights and civil liberties, according to a report by Freedom House. However, Iran experienced the largest decline in the region, losing two points on the 100-point scale. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Israel each gained one point, with the latter being the only country rated ‘Free’ in the region. The report suggests that the global struggle for democracy could be nearing a turning point, with 34 countries making improvements during the year.
Freedom House offers various recommendations for democratic governments to protect and expand political rights and civil liberties, including supporting Ukraine, addressing corruption and kleptocracy, promoting democracy, and increasing support for human rights defenders. Despite these developments, 93% of the Middle East’s population still resides in countries rated ‘Not Free.’
Comments are closed.