Lebanon is now months into an investigation of the Beirut port blast – but no one has been held accountable yet. Politicians have repeatedly obstructed the work of the lead judge, Tarek Bitar. Last week, Hezbollah led a protest to demand his dismissal. It sparked a gun battle in the heart of Beirut that left seven people dead and reignited fears of new sectarian violence.

Middle East matters

Beirut port explosion: Investigation sparks violent demonstrations

For the second time in recent weeks, Lebanon has been crippled by another major blackout. This time, the army saved the day by supplying reserves to the country's two biggest and fuel-starved power stations. The electricity shortages are a lingering and painful reminder of the political and economic crises that have rocked Lebanon for many months. For more, we talk to Sibylle Rizk, Director of Public Policies at the Beirut-based NGO Kulluna Irada.

Lebanon blackout: Grappling with daily power shortages

In Iraq, at least 80 activists have been the target of assassination attempts since protests erupted in late 2019. The anti-government movement called for jobs and better public services. Now, as Iraq heads to the polls this weekend, many argue the killings have deterred protest movement candidates from standing in the elections. Our correspondents Jack Hewson and Lucile Wassermann travelled to the city of Kut to meet campaigners, who say the attacks are carried out by armed groups connected to Iraq's political establishment.

Parliamentary elections in Iraq: Campaigning amid death threats

A trial is underway of 14 Palestinian officers, charged with beating to death a prominent critic of President Mahmoud Abbas. The killing of Nizar Banat in June drew widespread protests and calls for Abbas's resignation. Human rights groups say Palestinian Authority forces regularly arrest critics in the occupied West Bank, something that Abbas denies. We take a closer look.

Trial over activist Nizar Banat's death: Palestinian leadership under pressure

When the Taliban seized Afghanistan, tens of thousands of people fled the country. Among them were former members of the Afghan security forces. Fearing Taliban reprisals, they've fled to neighbouring Iran, which hosts the second-largest population of Afghan refugees in the world. Temporary camps have been set up, but Iranian authorities are already considering sending the Afghans back. Our correspondent Reza Sayah reports from Tehran.

Afghan refugees fear deportation at Iranian border

The Syrian province of Idlib, one of the last remaining rebel strongholds in the country's north, is experiencing a new wave of Covid-19 infections, driven by the more contagious Delta variant. This comes as the regime intensifies bombings in the region, putting local hospitals under even greater pressure. We take a closer look.

Covid-19 in Syria: Idlib faces wave of Delta variant infections

Fearing a new refugee crisis, Turkey is beefing up its border wall with Iran to block Afghan refugees from entering the country. Scores of civilians fleeing the Taliban regime are escaping to Iran, where they're making the weeks-long journey to the Turkish border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says 300,000 Afghans have already arrived, and he's determined not to let any more in. Our correspondents Shona Bhattacharyya, Ludovic de Foucaud and Hussein Asad report from Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border.

Turkey's border wall with Iran: Erdogan seeks to block new arrivals of Afghan refugees

As the war in Yemen continues, lawyers have called on the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into the Saudi-led coalition, accusing it of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We speak to British barrister Toby Cadman, co-founder of Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers. He tells us why he filed the request at the ICC.

War crimes in Yemen: Lawyers call for ICC investigation into Saudi-led coalition

Iran is home to a colourful array of ethnicities: Persians, Arabs, Azeris, Kurds, Baluchis, Lurs and a group that's less talked about: the Black African community. While we have no verified figures, according to some reports, there are more than tens of thousands of Black Iranians living in a number of cities. To talk more about the Iranian-African community both in and out of the country, we speak to Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, one of the founders of the Collective for Black Iranians.

Race and ethnicity: Shining a spotlight on Iran's Black community

Pharmacies in Lebanon have gone on an indefinite strike. Drug importers have warned they are running out of hundreds of drugs, as the country's central bank has failed to pay overseas suppliers millions of dollars in dues. This, coupled with fuel shortages and power cuts which can last up to 22 hours a day, has resulted in the situation in Lebanon going from bad to worse. Haddak Men B3id is an organisation on the ground that aims to end food insecurity. We talk to its co-founder Gaelle Matar in Beirut.

Lebanon's economic crisis: Fighting food insecurity amid shortages

Our guest is Sultan Al Qassemi, who is not just a friend of the show but also the inspiration behind some of our guests. He joins us in the studio to talk about his latest book, "Building Sharjah", which is the most extensive study of any city in the United Arab Emirates and quite possibly the entire region.

'Building Sharjah': A tale of modern architecture in the Arab world

Our guest was born Hosam, a popular Arabic boy's name, to a strictly religious family in Yemen's port city of Hodeida. From a young age, she didn't feel comfortable in her clothes or her skin. Behind closed doors, she would shave her bodily hair and put on makeup, imagining what it would be like to be a woman. Hosam's life turned upside down when she was detained because of the mere shape of her eyebrows and subjected to torture. Today, Ritaj, a transgender woman, is living in France, having escaped the clutches of her strict relatives and local authorities. She tells us her story.

Fleeing persecution: Transgender Yemeni woman speaks out

Iran tends to dominate the news cycle, whether that's over its contentious nuclear programme, relations with the West or its domestic situation. Yet it continues to be a country misunderstood by many. Iranians often find themselves having to prove to the rest of the world that theirs is not a monolithic society. To find out more, we speak to Tara Kangarlou, author of "The Heartbeat of Iran".

Inside Iran: A misunderstood nation?

This week we are bringing you a special edition of the programme, where we will be delving into the Iranian election. It's been a rocky lead-up that has left many voters inside the Islamic Republic disillusioned as the Guardian Council has whittled down some 600 candidates to just over a handful. In doing so, the council eliminated a number of prominent Reformists, who might have brought some rivalry to the race. We will be joined by Ali Vaez, who is the Crisis Group's Iran Project Director.

Breaking down the 2021 presidential race in Iran

Our guest is Avner Gvaryahu, a former Israeli soldier. Today, he is the executive director of Breaking the Silence, an organisation of more than 1,000 veteran Israeli soldiers who are blowing the lid off the IDF's actions against Palestinians. He tells us his story and what price he has had to pay for speaking out.

Former Israeli soldier breaks silence on occupation of Palestinian Territories

Political and social events from the Middle East, with exclusive reports and interviews. Tuesday at 5.45 pm Paris time.

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Middle East matters

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