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Siddhi Halyur
17 March 2026 |
The Human Rights Watch World Report 2026 highlights structural patterns across the Middle East that primarily reflect entrenched authoritarian rule and restricted civic space. The report raises concern over the normalization of limited political participation. The highlighted issues include large-scale civilian harm and displacement, constraints on women and LGBTQ rights, laws to curb dissent, prolonged armed conflicts, etc.
The following are four major takeaways of the HRW report on the region.
1. Authoritarian governance hinders the basic rights of the citizens
Participatory political structures are being overpowered by centralized authorities. The combination of a concentration of executive powers and a weakening of institutional checks is creating a rigid political structure. Countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Libya, Israel/ Palestine, Qatar, Syria and Sudan demonstrate this pattern. Power is constantly maintained through administration, legal frameworks and security institutions rather than participatory mechanisms. Opposition parties have a limited role, as they are bound by the law. The judiciary and the legislature lack independence.
In countries where elections are conducted, they are in a tightly knit environment. Turkey, despite conducting the electoral process, shows that the executive controls all other Institutions. In Afghanistan, the executive has enforced ideological authority. The Ministry has enforced regulations regarding daily public life and education, along with others. In Syria, years of conflict have led to the concentration of authority. Libya, though politically unstable, exhibits power concentration in military groups and armed actors. This shows how an authoritarian regime has gripped the middle and has seeped into the daily lives of people and the government. Though the severity might vary, the pattern is noticed in the majority of the countries.
2. Systemic subduing of Media, Civil Society and Dissent
One of the clearest patterns observed is the subduing of public criticism and independent journalism. Legal systems are being used to regulate and restrict expression. Dissent is treated as a threat to national security and order. The media is tightly controlled. Independent journalism comes with the risks of funds being held, surveillance, and, in some cases, arrests. Self-censorship is common due to lingering fear of legal consequences. Civil society and its opinions are overlooked. Protests result in legal action or detention. This pattern is systemic across all political systems. One can notice reduced public debates and limited civic institutions.
Saudi Arabia continues to criminalise speech against the current leadership. This has largely challenged the media and civil society’s right to speech. In 2025, Turkey has journalists and opposition party leaders facing legal obstacles. This has regulated the media and limited its scope of independent reporting. Egypt maintains strict restrictions on online speech and protests. Individuals have faced prosecution for online dissent against the government. Bahrain maintains a strict environment for political expression with limited tolerance for protests. Speaking out on topics like corruption, social grievances, and governance carries significant risks.
3. Widespread gender based restrictions
Women face legal and administrative barriers to the attainment of basic rights, such as the right to education. This is a recurring pattern observed across most Middle Eastern countries. Restrictions are embedded in the political systems. These restrictions affect young girls and women by regulating their education, employment, mobility and their body. Gender Rights are stagnant. Any reforms in these countries fail to include their female populations.
Morality is used to subdue women. Their dressing is closely monitored. They are expected to behave a certain way and to depend on their male counterparts. Legal systems don’t protect these women. There is a lack of accountability and independence from such institutions, and restrictions remain difficult to challenge. Afghanistan is the most severe example of the violation. The country has banned secondary and higher education for girls and women. They must move through the country with a male. In conflict-affected areas like Yemen, instability poses the biggest challenge. Access to healthcare and legal protection for women and girls is reduced. Iran deals with non-compliance through legal means.
4. Criminalization of marginalized and minority communities
While the degree and form of discrimination differ by country, these countries harbour a sense of insecurity for less populous communities. This includes legals disadvantages and criminalization towards LGBT individuals, Ethnic minorities and Religious Minorities. Minority communities face displacement, restricted religious practices and social exclusion. Other values or religions are enforced through legal institutions. LGBT individuals are criminalized in the majority of countries. Same sex relations are prohibited under national laws.
Individuals are subjected to systemic harassment. Public decency laws are used to penalize these individuals. This has created a constant sense of fear in the LGBT community. In Afghanistan, Religious minorities face systemic oppression. They are in constant worry of displacement and are vulnerable due to government policies. Individuals belonging to the LGBT community face criminal penalties. Saudi Arabia has criminalised same sex marriage too, and public expression of LGBT carries legal backlash. For individuals who belong to minority groups, life in these countries involves a sense of uncertainty about their legal status, personal safety and societal acceptance. Politically, these communities are weak and have no representation.
Siddhi Halyur is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy, St Joseph's University.
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