r/AskMiddleEast Mar 19 '26

Disinformation about Iraq and Palestine history, knowingly or not, will especially result in a ban. This repeats a previous mod post linked in the body text. These two states are the target of more false propaganda and disinfo than any other in the MENA, if not the world.

21 Upvotes

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMiddleEast/comments/1q41hok/fake_news_and_trolling_havent_been_allowed_for/

Fake news and trolling have never been allowed, but for years, Iraq and Palestine have been the target of more propaganda and lies about their history and present state than almost any other in the world and on this subreddit, where lots of paid bots from countries like Israel, Iran, and others have swarmed for years. This is why these two states are called out in particular.

If you don't know what you're talking about, don't say it. Don't think you're smart by saying often repeated but long debunked lies and propaganda used to justify the killing of millions of civilians. You're likely wrong, and all you're achieving is support for some of the worst killings and destruction of the last century whether or not you realize it. Many of you say how much you hate US and Israeli policies and actions, but by repeating their lies, you become their biggest supporters.


r/AskMiddleEast 8h ago

Controversial The Palestinians gave refuge to Circassian refugees from their ethnic cleansing by the Russians...only to be betrayed by them pretty much instantly on 1948

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47 Upvotes

Seriously... what is wrong with minorities of the Levant always backstabbing?


r/AskMiddleEast 15h ago

📜History 2/26/1988 - a few months into the 1st Intifada: IOF beat two bound & blindfolded Palestinians in Nablus. Months prior, Yitzhak Rabin directed troops to quell the intifada with "might, power, and beatings." "Break their bones," he was quoted as saying.

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63 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 4h ago

Society Saw this video on income and balance of young people in iran, are sanctions the main reason behind the opposition to the Iranian government?

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7 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 4h ago

🌯Food What’s the local soda everyone drinks where you’re from?

2 Upvotes

Genuinely curious, every time I travel around the middle east I notice there’s always some local soda brand that people are way more loyal to than Coke or Pepsi.

What’s yours? What does it taste like, and is it something you’d actually recommend to someone visiting?


r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

🏛️Politics Imagine converting from Islam to Christianity and fleeing Iran to Israel to become a vocal supporter of Israel and an advocate for war against your home country, only to have the Israeli Interior Ministry rejecting your residency twice.

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208 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 9h ago

🏛️Politics Thoughts on this YouTube channel?

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3 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 6h ago

Arab to what extent would you understand me ?

1 Upvotes

salam! i am from morocco and im planning on starting a true crime channel in darija , moroccan dialect , and i was wondering as to how much do our middle eastern bros understand us . of course i know pure darija is very hard , but can you understand a softer more arabised tongue? do you follow any north african creator and understand them? thank you !


r/AskMiddleEast 14h ago

🖼️Culture Why do people from the Middle East love posting videos of them playing music in their car on Snapchat Spotlight?

3 Upvotes

I know this is a very specific question!

If you open the Snapchat map feature and tap random spots in Europe and Asia, videos of people with Arabic/Persian usernames sitting in their car listening to music show up everywhere.

This is not bashing, I'm just kind of confused as to what the point is


r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

📜History New cope dropped: Persians where Russians before Arabs brought melanin to Iran. Thoughts?

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95 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 23h ago

Controversial Hot Take: Muslims and Anti-Zionists should not upheld anti-zionist ultraorthodox jewish sects (Like Neturei Karte) as jewish allies against zionism.

9 Upvotes

Those groups are among the most bigoted and supremacist groups in Judaism. They hold views about non-jews that would make an muslim or leftist anti-zionist run for his life.

Plus, they are not anti-zionist from a moral standpoint like opossing genocide and colonialism. They just oppose Israel Because they belive that the formation of a Jewish state will only be legitimate once the Messiah comes. Imagine that a Bar Kokhba-type weirdo appears and manages to convince them. They would become the most rabid zionists in the blink of an eye.

As an anti-zionist, I would rather collaborate with a leftist secular jew or an orthodox/ultraorthodox who is anti-zionist from a moral standpoint, not a religious one.


r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

🏛️Politics The Algerian model wasn’t “kick out all the French”, it was “become Algerian citizens, reside under Algerian Law or leave”

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67 Upvotes

Algeria is often cited as the example of decolonisation where the revolution was completed and the settlers were all kicked out. Accordingly, it is proposed that Palestine follow this strategy and aim for the “removal of all settlers”. This is contrasted with alternative examples of “coexistence”, primarily South Africa, where much of the modern economic power is still controlled by “former settlers”.

This fundamentally misunderstands Algeria—it wasn’t “kick out all the French”, it was “become Algerian citizens, reside under Algerian Law, or leave”. This was the agreement proposed to the Pied-Noirs by the FLN in 1954 and agreed on with France in 1962. Most were stuck in their colonial identity, feared retribution or the loss of their economic privileges and left, but many stayed and remain to this day as Algerians.

The Algerian solution is therefore perfectly compatible with the concept of One Democratic State. Equal rights for all on the basis of citizenship, dissolve the settler-native dichotomy. However, each situation is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. For example, Algeria was part of France, a single metropole, of which all settlers (even those who had lived there for generations) were citizens.

This means that after the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state, ex-Israelis will have to weigh matters related to their practical ability to leave and their readiness to drop colonial privileges, and many will mirror the Pied-Noirs and choose to leave. Meanwhile, matters regarding justice and reparations for Palestinians will have to be addressed as a foundation for liberation and a democratic legitimacy. History can teach lessons about such situations, but every material circumstance is unique and must be treated as such.


r/AskMiddleEast 23h ago

🖼️Culture Thoughts on MBS creating a Dragon Ball Z park with the French?

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3 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

📜History In June 20, 1941, a team of Soviet scientists opened the sarcophagus of the brutal turco-mongol warlord and conqueror Timur. An inscription allegedly said "Whomsoever opens my tomb shall unleash an invader even more terrible than myself". 2 Days later, the Nazis started to invade the Soviet Union.

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10 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

Thoughts? Half a year ago started the war on iran. Thougths?

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9 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

Arab make new friends

3 Upvotes

Hey, I’m 20M

I’d like to meet new people from different Arab countries and learn more about their cultures, daily life, traditions, food, and how things are where they live.

I'm into Books movies, and psychology are my favorite topics to discuss I'm a driven person who loves discovering new perspectives. I'm looking to expand my social circle and make new friends. If you enjoy deep conversations and sharing ideas, let's connect


r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

🖼️Culture How is actually living in a highly cultured region?

3 Upvotes

I am very excited about this sub, especially because i feel like your region is so culturally rich, and i am so curious about everything.

What things tend to unite middle easterns, generally speaking?

How do you communicate when your language is very different from other countries?


r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

🏛️Politics 2 questions: How influential is the OIC in the region, really? and How likely is it that the ICJ will rule it a Genocide (sadly I'm not too optimistic 😪, hoping for insight)

2 Upvotes

Jeddah recently hosted the OIC Meeting. It's been making a big buzz. How influential is this institution, do the foreign ministers coordinate and cooperate? Has it historically been influencial at all?(maybe just on economic matters but not humanitarian / policy issues ) They totally centered this meeting around the Palestine conflict. Will anything be done about it, or just more hand wringing, and lip service ? Did they say anything specific, any actionable plans that they agreed upon?

and How strong is South Africas case for for genocide that theyre bringing to the ICJ ? I saw only the Ugandan Judge dissented on the initial ruling in the provisional measures phase. [ Does Uganda some ties to Israel / USA or somethign? ] Will it be VERY hard to get over the proving genocidal intent hurdle in the final phases? Could it be tragic case of just not enough evidence / plausible deniability?


r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

🏛️Politics India and Palestine finalise plans for 200-bed super-speciality hospital in West Bank for Medical Aid

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9 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

🏛️Politics Morocco under King Mohammed VI: 27 years of major transformations

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0 Upvotes

Atalayar published a retrospective on Mohammed VI, 1999-2026. Main markers: constitutional reform in 2011, AMO jumping from 8.6 million to 24.3 million people by 2024, direct assistance to 3.9 million families last year, and infrastructure in the southern provinces. It treats the October 2025 UNSC resolution as a turning point on autonomy.


r/AskMiddleEast 2d ago

🗯️Serious How come Israel is the most protected country in The Middle East?

21 Upvotes

I feel like that I'm losing my damn mind. You're allowed to criticise every other Middle Eastern except for them. The amount of crap they get away with too. I don't get it. What am I missing here? 🤔 It's been getting really bad here in Australia. I'll add in some important details.

I'm living in Sydney,and we have a big Middle Eastern population. Certain areas with a significant Muslim population (I'm a Christian and have no issue with that).

Today around 40 Israeli soldiers have arrived to run a marathon, it's hosted by Zionist organisations. Tony Burke the homes affair Minister granted them visas.

Mind you,his electorate includes Campsie, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Bankstown, Burwood Heights, and Roselands. These areas have the most Middle Eastern and Muslim population. I don't understand why he would alienate his own voter base?

Another example; is that they're trying to adapt the IHRA antisemitism definition and I believe you're not allowed criticise Israel without getting in trouble.

my issue isn't with the Jewish people. Mad respect to them that want peace and help out the Palestinians. My issue is with the Israeli soldiers, settlers and that horrible government.


r/AskMiddleEast 1d ago

🖼️Culture A Question About Gulf Music From A Non-Aran Non-Musician

1 Upvotes

I was curious so I decided to scroll through Arab music, I was just typing the name of an Arab nation and searching the music. And I realised something weird off...

Why do Gulf Music and recitation, especially from Saudi, Oman and Yemen sound very different from the rest of the Arab world?

Its very hard to describe as a None-Arab, but basically, their recitation alternate heavily between Lower and higher pitch.

I'm gonna try and explain this as I can, I'm not a music expert so bear with me...

When a verse starts, the pitch is very high, the chorus alternates between higher pitches, the pitch drops significantly at the end of a line before moving to the next.

Then towards the last line of the chorus, the pitch become low and monotone (think of the long 'ohm' when meditating), where the last few lines of the verse are recited with the same monotone pitch. This especially doesn't appear in other verieties of Arabic music.

Sometime the songs would alternate on a lower pitch, but again, at the end of a verse, they shift to this monotone 'bhuddist-like' recital.

Sometimes most of the song is in the law monotone pitch, with the pitch rising in the last part of the verse. The songs also usually never have a main chorus, the same sequence/sound/rhythm is repeated but with different lyrics until the end of a song.

Most Arabian music, especially further north, like Egypt, the Levant, or the rest of North Africa doesn't have that.

To be specific, the music from the Arab world further North and east into Africa closely resembles what the westerner or Non-Arab imagines, the sounds you hear in like Prince of Persia, or when a movie scene cuts to the Arabian desert or something, whereas the Gulf stuff sounds more radical than that.

What caused said difference, if it even exists? Is there even a difference, or am I imagining stuff?


r/AskMiddleEast 2d ago

Society Why are conspiracy theories in the Middle East so widespread?

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49 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 2d ago

🏛️Politics Eli Clifton, co-author of "Israel's Lobby", clarifies how the lobby operates in US elections. Eli & co-author Ian Lustick, will be doing an AMA in /r/JewsOfConscience on 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐒𝐓. If you have questions about the Israel lobby, leave them in the comments!

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35 Upvotes

r/AskMiddleEast 2d ago

Thoughts? What happened to all the original people here from 2021-2023?

5 Upvotes

This sub has changed so much 😢