MEMI Perspectives

Commentaries

The Coptic Question in Egypt’s “Age of Tolerance”

Fifteen years after the Arab Spring, at first glance, one might conclude that Egypt has successfully addressed its sectarian divisions. ..

Syria’s Minorities Face More Than a Failure of Protection

The fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 offered a chance to build a state where citizenship, rather than sect ..

Deep Dive Features

Before the Gunfire: Mapping the Hidden Infrastructure of Repression in Kurdistan/Iran

For decades, Kurdish cities in Iran have been centers of resistance against the Islamic Republic, from the mass demonstrations that ..

When America Leaves: Minority Survival in Iraq and Syria

The departure of U.S. troops from Iraq in September 2026, following the drawdown in Syria earlier in the year, may ..

Personal Accounts

Yezidis: Between Genocide and Cultural Erasure

More than 12 years have passed since the Yezidis of Mount Sinjar faced one of the most heinous crimes of ..

The Balochi Struggle to Endure

I was born in a village in Balochistan that, in my opinion, was perhaps one of the best places to ..

Hub For MENA Minorities

Elevating Minority Community Voices

Strategic Dialogues &
Private Briefings

Program Implementation &
Grant Management

MEMI Council of Experts

The MEMI Council of Experts is composed of leaders, civil society practitioners, researchers, former elected officials, and activists from minority communities across the Middle East and North Africa. As the central pillar of the Institute’s work, the Council helps ensure that the perspectives and lived experiences of MENA minorities drive research, public programming, and policy engagement.

Samira Ghaderi

Mark Basta

Soran Mansournia

Garo Paylan

News & Updates

Launch of the Middle East Minorities Institute

The Middle East Minorities Institute launched its website and social media accounts today, 29 October 2026.

October 29, 2026

MEMI Advisory Board

MEMI’s Advisory Board is composed of former government officials, researchers, journalists, policy practitioners, civil society leaders, academics, and subject matter experts with extensive professional experience. Advisory Board members provide policy insight, expertise, and institutional support to MEMI’s research, project implementation, convenings, publications, and other initiatives.

Natia Navrouzov

Dexter Ingram

Sirwan Renas

Tamara Wittes

MEMI Partner Organizations

Partner Organizations share MEMI’s commitment to improving the well-being of religious and ethnic minority communities in the Middle East. Their inclusion reflects shared values and does not imply a formal partnership or legal relationship. The views expressed by authors on the MEMI website do not necessarily reflect the positions of partner organizations, and MEMI implements activities independently, unless otherwise specified.

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