On #InternationalWomensDay, let's remember the millions of women around the world who are denied access to education simply because of their gender. Our Underground Schools program in Afghanistan ensures that every girl has the opportunity to learn and grow. #IWD2023
Ideas Beyond Borders
2,770 posts
We equip individuals and communities in the Middle East with the information, skills, and resources to improve their societies on their own terms
Joined August 2017
- Salman Rushdie has been one of the bravest voices against theocratic terror for decades. An attack on him is an attack against all who would like to see free speech in the Middle East. nytimes.com/live/2022/08/1…
- We're very thankful that @AlinejadMasih is not allowing the plight of Iranian women to be forgotten.I dedicate the International Journalism Award to the Iranian women who have either lost their lives or are currently imprisoned for protesting or seeking justice. They are the true journalists, exposing the brutality of the Islamic regime by capturing and sharing videos with
00:00 - In response to the Salman Rushdie attack we will be printing and distributing five thousand translated copies of The Satanic Verses across the Middle East. We will never allow violence to silence free speech and intimidate free thinkers. ideasbeyondborders.substack.com/p/deadly-conse…
- This is what the future of Iran looks like.It took me a minute to realise this is a shopping mall in Tehran. This is what everyday protest in Iran looks like - and what no turning back looks like. Extraordinary. (A friend sent me this video).
00:00 - "In some ways, it's easier to combat censorship in authoritarian countries because everyone knows what can't be said." @MsMelChen and @faisalalmutar joined @andrewdoyle_com to discuss our work in the Middle East combatting censorship and the global fight for free speech!
00:00 - "The attack on Rushdie is a brutal reminder that the spread of illiberalism is not contained to college campuses in the US, or countries in the Middle East. When enough of the population begins to believe that words are violence, we are all in trouble." ow.ly/exMr50KkruK
- Internet blackouts come with the implicit threat of violence from the Iranian government. We are providing VPN access to @Hengaw_English so they can keep peaceful Iranian protesters connected to all of us who care about their freedom and safety. ideasbeyondborders.substack.com/p/vpns-bypass-…
- From the streets of Kabul to Toronto, Sami's dream sparked 'Inspirand', connecting Afghan design and tech talents with North America. Fueled by his immigrant journey and IBB grant support, he breaks barriers, fights biases, and creates global opportunities.
00:00 - Our founder @faisalalmutar sat down with @RubinReport to talk about America, Afghanistan, Iraq, immigration, secularism, capitalism, censorship, political polarization, and, of course, our work at IBB getting good ideas where they're needed most. youtube.com/watch?v=8YAV6F…
- Many think the Middle East is a monolith. But we know countless figures across the region are ready to build a better future. When you donate to IBB, you're creating that future alongside them. You're building schools, binding books, and inspiring countless innovators.
- We've funded a lot of libraries across the Middle East, but Ghorband Library is unique. Perhaps it's because of its founder, Ahmad Jawid Karimyan, and the profoundly personal lengths he's gone to provide an education for the children of his community.
00:00 - Thanks to our partnership with @RwangaFdn, we funded 12 new Innovators at the HITEX conference in Erbil earlier this month! Plenty of people in the Middle East have the talent and passion to solve the problems important to them, and we're happy to help them in any way we can.
00:00 - Our first translation of this year is Free Speech: A Global History from Socrates to Social Media by @JMchangama! We hope this book will remind our readers across the MENA region about the importance of this prime value, from which all our other freedoms depend.






