To really understand the world, we need to hear from different people with different perspectives. Unfortunately, though, conventional media sources in the West often fail to provide an array of diverse viewpoints. Women, minorities, and other marginalized groups in particular continue to be underrepresented in bylines across the industry. In the process, those seeking credible, reliable, quality information are being short-changed.

Muftah is dedicated to transforming this situation by producing original content from diverse individuals about global events that matter.

Muftah launched in May 2010 to provide English-speaking audiences with incisive analysis on countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that eschewed the Western media’s focus on terrorism, oil, and Islamism, and highlighted the complex factors that shape and influence regional countries and populations. Since then, we have extended our coverage to Central Asia and Eastern Europe, and plan to keep expanding to other parts of the globe that are similarly misunderstood and misrepresented by mainstream media outlets.

From the start, Muftah has worked with a large and eclectic group of writers that include academics, practitioners, activists, and members of diaspora communities. These individuals are experts in their field and bring insight and substantial subject matter expertise to regional issues. We have also been and remain dedicated to ensuring our writers and editors represent the diversity of the world we live in. Good journalism demands no less.

While we are committed to free speech, we do abide by certain red lines. We will not publish pieces that advocate violence, war, occupation, or racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination.