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Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services.

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services

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The Fifth Floor: Why did this woman join Boko Haram?

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Boka Haram girl Hauwa

01/04/2016 GMT

Why did this woman join Boko Haram?

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Why did this woman join Boko Haram?

The story of a woman who nearly became a Boko Haram suicide bomber

One woman's story of joining Boko Haram; Central Asia's strongmen; Tehran street art; Myanmar's new president; the politics of Egypt's schoolbooks. With Paul Bakibinga.

In February two young women entered a camp for internally displaced people in north east Nigeria and blew themselves up.  They were from the militant islamist group Boko Haram, and killed nearly 60 people. But there was meant to be a third woman taking part.  Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi from BBC Africa was among the journalists who secured an interview with her.  So what motivates people to join Boko Haram?

Central Asia's Strongmen
As the people of Tajikistan prepare to vote in a referendum to make their leader Emomali Rakhmon president for life, we look at the strongmen in charge in much of Central Asia.  What do they have in common and what has kept them in power for so long? From Almaty in Kazakhstan, Abdujalil Abdurasulov shares his insights.

Street Art in Tehran
For decades the only visible art in the streets of Tehran were revolutionary murals. Now the mayor has relaxed regulations and allowed a group of young artists to exhibit in public. It's a unique opportunity for art students to showcase their work. However, there is still an active underground scene of non-sanctioned graffiti artists. Negin Kooteni of BBC Persian joins Paul Bakibinga in the Fifth Floor studio.  

Myanmar's Quiet Man
In the week that the new president of Myanmar, Htin Kyaw, was sworn in, we ask what we should expect from this quiet man who has always remained in the background. Soe Win Than of BBC Burmese explains Htin Kyaw's long friendship with Aung San Suu Kyi, and the web of connections which binds his family to hers.

All change in Egyptian school textbooks
Egyptian parents are bemused at the recent disappearance of former vice president Mohamed El Baradei from their children's school books. Until recently, he was held up as one of the country's Nobel laureates. Now his name has been removed. Angy Ghannam of BBC Monitoring in Cairo says that politics is behind this - and many other textbook changes.

And strange tales from the world wide web with Fifi Haroon.

Photo: Boka Haram girl, Hauwa (not her real name).
Credit: BBC Africa.

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