Artistic heart of Iraq's Kurdistan thrives, but wants more public engagement Sulaimaniyah, often called the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s “culture capital,” has become something of a haven for artists, though obstacles remain for the vibrant and self-sustaining artistic center they envision. Iraq
Libyan artists turn to black comedy to show youth exploitation A play dubbed “Chocolate Egg” uses black comedy to show the exploitation of young Libyans by officials to lure them into military formations. North Africa
Saudi 2030 to expand art scene in Jeddah, Riyadh With Saudi Arabia’s new social reform plan the local art scene is blooming with a plethora of cultural initiatives. Legacy: Gulf
Gaza's first female beekeeper expands apiary The enclave's first female beekeeper speaks about the challenges facing Gaza's beekeeping profession. Palestine
Turkey's Orange Blossom Carnival blooms despite economic, political woes Orange Blossom Carnival is Turkey’s first and only street carnival, which in its seventh year attracted over 250,000 visitors to southern Adana province over the weekend, all for the love of color. Turkey
Is Gaza set to break sexual harassment taboo? Activists from the conservative Gaza Strip recently launched the #MeTooGaza hashtag on social media to encourage sexual harassment victims to talk about their experiences and share their stories. Palestine
Can Baghdad's Rasheed Street save its name, glory? Once a cultural and economic hub, Baghdad's Rasheed Street will need a lot of work and investment to return to its days of glory. Iraq
Mosul archaeologist aims to reclaim her city's lost heritage Despite occupation, displacement and war, archaeologist Layla Salih never lost hope of rebuilding the Mesopotamian, Jewish, Christian and Islamic cultural heritage of her city, Mosul. Iraq
Sephardic voters divided on eve of Israeli elections Senior Sephardic ultra-Orthodox figures have announced their support for the Ashkenazi Yahadut HaTorah. Israel
Peace and democracy losers in Israel’s 2019 elections The major losers of the 2019 elections are clear before a single ballot is cast: peace with the Palestinians and the Arab world, public trust in the institutions of government, freedom from religion, and co-existence between Jews and Arabs. Palestine
Turkey’s emerging artists dwell in dystopia The Mamut Art Project, an annual platform for young artists, reflects the new generation’s concerns on immigration, gay rights and the destruction of nature in the country. Turkey
Iraqi boy risks all to rescue Yazidi woman from Islamic State Teenage Diya Hamad told Al-Monitor the heroic tale of how he rescued his Yazidi friend from abuse by the Islamic State, following her into danger even as his own family reached safety. Iraq
Gays in Tunisia still suffer under archaic laws A new report on Tunisia's sodomy law highlights how members of the LGBTQ community who turn to police for protection can instead be subjected to abuse and violence. Tunisia
The grand delusion: The Israeli right's quest for Arab votes After advocating and adoption of the Nationality Law and inciting against Arabs, Israeli right-wing parties are fervently wooing the Arab vote. Israel
Can this project bring contemporary art to conservative towns in Palestine? Two Palestinian organizations have cooperated to launch a program in the conservative town of al-Dahriya that involved artists interacting with residents to prepare an exhibition. Palestine
Khamenei calls on Iran to learn from devastating floods As Iran continues to grapple with the devastating flooding that has ravaged the country, its supreme leader has urged officials to learn from the calamity. Iran
