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
Israel's education policies leave ultra-Orthodox students behind By giving preference to Yiddish over English and math, ultra-Orthodox schools prevent their graduates from seeking a future in the high-tech industry. Israel
Polish Holocaust law turns into political battleground in Israel While negotiations continue between Israel and Poland over its new Holocaust law, Israeli politicians are cashing in on the outrage. Israel
Erdogan mobilizes children for propaganda war Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's choice to have small children read politically charged poetry and prayers in the parliament was a brazen embrace of religious nationalism. Turkey
Iranian female singers get boost from music idol Female vocalists at concerts re-emerge as a heated point of contention in Iran, as hard-liners continue to ban them from public performances. Iran
Gaza businesses forced to close The economic and humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip have left stores with no option but to shut down. Palestine
Despite Ankara's lack of support, Turkish film wins big at Sundance The Turkish government has put private theater and movie productions in a chokehold through restrictions in financing and legal hurdles. Turkey
Egypt's authorities seek to wipe out graffiti artists Egyptian graffiti artists keep a low profile, fearing that they will be arrested both for vandalism and political charges. Egypt
An archive of resistance: Documenting Egypt's revolution As videos of the Egyptian regime’s violations during the 2011 and 2013 uprisings were disappearing from social media, the Mosireen Collective launched an online archive to keep the memory of the Arab Spring alive in the minds of citizens. Egypt
Palestinian family executes son suspected of spying for Israel Rights organizations in Gaza strongly condemned the execution of a Palestinian accused of collaborating with Israel by his own family, arguing that such cases belong in the courts. Palestine
Artists turn to walls, internet in war-torn Yemen Galleries and cultural centers in Yemen have long been a casualty of war. Local artists, however, use walls to express their creativity and anger. Yemen
Female graffiti artists show their colors on Amman's walls Suha Sultan is one of the few female graffiti artists in Jordan, but she is inspired to dismantle stereotypes and revitalize the city walls of Jordan's capital with colorful artwork. Jordan
Artists use calligraphy to bring together hostile neighbors in Lebanon's Tripoli Lebanese graffiti artist duo Ashekman have created a 1-mile-long message of peace on Tripoli's rooftops to unite two estranged neighborhoods in the city. Lebanon
