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
Beirut's movie boycott hurts Lebanon more than Israel Several big-name films have been banned in the past two years in Lebanon, and some say the censorship is outdated, haphazard and harmful to the country's own film industry. Israel
Are Iraqi Mandaeans better off in Jordan? Because of discrimination, Iraq’s Mandaeans practice their religion in secrecy in Jordan. Iraq
Al-Bab transformed by influx of Syria's displaced A large number of displaced Syrians from all over the country have fled to al-Bab, bringing with them their diverse cultures and traditions. Syria
Gaza youth debate political, social issues Several youth debate initiatives in the Gaza Strip are encouraging young Palestinians to question partisan thinking, collect facts and consider other points of view. Palestine
Girls of Jerusalem ensemble gets Palestinian voices heard A girls’ ensemble in East Jerusalem uses both traditional and Western musical instruments to perform traditional songs of Palestine. Palestine
Sisi touts victories for Egyptian women as election nears Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has made strides in politically empowering women in the past year and likely hopes the progress guarantees him a solid base of voters in the upcoming elections. Egypt
Protests against compulsory hijab trigger debate in Iran A protest by Iranian women against rules mandating hijab have divided citizens. Iran
Culture Alert: Art speaks to power in February February exhibitions in the Middle East offer satirical and fantastic looks at politics and society, clearly demonstrating that the fighting spirit in the arts is far from being defeated by the powers that be. Egypt
Hostility toward Syrians could explode in Turkey, ICG warns A new report by the International Crisis Group warns that tension and violence involving Syrian refugees in Turkey is underdocumented and growing worse. Syria
More skyscrapers pop up along Israeli skyline Israeli urban designers differ on whether condominium towers are the solution for land shortage or they create new problems, such as disconnect with street life. Israel
Palestinians pay homage to poet Fadwa Tuqan Palestinians are commemorating the centenary of their great poet Fadwa Tuqan, a fighter for her country and her rights as a woman. Palestine
Urban agriculture spreads in Gaza Local associations in Gaza are promoting urban and peri-urban agriculture to help marginalized families in light of the water crisis and food insecurity. Palestine
