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Culture & Society

Artist Tara Abdulla in her studio in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Culture

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.

Libyan youths pose for a picture in front of the Corinthia Hotel after a swim near the city's main port, Tripoli, Libya, April 22, 2019.

Culture

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.

In this handout image provided by MD Beast, MDL Beast Festival - the Saudi Soundstorm has arrived, wowing over 130,000 fans on its first day on Dec. 19, 2019 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Culture

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.

Samar al-Baa inspects honey collected from her beehives in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip, in a still from a video uploaded May 30, 2021.

Culture

Gaza's first female beekeeper expands apiary

The enclave's first female beekeeper speaks about the challenges facing Gaza's beekeeping profession.

Latest News

Culture

Egyptian-German archaeologists unveil inscriptions, reliefs of Esna Temple

An inscription from the Esna temple.

Culture

Bicycling movement sweeps Lebanon

One of the slogans displayed in street art by Chain Effect on Hamra Street, Beirut.

Culture

Beirut artists interpret experience of nonconformance in Middle East

Joseph Kai

Culture

Controversy in Egypt over film starring ex-IDF soldier Gal Gadot

Gal Godot appears in a scene from "Death on the Nile"

Culture & Society

Honoring Pride week, Tel Aviv recognizes same-sex couples

Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai announced that same-sex couples will enjoy similar municipal benefits to those enjoyed by married couples.

Players of Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer club involved in sex scandal

When two players of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer club were suspected of sexual relations with minors, club owner Mitchell Goldhar made it clear this was intolerable on all levels.

Muslims perform the Friday prayers inside the Masjid Al-Nabawi while practicing social distancing, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Madina, Saudi Arabia June 5, 2020. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC213H9U7LRF

Saudi Arabia to reopen Mecca mosques as cases surpass 150,000

Saudi health officials confirmed an additional 4,301 cases of the virus Friday, raising the case count to more than 150,000.

Basak Demirtas, wife of Selahattin Demirtas, jailed former co-leader and presidential candidate of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), arrives at a polling station during the presidential and parliamentary elections in the Kurdish-dominated city of Diyarbakir, Turkey June 24, 2018. REUTERS/ Sertac Kayar - RC1EB83FCDE0

Sexual threat against HDP leader’s wife backfires as Turks rally around women

A threatening tweet against a jailed Kurdish opposition leader’s wife has Turkey up in arms against the patriarchal mindset that threatens women with sexual violence.

Demonstrators gesture as they take part in the ongoing anti-government protests after newly-appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called for the release of all detained protesters, at Jumhuriya bridge in Baghdad, Iraq May 10, 2020. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily - RC2NLG9KIXGL

Iraqi protesters set sights on local governors

Protesters in Iraq are demanding that provincial governors be sacked and the killers of demonstrators be found and prosecuted.

Fans of the Lebanese group Mashrou Leila show a a rainbow flag at the concert in Cairo, Egypt, 22 September 2017. The perhaps most famous Indie Rock band of the Arabic World is banned from Egypt because of rainbow flags at their concert, told the Egyptian organisation for musicians the German Press Agency dpa.
(Best quality) Photo: Benno Schwinghammer/dpa (Photo by Benno Schwinghammer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Death of activist Sarah Hegazy highlights struggle of Egypt's gay community

The death of activist Sarah Hegazy has renewed the debate over gay rights in Egypt amid an ongoing crackdown against the LGBTQI+ community.

Interview

Chief rabbi of Iran: Israel does not represent Judaism

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Rabbi Yehuda Garami, chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran, explains about their daily lives and why he paid a condolence visit to the family of assassinated Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

Yehuda Garami

Yehuda Garami

Chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran

A general view of Saladin Citadel at the centre of downtown Cairo, Egypt, January 21, 2018. Picture taken January 21, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany - RC19A58C7300

Egypt to develop citadel as new hub of Historic Cairo

As Egypt gears up to welcome tourists next month, the country’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and Sovereign Wealth Fund signed a contract to develop Cairo’s historical area of Bab al-Azab, where the imposing Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi Citadel is located.

Journalists put a black sign reads "The press, It is not a crime" on World Press Freedom Day at the syndicate's headquarters in downtown Cairo, Egypt May 3, 2016. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh - S1BETBXZDRAA

Egypt arrests prominent journalist after Al Jazeera interview

Mohamed Monir, 65, is charged with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news.

People visit a beach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Ashkelon, as restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ease around Israel, May 16, 2020. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC2RPG9LGFQZ

Israel kicks party business off beaches

An Israeli court has ruled in favor of protecting Israel’s beaches from commercial use such as keeping tents and other equipment on them.

A man wearing protective gloves checks the app "Be Aware", launched by Bahrain's health authorities to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by spreading awareness and sharing updates on the situation, at a hotel in Manama, Bahrain, April 19, 2020. Picture taken April 19, 2020. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed - RC278G9BMSM2

Amnesty blasts Bahrain, Kuwait for 'highly invasive' COVID-19 tracing apps

Amnesty International has warned apps used to trace the movements of possible COVID-19 cases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway put the privacy of citizens at risk.

Egyptian LGBTQ activist dead in suspected suicide

Sarah Hegazi was arrested in 2017 after raising the rainbow gay pride flag at a concert in Cairo.