Photo by Semira Nikou
Gulf States
Shining A Light on the Misunderstood Men of the Middle East
Megan Beneat-Donald* | 13 Nov 2012
Bassam, Iraqi (Photo credit: Tamara Abdul Hadi) For any marginalised group, self-preservation will inevitably involve a heavy dose of artistic expression to counter degrading portrayals. Prey to myriad stereotypes, long-standing prejudice, and steady streams of discrimination, most Arab, Persian, Turkish, Afghan, and North African men and women have had no choice...Obama and Romney Vie for Middle East Hegemony
James Gundun* | 29 Oct 2012
Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama at the University of Denver, Oct. 3, 2012. (Photo credit: Charlie Neibergall/AP) In the days following President Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention in September 2012, administration officials and U.S. media seesawed over a post-convention “bump” that elevated his standing above...What Saudi Arabia Doesn’t Want the World to Know
Bayan Perazzo* | 24 Oct 2012
Saudi riot police in the Eastern Province city of Qatif on Saudi Arabia’s “Day of Rage” on March 11, 2011. (Credit: AP Photo) Revolutions and uprisings have been springing up in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region since Tunisian fruit seller Mohammed Bouazizi lit himself on fire in Sidi Bouzid in December of 2010. Tunisia’s Ben...INFOGRAPHIC: The Line of Succession in Saudi Arabia
Leila* | 5 Oct 2012
The question of succession has become a pressing problem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As more and more sons of the Kingdom’s founder, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, grow old and pass way, the Kingdom must find a method for selecting a successor from amongst Ibn Saud’s grandsons. The following infographic sets out the most likely successors to the Saudi throne...Mideast Innovation: an Interview with Kamal Hassan of i360 Accelerator
Muftah Editors | 30 Sep 2012
Kamal Hassan at the first Startup Weekend in November 2011 in Dubai (Photo credit: i360insight.wordpress.com) Kamal Hassan has been helping entrepreneurs realize and grow their ventures for a number of years. In 2008, he decided to focus his efforts on the Middle East, moving to Dubai and establishing a number of businesses focused on supporting the region’s...There’s Never Been a Better Time to Be an Artist in Saudi Arabia
Joobin Bekhrad* | 30 Oct 2012
Sarah Abu Abdallah’s “Recommence” installation Just a short while back, contemporary art and artists in Saudi Arabia were something of a rarity. Still, there is comparatively little mention of...Arab Monarchs & the Islamist Surge
Zaid Belbagi* | 26 Oct 2012
(Photo credit: Britannica.com) The “Arab Spring,” for want of a better term, continues to dominate the discourse surrounding current events transpiring throughout the Arab and Muslim world. Frequently used...The Intimidating Force of Women in MENA Revolutions
Bayan Perazzo* | 15 Oct 2012
(Source: http://lstcccme.wordpress.com/category/women/_ A common element in the protests in the MENA region from Tunisia to Bahrain has been the presence of women. They have been an integral voice in demanding...The Temperature is Rising: Sectarianism & Political Reform in the Gulf
Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen* | 3 Oct 2012
King Abdullah ibn Al-Saud welcomes Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa at Riyadh Airport. In March 2011, King Abdullah helped al-Khalifa crush protests in Bahrain. (Photo credit: Reuters) Domestic and regional...#MuftahChat: Protests in Saudi Arabia
Muftah Editors | 22 Sep 2012
Protests in the Qatif following the arrest of Sheikh Nimr Al-Nirm on July 8, 2012 (Photo credit: Occupy Qatif/Facebook) On Wednesday September 19, 2012, we held our fifth #MuftahChat on Twitter. This week’s...
