The successful liberation of Morocco in 1956 ended forty four years of French occupation. There is a significant amount of historiography on how Morocco gained independence. However, there is little on the seventeen years that followed which arguably is of the utmost importance as it has helped shape Morocco into the nation it is today. … Continued
If the cult hit film Clerks is any indicator of western society, the stereotypical retailer is an underachiever always seeking the path of least resistance, justifying his minimal efforts with the dead-end minimum wage received. Mohamed Bouzazi of Tunisia was not a stereotypical western retailer, but its Middle Eastern equivalent. A young man doing everything … Continued
This collection, a series of portraiture depicting the Charedi (also known as Haredi), ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in Jerusalem, shows Charedi men in their traditional dress in two different settings, both brimming with culture and religious tradition. The Charedi are the most conservative in Orthodox Jewry, keeping stringently to halakha, Jewish Law, and dedicating their lives … Continued
In the past fifteen years, the problem of water scarcity in the Middle East received a great deal of attention from both scholars and the media. The idea of ‘water wars’ took off, inspiring many books and research projects. News columnists have popularised the claim the next major war will likely be fought over water, … Continued
‘Silence in the face of oppression is a crime’, declares Libyan rapper Ibn Thabit on his track ‘No Doubt’. And for a long time, there was a pervading silence in Libya. In comparison to neighbouring powerhouses of Algeria and Egypt, Libya’s music industry has been virtually non-existent during the past forty years. While artists such … Continued
Every time Israel goes to war, you will be able to open almost any newspaper and find variations on the same striking image. During a moment of pause, a soldier will have been photographed as he prays. Standing in front of his tank or artillery piece, he will be dressed in his uniform, shawl draped … Continued
Everyone is talking about Palestinian hip hop. Suhell Nafar, Tamer Nafar and Mahmoud Jreri are described as spokespeople of their generation, following the formation of hip hop crew DAM in the late 1990s in the Arab quarters of Lyd on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. The group has inspired a proliferation of Palestinian artists throughout … Continued
December 2012 saw the outbreak of a new wave of protests in Iraq against the perceived marginalisation of and discrimination against Sunni Muslims in the country. The latest episode of demonstrations, which were sparked by the arrests of the bodyguards of the former Finance Minister, Rafia al-Issawi, began in the Anbar province. Since then, tens … Continued
The contemporary political landscape of Iran is characterised by a complex, even Byzantine, collection of intersecting factions and rivalries. There is a lack of formal political parties, as the term is understood in Western politics, largely because they have been banned. Instead shifting coalitions are focussed around the three main centres of power: the Ayatollah, … Continued
Published by Asfar in London, UK - ISSN 2055-7957 (Online)