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
Welcome to the summer edition of the Asfar e-Journal! This edition, without any particular prompting on my part, has come together mainly around the theme of identity. It is a theme that I always personally find fascinating, and it has produced some very interesting articles this time. I am particularly excited by Ameen Nasir’s article … 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
In May 2015, Clare Sikorska participated in an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Amman, Jordan (see 7th June 2015 post). Throughout her visit, Clare took a range of photographs using a film Pentax K1000 camera. Learn more about the camera here. The final photographs are both enticing and indicative of the experience, young people can gain during an inter-cultural … 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
In 1905 the constitutional revolution in Qajar Iran ushered in the first constitutional period of 1906-08. Although this was a countrywide phenomenon, the scope of this article is on events that developed in Tehran, in order to provide an in-depth investigation of the developments there. Due to the multifaceted nature of the constitutional movement, three … 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
On 28 June 2015, the 13th annual Istanbul Pride March, or Onur Yürüyüşü in Turkish, was disrupted by water cannons, the firing of rubber bullets, and assaults against LGBTQI activists as various organizations and individuals attempted to gather in central Istanbul to mark the end of the 2015 Pride Week.i One searing video to emerge … 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
Munich – I wake up early and look towards the large window in my room from my bed. All I can see is the grey blur of rain. I still can’t get used to it – constant rain and wind, even in July. Back home in Deir ez-Zor it would be hot. We’d probably be … 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
Tuesday – Travelling to Amman London – Istanbul – Amman. Turkish Airlines are very reliable every time! We flew from London Gatwick to Amman Jordan with a brief layover in Istanbul, Turkey. After almost 12 hours of travelling we landed in Amman, Jordan and with a quick taxi ride through the arid and desert like … Continued
Asfar’s second e-Journal brings together eighteen unique submissions, by a diverse group of new Writers and Photographers. Since our first e-Journal in December 2012, Asfar has developed rapidly as a voluntary organisation, growing from a team of just 6 volunteer Editors to 17 Editors all charged with an individual country. Thanks to the dedication of … Continued
Published by Asfar in London, UK - ISSN 2055-7957 (Online)