Middle East
The secret spaces giving a voice to Saudi Arabia's youth
Behind closed doors — In Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality merits the death penalty and many activists are still jailed or tortured for sedition, there are few places for the country's youth to express themselves freely. But a handful of underground events are seeking to change that.
Written by: anonymous
The photographer spotlighting Iran's forgotten minorities
Afro-Iranian — Many Iranians are unaware of the existence of Black Iranians, or of the chequered history behind the community's presence in the country. But a new photography project from Mahdi Ehsaei is looking to change that.
Written by: Niloufar Haidari
Illustrations that capture the changing face of Iran
Diaspora letters — Historian and artist Beeta Baghoolizadeh shares Diaspora Letters – a collection of digital drawings exploring memory and migration in the Iranian diaspora.
Written by: Iman Sultan
Young artists explore coming of age in the Middle East
Banat Collective — In The Middle Of It All is a new book showcasing the diverse experiences of Arabian womanhood, featuring contributions from writers, illustrators and photographers.
Written by: Salma Haidrani
Shooting the sidelines at Syria’s football cup final
Beautiful game — In a country torn apart by civil war, people are grasping for moments of relief – and football is one thing they turn to. It's also been weaponised and politicised, as photojournalist Sally Hayden grapples with at the Syrian Cup Final.
Written by: Sally Hayden
Dispelling the myths around Middle Eastern women
Strength, self-love & sexuality — Blending beautiful photography and thoughtful storytelling, Azeema is the new publication celebrating women from across North Africa and the Middle East. ‘We won’t put anything that isn’t strong or empowering,’ explains co-founder Sunayah Arshad.
Written by: Salma Haidrani
Steve McCurry’s beautiful, haunting portraits of Afghanistan
Four decades of history — Conflict, colonialism and tribal rivalry: Steve McCurry’s iconic photographs show the unseen side of the country.
Written by: Dominique Sisley
The British sisters documenting the lives of Syrian refugees
Lost in Lebanon — Sisters Georgia and Sophia Scott discuss their documentary 'Lost in Lebanon', which follows four Syrian refugees living in the neighbouring country, giving a human face to a dehumanised conflict.
Written by: Marta Bausells
Celebrating creative independence in Middle Eastern cinema
Using film to affect society — Filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat overcame a corrupt Afghan film industry to tell her own story – the award-winning movie Wolf and Sheep. Inspired by our profile of her in Huck 56 - The Independence Issue, we're saluting other directors who have fought to shed light on a deeply misunderstood part of the world.
Written by: Christopher Sanders
Kirkuk's only metal band are defying ISIS in Iraq
Death and metal in a divided state — Forged in the crucible of oil-rich and conflict-ridden Kirkuk, the story of Iraqi band Dark Phantom is pure metal. But in a city littered with Isis sleeper cells, going underground is no affectation. It’s a means of survival.
Written by: Campbell MacDiarmid
