Middle East
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
The punk and riot grrrl sounds driving Beirut’s fearless Roller Derby pioneers
Defiant grrrl power in action — Roller derby has hit the streets of Lebanon. In Huck’s Defiance Issue, we speak to members of Roller Derby Beirut, a pioneering female student collective bringing the sport to the Middle East. Here are some of the local and international bands that could soundtrack them.
Written by: HUCK HQ
The heavy metal bands fighting authority in the Middle East
Defiant Sounds — Huck 54 is packed with stories of defiance, like Iraqi heavy metal band Dark Phantom, whose provocative music rallies against government corruption. Constantly forced under the radar by political leaders and Islamic extremists, they are part of a wave of metal acts fighting the power across the the Middle East. Here are some of the loudest voices.
Written by: Adam White
In Pictures: Looking back at the Arab Spring five years on
Capturing a moment in time — On the fifth anniversary of protests in Egypt’s capital, we asked Huck photographers Guy Martin, Pauline Beugnies, Lindsay Mackenzie and Monique Jaques about the stills they remember most.
Written by: Joshua Gabert-Doyon
The Iraqi artist rebuilding Baghdad University’s destroyed art library
One book at a time — Artist Waffaa Bilal’s new exhibition 168.01 looks at the dynamics of destruction and reconstruction, using Kickstarter engage his audience in rebuilding.
Written by: Joshua Gabert-Doyon
Thomas Piketty on the secret behind the rise of ISIS: Inequality
Radical economist turns the terror debate on its head — It’s not ideology, Islam or radicalism that fuels ISIS; it’s poverty, control of oil wealth by corrupt rulers and a lack of positive opportunities, argues Thomas Piketty.
Written by: Alex King
Stuck between two evils: rethinking the Syria conflict
Tough questions, no easy answers — With ISIS on one side, the Assad dictatorship on the other, and the proxies of Western and Middle Eastern countries filling in the gaps, what hope is there for ordinary Syrians to live in peace?
Written by: Fiorella Lecoutteux
Shumon Basar had to lose his bearings before he found his way
Things I Learned Along the Way — Writer and curator Shumon Basar had to leave home to find his own perspective. Along the way he made friends with Generation X author Douglas Coupland and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist. Together, they've created The Age of Earthquakes: A Guide to the Extreme Present — a provocative survey of our fast evolving digital era.
Written by: Shumon Basar
Using Instagram to convey a more authentic picture of the Middle East
Collective Vision — Photographer Lindsay Mackenzie explains how to use Instagram to challenge the mainstream media’s sensationalised portrayal of the Middle East.
Written by: Alex King
Defusing the threat from returning jihadist fighters
Fighting radicalisation on the streets of London — Hanif Qadir joined Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan 13 years ago, now he’s helping prevent young Londoners from repeating his mistake.
Written by: Alex King
