Kuwait Shuts Down an Art Exhibit. Is the ‘Most Open’ Gulf Society Closing?
Artists believe the shuttering of Shurooq Amin’s show by Kuwaiti authorities is the latest indicator of the country’s decline in freedom of expression.
Peace Studies Program Attracts Young Iraqis Eager for Social Change
Students in the new program at the University of Duhok, the first of its kind in a region fraught with conflicts, hope to help build a more inclusive society.
In Lebanon, Sect Vs. Sect Turns Into People Vs. Politicians
Lebanese protestors have united across sectarian divides and turned against what they view as the “ruling class.” Here are a diverse range of photos, videos, interviews, and other features to capture what is happening.
American U. in Cairo Cancels an Endowed Chair; Questions Follow
The AUC professor of comparative religion who lost the title says his academic freedom was infringed. The university says it had to honor a request from the benefactor’s son, who allegedly pressured the professor.
New Waves: How Moroccan Artist Mohamed Melehi Shaped an Aesthetic
An intimately scaled retrospective of Moroccan artist Mohammed Melehi in London shows how abstract expressionism in the Middle East was culturally inspired.
Hopeful Vision Rises from An Ancient Iraqi Site
A professor’s visit to a historic church makes him think about using Iraq’s rich history and religious diversity to create economic opportunity.
A Woman Seeks Freedom From the Hijab
For some women wearing a headscarf is a sign of religious devotion, but for others it feels confining.
Last Words of a Leading Iraqi Scholar
In a prescient paper, published posthumously, the sociologist Faleh Abdul Jabar described the social forces at work in recent Iraqi politics.
Scholar Makes a Religious Case for Women’s Rights
Asma Lamrabet wants to reclaim a more egalitarian Islam from centuries of patriarchal interpretation.
A Professor and a Preacher Debate Sexual Science and Morality
In Morocco, a professor of sociology speaks out against a religious sheikh’s unfounded pronouncements on human reproduction.
