“When I said I was a virgin no one beleieved me…why won’t you all just leave me alone?” The words are ironic: Selma is laying on her back at the doctors office as he checks to see if her hymen is still intact or not. It’s her wedding night, and Selma didn’t bleed as is … More Film Review: The Rebellion of Mustang
A recent spate of acid attacks against women in Isfahan, Tehran has left the international media abuzz. Many reports cite that the attacks, which have left victims severely burned and even blinded, were due to “bad hijab,” in which the women in question-who were driving their cars when men on a motorbike drove up and … More Young Iranians Are Showing their Faces
Pharrell Williams’ song ‘Happy,’ which I love, is everywhere. The phenomenon of groups of people (often by city) filming themselves dancing to the song has spread around the world, and the world’s Muslims and Middle Easterners are not to be left out. Of course, much like that now-infamous ‘Mipsterz in America’ video that featured trendy … More ‘Happy’ Videos Take over the Middle East
The Taliban in Pakistan tried to assassinate now 16-year-old Malala Yousufzai last year while she was riding the bus to school. Although severely wounded (she was shot in the head) Malala recovered with a clean bill of health and has become an international symbol of the fight for female education. The whole word has come … More Who’s Afraid of Malala Yousufzai?
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of heading down to the Angelika Film Center (my first time!) to see the film Wadjda, director Haifaa Mansour’s debut full-length feature film and the first feature film shot on location in Saudi Arabia. With superb acting and brilliantly shot scenes depicting Riyadh, as well as an inspirational plot … More Film Review: Wadjda
Finally, a royal kingdom is getting its due. And if it falls to the protesters, there’s no telling what the regional consequences will be. Bahrain is the tiniest country in the Middle East, a royal island ruled by the al-Khalifa family (at this time, His Majesty Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa) and highly … More The Battle of Bahrain
