Most people are aware of the Taliban on some level, but not all Jihadi movements are the same, and there is a lot of internal confrontation and distinction between the theological roots of different groups. Continue reading Where did the Taliban come from and what is their appeal?
Among recent conflicts, the Syrian Civil War remains one in which reliable information has become increasingly difficult to find, a fact which has been both created and exploited by the Assad regime. Continue reading How the story of the Syrian Civil War got so muddied
Lebanon is currently undergoing a period of economic collapse many are now calling a humanitarian crisis, and for many the dysfunctional power grid is symbolic of government corruption. Continue reading The decay of Lebanon’s power grid is a symbol of its economic decline
Some people are genuinely seeking justice for Palestine, but others are using criticism of Israel as a cloak for their own anti-Semitism. Continue reading Holding members of the Jewish diaspora responsible for the actions of Israel is racist and undermines the Palestinian cause
The Kurdish units have taken on an almost mythical status for being at the forefront of the fight against Daesh in Northern Syria, even being the subject of a Hulu series, but portraying them as a haven of progressive liberal values imposes a western lens on their practices. Continue reading Western perceptions of YPG units as liberal havens misrepresent the group’s history
Of all the stops on the Pope Francis’ tour of Iraq, the first pope to ever visit the country, Mosul stuck out. For many, its name is still stained by the memory of three years of occupation by Daesh, Islamic State. Continue reading The Pope’s visit to Mosul is an opportunity for the city to break with its past
The nature of Begum’s actions should have no bearing on her entitlement to a fair hearing. It is deeply disturbing that so many people are willing to allow this principle to slip purely because of their own feelings about Begum’s actions and her identity. Continue reading Shamima Begum ruling by the Supreme Court sets a dangerous legal precedent
One of the central ideas explored in David Baddiel’s book is what he describes as a hierarchy of racism. Racism, he explains, is often defined primarily by material privilege. Continue reading A look at anti-Semitism on the left – ‘Jews Don’t Count’ by David Baddiel
In 1994, the younger son of a rather prominent Middle-Eastern family woke up to some unexpected news. His older brother had died suddenly, leaving him as the sole heir to the dictator of Syria. Continue reading From a spark of hope to utter ruin: Syria’s journey since the Arab Spring has seen Assad preside over a decade-long humanitarian catastrophe
It was a moment that changed the world, the moment long-time Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was ousted from office after eighteen days of protests and uprisings. Continue reading Tahrir Square became the iconic epicentre for resistance, but now Egypt is once more mired in dictatorship
