Iraq
After many dark years filled with a succession of conflicts and occupations, the Bytna Foundation for Heritage and Culture is a small renaissance of the heart of Mosul and Iraq. Mosul means “the linking point” in Arabic, and thanks to Bytna’s work, the city can once again live up to its name. Bytna is much more than just a foundation; as well as their museum, Bytna is home to a cafe, a craft shop, a book collection, an art gallery, and more.
As a daughter of the diaspora, my feet have touched the soil of many lands and crossed their boundaries; forming temporary homes wherever I settle. Aside from the quiet nests I have created throughout my life, I have also gained something else; an inner grasp of geographical narratives on global issues. More particularly, the case of the U.S invasion of Iraq: through the lens of the East and the West.
In his new book, Impossible Victory: How Iraq Defeated Daesh, former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi gives a deeply personal account of the recent history of Iraq, from the early days of Saddam Hussein’s regime through to the US occupation and the war against terrorism and sectarianism that defined his career. As well as offering an inside account of a defining moment in Iraq’s recent history, the book sheds light on some of the key dynamics shaping the geopolitics of the wider Middle East today.
This is a list of essential books to read if you’re looking to gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Iraq – featuring a combination of both non-fiction and fiction written by a mixture of Iraqi and foreign authors. This ultimate Iraq reading list covers Iraqi history, politics and culture and gets to the heart of the country’s most complex and intractable struggles.
The Middle East has been heavily stereotyped and romanticised over the years. Stories of conflict, violence and religious extremism have bombarded the western media in recent decades, shaping a narrow view of the Middle East and its people. The following list contains 8 incredible places that shatter the traditional stereotypes and showcase the remarkable diversity of the Middle East.
Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi humanitarian, author and activist who founded Women for Women International…
These 13 English-language Middle East blogs and websites are essential reading for anyone interested in Middle East politics and culture.
Since 2003, most of the stories and images coming out of Iraq have been of…
Today, millions of Iraqi Kurds will go to the polls to vote on whether they…