Juliane Metzker

Author: Juliane Metzker

The National Museum in Beirut

Fighting to save the region's cultural heritage

As world heritage sites in Iraq and Syria continue to be bombed, blown up and bulldozed, the question as to what can be done to save their historical treasures has taken on a new urgency. The National Museum in Beirut is playing its part in trying to save the region's cultural heritage. By Juliane Metzker in BeirutMore

Archaeological artefacts and sites in Syria: When historical treasures become pawns in a civil war Syria's cultural heritage under threat: "Virtually nothing is left"The destruction of Yemen's cultural heritage: Treasures of humanity under threat A brief history of Palmyra, the ancient pearl of Syria's desert

Lebanese women's rights activist Hayat Mirshad in her Beirut office (photo: Juliane Metzker)

The Lebanese women's rights activist Hayat Mirshad

"We need a feminist revolution"

The efforts of the women's rights movement in Lebanon have remained unsuccessful for more than 70 years, says Hayat Mirshad, a member of the Democratic Women's Association. The blame lies with feminists' willingness to compromise, but also with women's rights organisations' hunt for sponsorship money. Juliane Metzker spoke to her in BeirutMore

Domestic violence against women in Lebanon: Protection, yes, but not enough Interview with Nawal El Saadawi: "They don't want any really courageous people!"The Uprising of Women in the Arab World: Fighting Patriarchal Tyranny

Maya Yamout (left) and her sister Nancy (photo: private)

Preventing terrorism in Lebanon

Dialogue behind bars

The world is horrified by the brutality of Islamic State (IS). Two young sisters are now doing what they can to prevent young Lebanese people from joining radical Islamist groups. By doing so, they are risking their lives. Juliane Metzker reports from BeirutMore

Recruitment strategies used by Islamic State: A mutation of religion "Women of the Islamic State": Prisoners of a barbaric system Interview with the Islam scholar Lamya Kaddor: Jihad as a form of youth protest German jihadists: Turning their backs on the West Interview with Matenia Sirseloudi: What drives young people to jihad?

The Palestinian-Jordanian political scientist and journalist Rami G. Khouri (photo: AP)

Interview with Rami G. Khouri

Fragmentation of the Arab world

The Palestinian-Jordanian political scientist and writer Rami G. Khouri sees links between increasing religious fanaticism and the reinvigoration of the old elites after the Arabellion. In an interview with Juliane Metzker, he looks back at four years of transformation, stagnation and instability in the Arab states.More

The Geopolitical Situation in the Middle East: Between terror and the dissolution of order Relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt: Conditional support Sunni-Shia conflict: The enemy of my enemy Peace initiatives for Syria: Negotiate locally, implement internationally

Syrian refugees in Arsal, Lebanon (photo: Jamie Itani)

Syrian refugees in Lebanon

"We will perish here!"

Fearing a terrorist attack, the Lebanese army has hermetically sealed off the town of Arsal. More than 100,000 Syrian refugees have been trapped there for months. They fear for their own security and the impact of winter. Juliane Metzker reports from ArsalMore

Syrian refugees in Turkey: Time for Turkey's allies to rally round Syrian refugee children: A lost generation in the making Photo gallery: Syrian refugee children in Lebanon The Syrian art project "Cutting Away the Void": Documenting the tragedy of the Syrian revolt Syrian refugees: Driven out of Egypt

Yasmine Merei, editor-in-chief of the women's magazine "Saiedet Souria" (photo: Yasmine Merei)

Interview with Yasmine Merei from the women's magazine "Saiedet Souria"

A new, more self-confident Syrian woman

The magazine "Saiedet Souria" would like to be the mouthpiece for a new generation of Syrian women. Juliane Metzker spoke with editor-in-chief Yasmine Merei about the battle for equal rights under the Assad regime before and after the uprisings in 2011More

Women's movements in the transitioning Arab states: For dignity, peace and equal rights "Women's power in Arabic": Long-overdue confrontations Qantara dossier: Women in the Islamic world

Cover of "I Remember Beirut" by Zeina Abirached, published by Graphic Universe

Lebanese comic artist Zeina Abirached

Seeing war through the eyes of a child

The Lebanese artist Zeina Abirached grew up during the country’s 15-year civil war. In her comic books, she describes how her family experienced the horror of this brutal conflict. Juliane Metzker talked to herMore

Marjane Satrapi: East is not East, West is not West The Lebanese graphic designer Maya Zankoul: Illustrations against ignorance and oblivion Comic artists in the Arab World: Swimming against the tide

Karama co-ordination meeting in Cairo on 7 October 2011 on the occasion of the establishment of the Libyan Women's Platform for Peace (photo: Dominique Margot)

Women's movements in the transitioning Arab states

For dignity, peace and equal rights

Despite all the setbacks suffered by many women's rights groups in the transitioning Arab states, regional co-operation has improved considerably over the past few years. Juliane Metzker takes stockMore

"Women's Power in Arabic": Long-overdue Confrontations Women during the ''Arabellion'': Neither Winners nor Losers Women's rights in Morocco: Gender equality on paper only Women's shadow councils in Palestine: Strengthening women's voices

KAFA demonstration on International Women's Day on 8 March in Beirut (photo: Juliane Metzker)

Domestic violence against women in Lebanon

Protection, yes, but not enough

On 1 April, the Lebanese parliament approved a law designed to curb domestic violence. However, the women's rights organisation KAFA, which ran a high-profile campaign demanding a law to protect women against domestic violence, is disappointed with the outcome and says the law does not go far enough. Background information from Juliane Metzker in BeirutMore

The Uprising of Women in the Arab World: Fighting Patriarchal Tyranny "Women's Power in Arabic": Long-overdue Confrontations Women in Morocco: Rape victims no longer forced to marry their aggressors

Artist Rima Najdi wearing a fake explosive belt in Beirut on 12 January 2014 (photo: Maria Kassab)

Interview with the Lebanese activist Rima Najdi

Provocation for peace

Dressed as a suicide bomber with a fake explosive belt, "Madame Bomba" roamed the streets of Beirut ... Her aim in doing so was to provoke a reaction in those that saw her and to protest against the on-going violence in Lebanon. But who is "Madame Bomba"? Juliane Metzker spoke to Rima Najdi, the Lebanese activist behind the provocative performanceMore

Documentary film: "Not Who We Are": Lost Time in Lebanon The Lebanese Satirical Magazine "Ad-Dabbour": Hornets' Nest in Beirut The Lebanese Graphic Designer Maya Zankoul: Illustrations against Ignorance and Oblivion

Civil society initiatives in Lebanon

"I am not a martyr"

Bomb attacks and other acts of violence have almost become part of everyday life in Lebanon. After recent bomb blasts, two media campaigns were launched to raise awareness among Lebanese people of the everyday violence in their crisis-torn country. A background report by Juliane MetzkerMore

The Lebanese Graphic Designer Maya Zankoul: Illustrations against Ignorance and Oblivion Hezbollah after the Beirut Attacks: A Battle on Many Fronts Photography Project "Missing": Lebanon's Shadows of the Past

The Lebanese Graphic Designer Maya Zankoul

Illustrations against Ignorance and Oblivion

The young Lebanese graphic designer Maya Zankoul projects a differentiated picture of her home country in her humorous cartoons – rejecting media stereotypes of bombs, war and terror. An interview by Juliane MetzkerMore

Arab Comics: From Micky Mouse to Handala Comics Artists in the Arab World: Swimming against the Tide 'The 99'' Cartoons: Islamic Super-Heroes

Celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hamas, Nablus (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Hamas after the Overthrow in Egypt

Stuck in the Tunnel

Hamas abandoned Syria and Iran in the course of the Syrian civil war and relied on the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt as their powerful regional ally. However after Morsi was overthrown by the Egyptian military, the Palestinian organization became isolated in the region. A background report by Juliane MetzkerMore

Palestinian Reaction to Morsi's Downfall: Gaza Listening for the Message from Tahrir Square Syrian Civil War Refugees: Stranded in Gaza Qantara Dossier: Hamas

Interview with Yasmine Hamdan

"I Am a Nomad"

Yasmine Hamdan is a rising star on the alternative electro-pop scene in Lebanon. In her solo debut album "Ya Nass", she has given classical Arabic music a modern twist. An interview by Juliane Metzker More

Dossier: Arabic Music Eka3: New Arab Music: Creating A Niche Music Scene in Beirut: Nostalgic about the War

Beirut near the Iranian embassy after the attack on 19 November (photo: Reuters)

Hezbollah after the Beirut Attacks

A Battle on Many Fronts

In Syria, Hezbollah is backing the Assad regime in the fight against the rebels, as a way of defending the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah alliance. This has been met with great hostility at home in Lebanon, and is provoking reactions on the Salafist front. Background from Juliane MetzkerMore

Tension between Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon: New Lines of Demarcation Assassination of Lebanese Intelligence Chief al-Hassan: Lebanon in Syrian Captivity Hezbollah in Syria: Can the ''Party of God'' Weather the Arab Spring?