Susannah Tarbush

Author: Susannah Tarbush

British Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid (photo: Laurent Denimal)

Book review: Mohsin Hamid′s ″Exit West″

Through the black door

In his epic fourth novel, award-winning Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid presents a love story couched within the modern phenomenon of mass migration. Moving from bleak dystopia at the outset to cautious optimism, it is a welcome foil to the gloom and doom prophecies of modern times. Susannah Tarbush read the bookMore

Mohsin Hamid: The reluctant fundamentalist Interview with the Pakistani Writer Mohsin Hamid: "The markets have taken the commons over"Album review: Reem Kelani′s ″Live at the Tabernacle″: Cultivating fusion

Reem Kelani performing live at the Tabernacle (photo: Christopher Scholey)

Album review: Reem Kelani′s ″Live at the Tabernacle″

Cultivating fusion

Since the early 1990s, the Palestinian-British singer, musicologist and broadcaster Reem Kelani has carved a unique niche for herself on the Arab and international music scenes. Her new album ″Reem Kelani: Live at the Tabernacle″ provides renewed confirmation of her rare talent. By Susannah TarbushMore

Reem Kelani – "Sprinting Gazelle": "I defend my right to defend my right"Portrait of Reem Kelani: Palestinian Blues Offical Reem Kelani website

John Baily and Veronica Doubleday in Geneva (photo: private)

Non-fiction: ″War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan″ by John Baily

Without music, no humanity

Few musical cultures have been as affected by political upheavals and violence as that of Afghanistan. This is reflected in the title of the book ″War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan: The Ethnographer′s Tale″ by John Baily, Emeritus Professor of Ethnomusicology at Goldsmiths, University of LondonMore

Simin Tander and Tord Gustavsen: The harmony of mysticism Interview with oboist Demetrios Karamintzas: "These children deserve the same opportunities as children anywhere else"Album review: "Mountain Melodies" by Quraishi: Keeping the voice of Afghanistan alive

London protest on 6 May 2011 following the killing of Osama bin Laden (photo: picture-alliance/empics)

Cameron's counter-extremism strategy

Cause for concern or necessary evil?

Counter-terrorism and security legislation already in place, the British government recently published details of its controversial counter-extremism strategy. Vague enough to allow a wide range of interpretations, it was met with alarm by a number of interest groups. With the Paris attacks fresh in everyone’s minds, however, Cameron’s drive against Islamist ideology could well find increasing support among public and politicians alike. By Susannah Tarbush

Minister's letter to British Muslim leaders: A deficit of trust The Trojan Horse scandal in the UK: Claims and counterclaims British fatwa against IS: Breaking the spell of a poisonous ideology

Cover of "The Kindness of Enemies" by Leila Aboulela (source: Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

Book review: "The Kindness of Enemies" by Leila Aboulela

Crises of identity and loyalty from Scotland to the Caucasus

In her engrossing fourth novel, "The Kindness of Enemies", the Sudanese-British writer Leila Aboulela tackles themes of identity, jihad and Sufism. She does so through two parallel narratives, one set in contemporary Scotland and Sudan, the other in nineteenth-century Imperial Russia and the Caucasus. By Susannah TarbushMore

Jihadism in Dagestan: A growing problem in the fight against terrorism Curriculum initiative by British Muslims: Using religion to fight terrorism Minister's letter to British Muslim leaders: A deficit of trust British fatwa against IS: Breaking the spell of a poisonous ideology

Khaled Diab in the Holy Land (photo: Khaled Diab)

Book review: Khaled Diab's "Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land"

Prioritising the people

At a time when Palestinian–Israeli relations are at a particularly low ebb, it might seem over-optimistic to argue that the divisions between the people on the two sides are less than they seem, and that a "people's peace process" could lead to a just solution. Yet this is what the Egyptian-Belgian journalist, author and blogger Khaled Diab does in his book "Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land". By Susannah TarbushMore

Interview with Sari Nusseibeh: "Israelis and Palestinians will have to start thinking seriously about a one-state solution"Arabs and Jews in Israel: You can't tear us apart Israeli-Palestinian relations: Dialogue in a time of conflict Interview with the Jewish author Judith Katzir: Friendship across the divide

"Syria Speaks"

Challenging violence with creativity

The recent launch of "Syria Speaks: Arts and Culture from the Frontline" at events in The Hague and Amsterdam was in a sense a homecoming for a remarkable book whose roots lie in an exhibition of works by Syrian artists and cartoonists held at the Prince Claus Fund Gallery in Amsterdam in 2012. By Susannah TarbushMore

Four years of war in Syria: Where the uprising began and still lives on The Syrian art project "Cutting Away the Void": Documenting the tragedy of the Syrian revolt Interview with the Syrian blogger Aboud Saeed: "When the regime lost its control, I lost my fear"The kidnapping of the "Douma 4": The Salafist and the human rights activist Interview with the Syrian artist Diala Brisly: Art is a luxury in Syria

British Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/ Joe Giddens)

Minister's letter to British Muslim leaders

A deficit of trust

In mid-January, the British Communities Secretary Eric Pickles sent a letter to 1,000 Muslim leaders in Britain, asking them to "explain and demonstrate how faith in Islam can be part of British identity". The reaction was swift, with many Muslims expressing anger or dismay at what they saw as the insinuation that Islam is not part of Britain. By Susannah TarbushMore

Letter sent to 1,000 Muslim leaders in Britain The Trojan Horse scandal in the UK: Islamists in the classroom?Review of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK: Has Cameron buckled to pressure from Middle East allies?British fatwa against IS: Breaking the spell of a poisonous ideology

Sumia Sukkar reads from her novel at a launch in an Oxfam shop (photo: Susannah Tarbush)

"The Boy from Aleppo who Painted the War" by Sumia Sukkar

Translating sights, sounds and feelings into colour

Sumia Sukkar wrote a novel about a young Syrian boy with Asperger Syndrome who paints the horror and violence of the war around him in vivid colour. BBC Radio 4 adapted the novel for its Saturday Drama series. Susannah Tarbush read the book, listened to the radio play and spoke to its young authorMore

Link to the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Sumia Sukkar's novel Interview with the Syrian writer Samar Yazbek: Divided society, divided souls Mohammad Malas's film "Ladder to Damascus": Between dream and disaster Interview with the Syrian artist Diala Brisly: Art is a luxury in Syria Syrian painter and digital artist Tammam Azzam: "I, the Syrian"

Nansen Primary School in Birmingham, England (photo: Getty Images)

The Trojan Horse scandal in the UK

Islamists in the classroom?

Are some British Islamists involved in a conspiracy to infiltrate, control and Islamise secular state schools with a high proportion of Muslim pupils, thereby discouraging integration and possibly encouraging extremism? This is the nub of the Trojan Horse scandal that has rocked Britain in recent weeks. Prime Minister David Cameron has responded by calling for "British values" to be promoted at schools. By Susannah TarbushMore

Review of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK: Has Cameron buckled to pressure from Middle East allies?Muslims in Liberal Democracies: Why the West Fears Islam Essay by Sara Silvestri: Britain Does Not Need a French-style Burqa Ban

Jubilant mujahideen on a captured Russian armoured personnel carrier during the war between Afghanistan and the USSR (photo: Getty Images)

Book review: Fadia Faqir's "Willow Trees Don't Weep"

Abandoned for the sake of jihad

Since the 9/11 attacks in the USA, many novels have been written about aspects of Islamist radicalism and the "war on terror". The Jordanian–British writer Fadia Faqir brings fresh perspectives to the subject in her fourth novel "Willow Trees Don't Weep". Susannah Tarbush read the bookMore

Oriental Clichés in Literary Publishing: A Dalek in a Burqa Book review: Nadeem Aslam's "The Wasted Vigil": Ravaged Land Short Stories by Spôjmai Zariâb: Snapshots of Afghan Life

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (right) speaking to Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal inside 10 Downing Street, London, England on 22 March 2011 (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Review of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK

Has Cameron buckled to pressure from Middle East allies?

During his announcement last week that he had ordered a review of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK, British Prime Minister David Cameron made several references to violent extremism. Over the past two decades, Britain has introduced a whole raft of anti-terror laws that can be used in cases of violent extremism, so why is it necessary at this point in time to conduct a review into the Muslim Brotherhood? By Susannah TarbushMore

Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: Limited Options Political Pressure Exerted by Gulf States in Egypt: Reaching for the Cheque Book Picture gallery: Egypt's Turbulent and Tumultuous 2013 Persecution of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt: Humiliated even in Death

Ziauddin Sardar (photo: courtesy Ziauddin Sardar)

Interview with Muslim Scholar Ziauddin Sardar

''Muslims Yearn for Real Debate''

Ziauddin Sardar is a leading British-Pakistani Muslim scholar and critic. In this interview with Susannah Tarbush, he talks about the magazine "Critical Muslim" he founded and which he sees as an "intellectual, cultural, philosophical and creative backup" for the revolutions of the Middle EastMore

Tribute to the British Muslim Gai Eaton: Glamour and Humility Fareena Alam: Five Principles for Islam's Future Interview with Omid Djalili: Jokes about the Jewish Muslim Love-Hate Relationship

Propaganda graffiti in Tripolis on the occasion of 40 years of Gaddafi's rule (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Libyan Writers in Exile

Active in Support of the Uprising

Due to the well-nigh total oppression of cultural life during 42 years of Gaddafi's dictatorship, Libyan literature has for decades been produced abroad. But with the uprising, everything has changed for them, too. Susannah Tarbush reportsMore

Libya's Intellectuals under the Gaddafi Dictatorship: Suppression at Home – Flourishing in Exile "Translating Libya": Non-Political Stories of Love and Hardship

The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie

Panties from the "Axis of Evil"

While visiting Syria, two London-based women of Arab origin became fascinated by the risqué lingerie openly on display in the souqs and shops of Damascus and Aleppo. The book they now produced is one of the most unusual publications you are likely to see on the Arab world, says Susannah TarbushMore