Lebanon
All countries-
Mohammad Malas's film "Ladder to Damascus"
Between dream and disaster
In his new film, "Ladder to Damascus", the renowned Syrian filmmaker Mohammad Malas has succeeded in portraying the whole tragedy of the Syrian conflict without depicting any scenes of violence. By Charlotte Bank
-
The Lebanese magazine "The Outpost"
Road map to an uncensored world
The pan-Arab magazine "The Outpost" is produced on a quarterly basis in Beirut. Only one year after its establishment, it is already attracting international attention. Astrid Kaminski took a closer look at the magazine and spoke to its editor-in-chief, Ibrahim Nehme, about its success
-
Hezbollah in Lebanon
How Hezbollah is paralysing Lebanese politics
There are few countries in the world where domestic affairs are as affected by regional calamities as Lebanon. With Hezbollah still fighting across the border in Syria and the country's two biggest political alliances at loggerheads about the situation, the government in Beirut is in deadlock. By Ben Knight
-
Book review: "Contemporary Artists – Arab World"
Perceptions of reality
The book "Contemporary Artists – Arab World" shows how different Arab artists have reacted to the upheaval in their countries. By Kersten Knipp
-
Obituary: Lebanese poet Ounsi el-Hage
One of the founders of Arab surrealism
Last month, the Lebanese poet Ounsi el-Hage died at the age of 77. Alongside Adonis and Mahmoud Darwish, he was one of the pioneers of modern Arabic poetry. An obituary by Suleman Taufiq
-
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 performance
-
Lebanon's first female pastor
"The fact that I am a woman was never a problem"
In Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli, an Evangelical community has decided to break with tradition and elect a woman as their pastor. The small parish has come to appreciate Rola Sleiman in trying times. By Andreane Williams in Tripoli
-
Documentary film: "Not Who We Are"
Lost time in Lebanon
The stigma of being refugees, the lack of privacy and an uncertain future – these are just some of the problems that Syrian women face in Lebanon. The renowned filmmaker Carol Mansour tells their stories in her touching documentary "Not Who We Are". By Jannis Hagmann
-
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 Metzker
-
The Lebanese satirical magazine "Ad-Dabbour"
Hornets' nest in Beirut
The satirical magazine ''Ad-Dabbour'' (the hornet) is one of the oldest magazines in Beirut. Björn Zimprich spoke to Joseph Moukarzel, editor-in-chief of the magazine, about the purpose of satire, freedom of expression in the Arab world and the caricatures of the prophet Mohammed in western magazines in recent years
-
"Women's Power in Arabic"
Long-overdue Confrontations
In his new book, the journalist Karim El-Gawhary gives a voice and a face to strong Arab women, while moving beyond the clichés and headscarf debates. Martina Sabra describes the book as multifaceted, revealing, entertaining, emotionally moving, and definitely worth reading
-
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 Metzker