Boat over troubed water
A majestic Ottoman-style villa stands at the end of the port. From a distance, it seems to float on the sea, gracefully composed despite the raging waves. Nearby, fishermen gather around weathered wooden tables. Some slumped on their chairs, languidly, while others gesticulate to one another wildly. They watch over the men on duty; there are those who patiently sew their nets in a patch of shade, those who band with other men to dock their felukas and those who quietly navigate their way out to sea. They are men of all ages, and there's not a woman in sight.
Source: Mashallah News
Tunisia: democratic miracle or mirage?
Since December 2014, Western officials and analysts have very actively, almost aggressively, celebrated the Tunisian “success,” which is alternatively defined as an “exception” or a “model” in a chaotic Arab world. Following the Tunisian president’s official visit to France in April 2015, Beji Caid Essebi’s visit to the United States on 20-21 May 2015, completed the Western consecration of Tunisia’s induction into the “club of democracies.” The current fascination with Tunisia’s democratic achievement, echoing the blind celebration of the so-called Tunisian economic miracle during the Ben Ali era, requires critical analysis.
Source: Jadaliyya
Blame the woman: sexual harrassment in Iran
When Afghani artist Kobra Khademi dressed up in medieval armor and went out on to the street to protest against the physical harassment of women, she was unsure how the public would react. Khademi was forced to stop her protest after only eight minutes, when a group of people pelted her with stones and she was forced to flee in a taxi. She is currently in hiding and fears for her safety.
But despite the short duration of her protest, she did get a reaction, with some praising it as a brave act and others highlighting the inappropriateness of her social display.
Source: IranWire
