No cake, no party, a beard and a black dress: how Iraqi couples get married in extremist-run Mosul
Speaking in formal Arabic, the judge asks the bridegroom whether he wants to marry, then he asks the bride’s guardian the same question. The bride, in a full niqab so that nobody can see anything but her eyes, is not asked her opinion.
After the two men agree to the marriage, the judge repeats the Islamic State’s motto several times. The couple get a marriage contract that is signed and stamped so they have proof of their union.
When Saeed arrived home, he says he whispered to his new wife that it felt like he was pledging allegiance to the extremist group, rather than marrying her.
Continue reading on Niqash
A shared agony: from Aintab to Haifa
A week ago I visited a florist on Mar Mikhael Street in Beirut to buy some flowers to decorate my balcony. I walked through the shop and searched until I finally decided on a plant similar to a Dahlia.
I was happy - even excited - as I wanted to surprise my father who had just recovered from an illness. So I replanted the flower in a huge pot on the balcony. I woke up early the next morning, and realised the stems of the plant were mushy and the roots were not firm. I was sad and disappointed; my mother advised me to throw it away, but I didn't lose hope and kept watering it on daily basis. A week passed and the plant was once again green and growing buds.
The story of this flower is similar to my own family's path, as well as our neighbour's.
Continue reading on the New Arab Blog
Addicted to birds
For the birdmen, this is an escape from everyday life, which then turns into a life-long journey. They often say that the hobby is an addiction, rather than stating a specific reason for being attracted to it. It’s all about listening to the singing of the birds. It can also be considered as a way of meditating; something they need to do in order to feel good. They also socialise around this lifestyle; they meet in cafes in different neighbourhoods of Istanbul, sometimes for singing competitions; other times only to listen to each other’s birds.
