Portraits of Americans in Arabic literature
Certainly, “the American” doesn’t loom as large in Arabic literature as “the Arab” does in Anglo-American thrillers. But there are depictions, both interesting and strange, and interesting-strange. There are also dead-on, laugh-out-loud depictions, like Jack in Waguih Ghali’s Beer in the Snooker Club, a novel that was written in English.
In literary Arabic novels, Americans usually don’t get the one-dimensional treatment.
'For the first time in history, Jews can take part in war from home'
Before Brigadier-General (ret.) Avi Benayahu began serving as IDF Spokesperson in 2007, the unit did little more than send photos of soldiers celebrating Passover to Israeli newspapers. But between 2007 and 2011, Benayahu — the right-hand man of then-Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi — revolutionized the old unit, transforming it into one of Israel’s leading “hasbara” (propaganda, or “public diplomacy”) outfits. The unit’s methods and aims still lie heavily on his work.
Iran sent agents to spy on its journalists in Vienna
“I generally had the freedom to report on what I wanted to,” explains Arash Azizi, who at the time of the interview had just returned from the nuclear talks in Vienna to his base in London. But this was far from the reality of the many journalists based in Iran – a country ranked among the world’s worst when it comes to freedom of the press.
“I know that if I go back to Iran I will be arrested just like my father,” Azizi says. His father, Mostafa Azizi, is a television producer who is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence in Iran for comments on social media.
