Middle East
Young artists explore coming of age in the Middle East
Banat Collective — In The Middle Of It All is a new book showcasing the diverse experiences of Arabian womanhood, featuring contributions from writers, illustrators and photographers.
Written by: Salma Haidrani
Shooting the sidelines at Syria’s football cup final
Beautiful game — In a country torn apart by civil war, people are grasping for moments of relief – and football is one thing they turn to. It's also been weaponised and politicised, as photojournalist Sally Hayden grapples with at the Syrian Cup Final.
Written by: Sally Hayden
Dispelling the myths around Middle Eastern women
Strength, self-love & sexuality — Blending beautiful photography and thoughtful storytelling, Azeema is the new publication celebrating women from across North Africa and the Middle East. ‘We won’t put anything that isn’t strong or empowering,’ explains co-founder Sunayah Arshad.
Written by: Salma Haidrani
Steve McCurry’s beautiful, haunting portraits of Afghanistan
Four decades of history — Conflict, colonialism and tribal rivalry: Steve McCurry’s iconic photographs show the unseen side of the country.
Written by: Dominique Sisley
The British sisters documenting the lives of Syrian refugees
Lost in Lebanon — Sisters Georgia and Sophia Scott discuss their documentary 'Lost in Lebanon', which follows four Syrian refugees living in the neighbouring country, giving a human face to a dehumanised conflict.
Written by: Marta Bausells
Celebrating creative independence in Middle Eastern cinema
Using film to affect society — Filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat overcame a corrupt Afghan film industry to tell her own story – the award-winning movie Wolf and Sheep. Inspired by our profile of her in Huck 56 - The Independence Issue, we're saluting other directors who have fought to shed light on a deeply misunderstood part of the world.
Written by: Christopher Sanders
Kirkuk's only metal band are defying ISIS in Iraq
Death and metal in a divided state — Forged in the crucible of oil-rich and conflict-ridden Kirkuk, the story of Iraqi band Dark Phantom is pure metal. But in a city littered with Isis sleeper cells, going underground is no affectation. It’s a means of survival.
Written by: Campbell MacDiarmid
The punk and riot grrrl sounds driving Beirut’s fearless Roller Derby pioneers
Defiant grrrl power in action — Roller derby has hit the streets of Lebanon. In Huck’s Defiance Issue, we speak to members of Roller Derby Beirut, a pioneering female student collective bringing the sport to the Middle East. Here are some of the local and international bands that could soundtrack them.
Written by: HUCK HQ
The heavy metal bands fighting authority in the Middle East
Defiant Sounds — Huck 54 is packed with stories of defiance, like Iraqi heavy metal band Dark Phantom, whose provocative music rallies against government corruption. Constantly forced under the radar by political leaders and Islamic extremists, they are part of a wave of metal acts fighting the power across the the Middle East. Here are some of the loudest voices.
Written by: Adam White
In Pictures: Looking back at the Arab Spring five years on
Capturing a moment in time — On the fifth anniversary of protests in Egypt’s capital, we asked Huck photographers Guy Martin, Pauline Beugnies, Lindsay Mackenzie and Monique Jaques about the stills they remember most.
Written by: Joshua Gabert-Doyon