Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Omar Ahmed
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Out of their league: Dagenham & Redbridge FC’s Arab outreach collapses after director sacked, co-owner quits over pro-Palestine post
It was supposed to be a bold new chapter for Dagenham & Redbridge FC—a fifth-tier English side better known for mid-table mediocrity than international intrigue. With the announcement on Monday of a partnership with Egyptian YouTuber Marwan Serry and the appointment of fellow Egyptian football influencer Salma Mashhour as Director…
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Inter-religious Practices and Saint Veneration in the Muslim World: Khidr/Khizr from the Middle East to South Asia
Saint veneration and inter-religious practices in the Muslim world are often viewed through rigid sectarian or doctrinal lenses, often overlooking the lived religious experiences that blur these lines. Inter-religious Practices and Saint Veneration in the Muslim World: Khidr/Khizr from the Middle East to South Asia, edited by Michel Boivin and…
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King Faisal: The Saudi monarch who championed pan-Islamism and stood with Palestine
King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, one of the most influential leaders in the modern Arab world, was assassinated on 25 March 1975. A champion of the Palestinian cause and an ardent advocate of pan-Islamism as a counter to the pan-Arabism espoused by nationalist leaders like Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, Faisal’s…
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Does Sharaa’s Syria reflect Huntington’s ‘clash of civilisations’ or Fukuyama’s ‘end of history’?
Since the end of the Cold War, two grand theories have shaped discussions on global political evolution: the late Samuel Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order and his former student, Francis Fukuyama’s The End of History and The Last Man. Such has been their legacy…
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Remembering the formation of the United Arab Republic between Egypt and Syria
The United Arab Republic (UAR) was a short-lived political union between Egypt and Syria, embodying the aspirations of Pan-Arabism at its peak during the mid-20th century. This ambitious union symbolised a bold experiment in regional integration, challenging both colonial legacies and Cold War rivalries with a lasting impact on the…
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How an Arabic RedNote could transform cultural exchange and global perceptions
Among the first executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump at the start of his second term in the White House was a decision that signalled a new chapter for the US, with a mix of continuity and disruption defining his return to power. Notably, Trump reversed the controversial…
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Remembering the 1919 Faisal-Weizmann Agreement
The Faisal-Weizmann Agreement was an early attempt to bring Arab and Zionist ambitions together in Palestine. Signed during the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, it ended up having a lasting impact on the region, paving the way for Palestinian displacement and decades of conflict and occupation, which continues to this…
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Sectarian demographics are reshuffled in the new Damascus
The first Friday prayers held in the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus after the collapse of the Bashar Al-Assad regime were attended by thousands, marking a symbolic transformation with immense religious and political significance. While the call to prayer and the majority Sunni worshippers were not barred under Assad, the event…
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With Assad gone, Israel looks to expand while rival NATO-backed groups will turn on each other
While others spoke of the revival of the Syrian revolution as an inevitability, especially with the weakening of Syria and the erosion of its allies capabilities, Hezbollah in particular, others have for years warned of the dire consequences of the alternative, given the domination of the armed opposition by former…
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‘Triggering the Zionists’: Fursan Al-Aqsa’s 7 October mission update
On 11 November, Palestinian-Brazilian games developer Nidal Nijm announced on platform Steam that his ground-breaking third person shooter, Fursan Al-Aqsa: Knights of Al-Aqsa Mosque, received an update. Called “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” after the historic Hamas-led resistance operation in 2023, the update “allows you to relive the iconic day on which…
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The race is on for ‘Anti-Semite of the Year 2024’: A badge of honour, thanks to Israel
The so-called “Antisemite of the Year” award, presented annually by StopAntisemitism—a self-proclaimed US watchdog—has once again become a spectacle of ridicule with online voting currently underway, revealing the absurd extremes to which the term “anti-Semitism” has been stretched and weaponised. What was once a label meant to genuinely combat discrimination…
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Lessons unlearned, as Israel’s war against Hezbollah is starting to mirror its 2006 defeat
“Convinced they could force Hezbollah to disarm and withdraw from southern Lebanon by initiating an effects-based air campaign, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) began pounding targets across Lebanon. Although initially taken aback by the destructive air strikes, Hezbollah unleashed its own attack within 24 hours, launching an extensive rocket barrage…
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Media gaslighting after the double thrashing of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam
Thursday’s Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam ended in not only the Israeli football team getting thrashed 5-0, but also saw their racist and violent fan base get a double thrashing on the streets of the Dutch capital notably by Moroccan and other Muslim Amsterdammers.…
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Footage of late Muhammad Ali praying behind new Hezbollah leader resurfaces
Following Hezbollah’s announcement of the appointment of its new Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, footage of the late legendary US boxer Muhammad Ali praying behind the Shia Muslim cleric back when he was the Lebanese resistance movement’s Deputy Secretary-General, has been making the rounds on social media, sparking memories of Ali’s…
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The Revolution of 1936–1939 in Palestine: Background, Details, and Analysis
Published three months before the launch of last year’s Palestinian resistance operation Al-Aqsa Flood, The Revolution of 1936–1939 in Palestine: Background, Details, and Analysis by the late writer and political activist Ghassan Kanafani, and translated by Hazem Jamjoum is an engaging account of one of the most pivotal and yet…
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Lana Makes Purple Pizza: A Palestinian Food Tale
Since I reviewed Baba, What Does My Name Mean? A Journey to Palestine, which was published in 2020 and was on the recommend list for that year’s Palestine Book Awards (PBA), there has been a steady and growing surge in children’s literature centred around Palestinian themes. One recent addition shortlisted…
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Are Israel’s tactical gains becoming a strategic victory over the resistance?
The initial assessments of Israel’s response to the unprecedented resistance operation last October by Hamas echoed a familiar theme: observers predicted an equally unprecedented Israeli reaction, but like past conflicts, expected it to ultimately yield tactical gains without long-term strategic success. Israel’s early response mirrored these expectations, with heavy bombardment…
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What could Saudi Arabia’s first AAA game be like, following China’s success?
Last month, China made gaming history with the release of the instant hit “Black Myth: Wukong.” An RPG set in mythological China and loosely based on the classical Chinese novel, Journey to the West, it marked the country’s first foray into AAA gaming—blockbuster titles with massive budgets—a notable departure from…
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Israel’s influence on Big Tech: Silencing pro-Palestine media
On Monday, Egyptian-American comedian and outspoken critic of Israel Bassem Youssef caused a social media storm after his account on X with almost 12 million followers was no longer accessible. This led to widespread speculation among users, media outlets and even the state-affiliated account of Israel, with many assuming that…
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Iran under the Mongols: Ilkhanid Administrators and Persian Notables in Fars
In the 13th century, the Mongols under the formidable leadership of Genghis Khan swept across the vast steppes of Central Asia, bringing unprecedented devastation as they advanced towards the Middle East. Their conquest culminated in the catastrophic sack of Baghdad in 1258, which led to the fall of the Abbasid…
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Underestimating Yemeni resolve, Israel opens up a southern front
On 19 July, a drone launched from Yemen struck near the US embassy in Tel Aviv, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to several others. This suicide drone, aptly named Yafa (the Arabic name for Jaffa, which forms part of today’s Tel Aviv), managed to evade Israeli…
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K-Pop stans call for South Korea gov’t to cancel Israel event amid Gaza genocide
For well over a decade now, K-Pop, the global sensation originating from South Korea, has found a notable following among youth in the Middle East. The vibrant music, captivating performances and engaging “idols” have won over fans and even “stans” across the region, uniting them in a shared passion for…
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Forget ‘Maccies’ and ‘Donnies’ – how about McGenocide? The McDonald’s ad that misses the mark
McDonald’s latest ‘Make it yours’ advert, crafted by Leo Burnett UK and directed by Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright, embraces the youthful slang that rebrands the global fast food giant as “Maccies,” “McDizzles,” and other quirky names while celebrating “McDonald’s place in British culture.” The…
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‘The injustices we see abroad reflect how governments treat people at home’, says Palestinian candidate running in UK election
As Britain gears up for its next general election, the Labour Party finds itself in the midst of a far-reaching crisis of trust, especially among its Muslim voter base. The Party, under the leadership of “Zionist supporter” Keir Starmer, has faced intense criticism for its handling of the genocide in…