![French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a joint press conference held with Iraqi President Barham Salih (not seen) in Baghdad, Iraq on September 02, 2020 [Murtadha Al-Sudani - Anadolu Agency]](https://i1.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/French-President-Macron-in-Baghdad_11.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
The reproduction of Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recently was no surprise. What was frustrating though was French President Emmanuel Macron's open endorsement of...![Racism [Asim Al Baleyhashi/Twitter]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/image0.jpeg?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
The latest Black Lives Matter protests triggered by the killing of George Floyd on 25 May by a Minneapolis police officer highlight the fact that we live in a...![Screenshot of the titles of TV show Umm Haroun [Twitter]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screenshot-2020-04-27-14.18.39-e1587993608313.png?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
MBC's Ramadan drama series Um Haroon has sparked controversy and debate about the presence of Jews in the Gulf region and their relationship with local Muslim communities. In itself,...
Nationalism and national identity are two key concepts in the shaping of the contemporary world since the 19th century. Nationalism aims to create group loyalty, through a single national...![Head Coach of South Korea National Team Uli Stielike gestures during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifying group A football match between Qatar and South Korea at the Jassim Bin Hamad stadium in Doha, Qatar on 13 June, 2017 [Mohamed Farag/Anadolu Agency]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/20170613_2_24218406_23130547.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
The news that the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are to participate in the Gulf Cup football tournament was a surprise to most people. Ever since the blockade was...
Dedicated to Israa Ghrayeb and all women who have been murdered in the name of "honour". The recent heart-wrenching news of the murder of Israa Ghrayeb in Palestine sparked...![Saudi women take photographs in Riyadh, on 15 December 2018 [FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i1.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/saudi-womenGettyImages-1073633074.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
Saudi women are amongst the strongest, most intelligent and inspirational women in the Middle East. Female Saudi academics and activists have lobbied for women's rights in Saudi Arabia for...![Women's Society & Development [Zarqa Parvez]](https://i1.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Womens-Society-Development-Clubwc2-1.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
Lila Abu-Lughod describes the work of contemporary scholars on women and gender studies in the Middle East as that of "storytelling". She explains that these scholars are narrating stories...
Among the most pressing issues of the 21st century, "othering" and "belonging" have become common themes. These are part of the broader issues of nations and nationalism, and homogeneous...![Qatar's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final match between Japan and Qatar in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 01 February 2019. [STRINGER - Anadolu Agency]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190201_2_34710206_41259408-e1549273969444.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
The Asian Cup 2019 occupied centre stage in the Gulf over the past few weeks. The football matches between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Qatar and the UAE in...![A painting called 'Stop killing my dreams' [Zarqa Parvez]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Stop-killing-my-dreamsstopkillingmydreams.jpg?resize=500%2C333&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1)
"Feminism" was perhaps one of the most commonly used terms in 2018. In the past two years, global awareness on women's issues has grown as a result of the...