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![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://i0.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://i0.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://i0.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://i0.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://i0.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://i0.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...