Photo Essays

Along Iran′s coastline and on the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz, women have been wearing masks for centuries. The styles vary according to region, ethnicity, but most noticeably according to religious affiliation. Shia women wear red rectangular masks, while those of Sunni women are black or indigo with gold, shaped to give the impression of eyebrows and moustache – once a ruse to fool invaders into thinking that the women they spied from a distance were in fact men. By Eric Lafforgue

This month while Pakistan marked its independence, its twin India also celebrated its freedom from British rule. Tensions between the two, however, are running high and ties continue to be scarred by mutual suspicion. By Srinivas Mazumdaru

In August 1895, the first steam locomotive departed from the port city of Beirut, crossed the rugged terrain of Lebanon′s Bekaa valley and arrived in Damascus. Back then, Lebanon was the first country in the Arab world to have a railroad and one of the world′s first train factories in Rayak – a Lebanese border town located six kilometres from Syria. Impressions by Changiz M. Varzi

Since the Islamic Revolution women in Iran have been obliged to follow a strict dress code. But an increasing number are refusing to obey the rules. Many young women are wearing clothes that are more colourful and revealing – and accepting the repressive consequences

Iran is holding numerous women in jail on political charges. They include human rights activists, journalists, artists and simply engaged citizens. By Shabnam von Hein

The "zar" cult is a religious medicinal ritual with roots in the sub-Saharan region. The ceremonies are mainly held to cure mental illnesses, which are also interpreted as "possessions". Each ritual is led by a priestess and aims to appease evil spirits through sacrificial gifts, incantation songs and dances. Impressions by Ikhlas Abbis

Rawabi (″the hills″ in Arabic) – vision of Nablus-born entrepreneur and billionaire Bashar al-Masri – is the first planned Palestinian city and the largest private sector project in Palestinian history. Mockingly referred to by some as ″the first Palestinian settlement", Rawabi is not without its critics, who argue it merely serves to sugarcoat the Israeli occupation.

The development has also faced difficulties connecting to the water supply: infrastructure had to be built across Area C, the 60 percent of the West Bank under Israeli civil and security control – the necessary permits were eventually granted, but the main access road remains unauthorised. By Ylenia Gostoli

Night of terror: the failed coup attempt turned Turkey into a war zone. More than 260 people died. Does the country face the threat of a civil war?

Abbas Kiarostami was a globally renowned film maker and photographer from Iran. His work was recognised at numerous international festivals.

For years now, the wearing of headscarves and veils for religious reasons has been the periodic focus of debates and conflicts in public life. We present the key phases of the headscarf debate in Germany.