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Muqtada al-Sadr, the most powerful man in Iraq

Popular support for Muqtada al-Sadr, progeny of the famous Sadr political dynasty, is on the ascendant in Iraq. Leader of the main opposition Shia faction, Sadr is a man of many facets, dogmatic and pragmatic by turns.

The ordeal of "abandoned wives" left behind by UK families

Many marriages to British Asian men are accompanied by false promises of improved finances. Later when the men abandon their wives to return to the UK, some brides' families find themselves saddled with debt. By S. Khan

Middle East on the brink again: The risks of unstable authoritarian order

A little more than a decade after the Arab Spring swept away many autocratic regimes in the Middle East and plunged others into chaos, a new authoritarian order is settling over the region.

Wife of activist Osman Kavala pre-trial: "I don't expect anything" from Turkish justice

Ayse Bugra, wife of Osman Kavala, talks about the accusations faced by the so-called "red billionaire", a prominent member of Turkish civil society in prison without a sentence since October 2017. He risks life behind bars if found guilty of "attempting to overthrow the government".

"Always distance yourself from the original text"

Considered one of the most renowned and experienced literary translators in the business, Nabil Al Haffar has received numerous awards for his work. He began translating from German into Arabic in 1974. Here he discusses his work as a translator and the challenges it presents

'The Game': The perilous trek of refugees from Bosnia to the EU

How can the Hirak meet Algerians' democratic needs?

Saturday's historically low election turnout was a reflection of Algerians' ongoing frustration with the political status quo. Faced with mounting state repression, however, the likelihood of the Hirak evolving from popular protest movement into a significant opposition force appears slim. By Ilhem Rachidi