Antiquities and historical monuments

Restoring the IS-destruction of cultural heritage

Key to overcome the past

A decade after Islamic State militants tried to destroy the rich history of Iraq and Syria, the hard work to rebuild the nations' cultural heritage continues. The ancient city of Hatra succumbed to an attack by Islamic State fighters. It’s now being repaired.
Back to the Iraqi marshes

In 1978, Sylvia Furrer and Holger Hoffmann backpacked through Iraq. 45 years later, they returned with their own vehicle in search of the 'mudhifs', the meeting houses of the Marsh Arabs. Text by Sylvia Furrer, photos by Holger Hoffmann
War in Sudan

Sudan's cultural treasures are being destroyed

While fighting between the military and the paramilitary forces of the RSF rages in Sudan, many of the country's important cultural assets are being destroyed, from invaluable libraries to mummies. By Philipp Jedicke
East Jerusalem

Library restores Palestinian history one manuscript at a time

A library in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem offers a rare glimpse into Palestinian history with its treasure trove of manuscripts dating back hundreds of years before the creation of Israel
Iraqi heritage

Iraq artist battles to save ancient boating tradition

Young Iraqis row a flotilla of traditional wooden boats down the Tigris in Baghdad, celebrating an ancient nautical heritage in the now drought-stricken country. The United Nations ranks Iraq as one of the world's five countries most impacted by climate change
“Hot Cities: Lessons from Arab Architecture”

Inspiring cities of the future

“Hot Cities: Lessons from Arab Architecture” at Germany's Vitra Design Museum provides valuable food for thought about the ways architecture can deal with climate change. Numerous examples from Arab countries illustrate how they have been defying the heat for thousands of years. By Joseph Croitoru
Berlin Museum of Islamic Art

"Islamic Art” goes digital

The Berlin Museum of Islamic Art’s new online portal is the first digital platform in the German-speaking world to present Islamic cultures in an innovative and entertaining way. By Ceyda Nurtsch
Turkey-Syria quake

Weak buildings, shallow shock caused deaths

The instability of old buildings was responsible for much of the wreckage in Monday’s earthquake along the Turkey-Syria border. But the earthquake was also abnormally strong for its magnitude. Clare Roth has the details
West Bank's last vinyl repairman

Vinyl lover preserves musical heritage

From Jamal Hemmou's ramshackle workshop in Nablus's Old City in the occupied West Bank, classic Arabic songs blare into the surrounding cobbled streets. For how much longer remains to be seen – neither of his sons is interested in taking over the business
The origins of the Maghreb

Was the Arab Maghreb a French invention?

The book "The Invention of the Maghreb: between Africa and the Middle East" prompts us to review basic terminology. This includes terms that we use almost every day as if they are definitive by virtue of geography, history and culture, such as "the Arab Maghreb", "North Africa", "the Middle East" and "sub-Saharan Africa". Shady Lewis Botros read the book
Iraq's women entrepreneurs

Small businesses, big dreams

The sewing machines and fabric that surround Alaa Adel at her "Iraqcouture" studio in Baghdad are testament to her success in deeply patriarchal Iraq
Iraq’s cultural heritage

Iraqi conservators strive to preserve ancient manuscripts

Iraq bears the scars of decades of conflict and has seen its antiquities plundered, yet the House of Manuscripts' collection has managed to survive