Most recent articles by Marta Vidal
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Afghan refugees in PortugalRegenerating soil and soul
Human rights activists who fled the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan get the chance of a new start in life in Portugal thanks to a permaculture initiative focusing on ecology, agroforestry, social justice and solidarity. Marta Vidal reports
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Palestine, Jordan and SyriaThe woman preserving handwoven history
Women in the Levant have long used needlework to depict the region’s history, its landscapes, customs and traditions. Intricately embroidered panels, varying in style, colour and pattern reflect the different cultural, religious and family affiliations. One woman, Widad Kawar, has made it her quest to ensure this heritage is not forgotten. Marta Vidal reports from Amman, Jordan
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Arabic inscription on Coimbra Cathedral"Greatness will remain"
The façade of a twelfth-century cathedral is an unlikely place to find a message in Arabic script carved in stone, but so it is in the Portuguese city of Coimbra. Marta Vidal explores the background to the cathedral and examines how an 800-year Arabic inscription endured on the walls of a Roman Catholic house of worship
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Amman and The Teachers' SyndicateFree speech for everybody? Not so in Jordan, apparently
In recent weeks, Jordan's social media has been awash with photos and videos of demonstrators gathering in cities all over the country, chanting "Long live the teacher" and "we will not be silenced". Mainstream media coverage, however, has been noticeably lacking. By Marta Vidal
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Fighting for democracy and a free Syria"Ideas cannot be killed with weapons" – remembering Raed Fares
On 23 November 2018, Syrian activist and civil society leader Raed Fares was shot dead by gunmen in Kafranbel, Idlib province. Committed to building a free press, empowering women and establishing the foundations for a democratic society, he left a legacy to inspire generations of activists. By Marta Vidal
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Sudan in transitionDarfur refugees dream of return
Military and pro-democracy leaders signed a power-sharing agreement in August paving the way for a promised democratic transition after 30 years of authoritarian rule in Sudan. But refugees who fled genocidal violence in Darfur are expressing their reservations about the deal. Marta Vidal met them in Amman, Jordan
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Uncovering Portugalʹs Islamic rootsWhere Christians pray facing Mecca
Archaeologists in Mertola have spent the last 40 years looking for traces of Portugalʹs Islamic past. What they found shows that Islam is not alien to Europe and has in fact deeply influenced Portuguese history and culture. By Marta Vidal