Women's rights

"In the Land of the Forgotten" by Aliyeh Ataei

Stories of war and the fight for freedom

With a keen sense for nuance, Aliyeh Ataei describes a life between Iran and Afghanistan, one marked by resistance, a search for identity and constant confrontation with social norms.
Egypt's TikTok crackdown

Suzy el-Ordoneya and the politics of social media fame

A police crackdown in Egypt is targeting TikTok influencers. Among them is Suzy el-Ordoneya (Suzy the Jordanian), whose rapid rise has brought her into conflict with official state morality.
"Carmen" on the Egyptian stage

Rewritten to fit the patriarchal script

A stage production of "Carmen", adapted from Prosper Mérimée's French novella, has captured the attention of audiences and critics in Cairo. While the French novella portrayed Carmen as a free-spirited rebel, the Egyptian adaptation tells a different story.
Women's rights in Syria

Too early for confidence

At the end of February, the highly anticipated National Dialogue Conference took place in Damascus. Did the meeting meet expectations? Karim El-Gawhary talked to women's rights activists on the ground before and after the event.
FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar bans sex for unmarried couples

Qatar has banned sex-outside-marriage by players and fans during the forthcoming 2022 World Cup Tournament, failure to abide to the rule is equal to to a trial of seven years in prison.
ARTE documentary: Looking at the rights of women

While inequalities with men are fading in many areas and speech is becoming freer with movements like #MeToo, there is still a long way to go on many fronts. From Saudi Arabia, where women have only recently gained basic freedoms, to Afghanistan, where the return of the Taliban threatens the fragile progress of girls' education.
"Nasrin": Profiling the life and work of Iranian activist Sotoudeh

Narrated by Olivia Coman, this feature documentary is about one of the world’s most courageous human rights activists and political prisoners, Iranian attorney and Right Livelihood Award winner Nasrin Sotoudeh. The film also profiles the untold story of Iran’s women’s rights movement.
Women and emancipation in Oman

Ruled by the enlightened Qaboos from 1970 to 2020, Oman enjoys a unique reputation among the Arab states – especially regarding the status and opportunities afforded to women. Portraits by Pascal Mannaerts
Women 20 Summit in Saudi Arabia: Whitewashed by the Kingdom

Last week Saudi Arabia hosted the Women 20 (W20) online summit. Several of the Kingdom's most prominent activists, such as Loujain al-Hathloul (pictured), were missing. According to rights groups, these women have faced abuse while imprisoned, including electric shocks, flogging and sexual assault.
Iranian filmmakers: Successful despite censorship

Directors from Iran face strict state restrictions, but they nevertheless manage to bypass them with creativity. These 10 filmmakers' works have received international critical acclaim despite the obstacles.
India: where women do the hard work

In India, bricks are traditionally made by hand. The job is dirty, exhausting, poorly paid, and mainly done by women.
Documentary highlights domestic drudgery in Lebanon

Maher Abi Samra′s disturbing documentary ″A Maid for Each″ takes a cool-headed look at a Beirut agency that traffics in domestic help. Some may take comfort in thinking the situation of domestic servants in Lebanon isn’t ″our″ world, but in truth, the commodification of foreign home workers by type (″my Filipina″, ″my Mexican″) is a near-universal problem.