A deeper look at the life of 'the first Arab Cinderella'

A new book about Egyptian silver-screen actress and singer Leila Mourad uncovers the competing forces that shaped not only her career but also how she was perceived by the public.

Fadi El-Abdallah

Meet Reel Iraq

[caption id="attachment_55239658" align="alignnone" width="620"] Haydar Daffa, Iraqi director of The Dreams of Sparrows.[/caption] Ten years ago the world witnessed massive protests against the US…

Celia Topping

The Arab Arts Season

[caption id="attachment_55239526" align="alignnone" width="620"] A visitor looks at a piece of art called "Children of Iraq" by Lebanese artist Robert Helou at Art Dubai 2012. [/caption]It is a good…

Nicholas Blincoe

A Quiet Town

[caption id="attachment_55239372" align="alignnone" width="620"] Mr Abdo Ahmad Mohammad Obeya. Source: Youssef Nabil/Last of The Dictionary Men, photographic series 2008[/caption]Glancing over the…

Amy Assad

Out of the Ashes

[caption id="attachment_55239227" align="alignnone" width="620"] The town of Hama in Syria. Hama was the scene of the 1982 massacre of up to 30,000 citizens by the armed forces in the face of an…

Malik al-Abdeh

Fighting Mental Prisons

The French have long recognized the literary merit of Abdellatif Laâbi’s work. His writing, often compared to that of Pablo Neruda and Nazim Hikmet, was awarded the Prix Goncourt in 2009 and the…

Tam Hussein

Under the Weight of Censorship

[caption id="attachment_55238921" align="alignnone" width="620"] The daily newspaper Al-Ahram is sold in Tahrir Square on March 4 2011 in downtown Cairo, Egypt. Source: Kim Badawi/Getty Images[…

Mahmud El-Shafey

Greener Pastures

[caption id="attachment_55238860" align="alignnone" width="620"] Nadim Karam. Source: Celia Topping[/caption]Located next door to the Halcyon Gallery and above the Ralph Lauren store on New Bond…

Celia Topping

Syrian Starlet

[caption id="attachment_55238716" align="alignnone" width="574"] Nasmi (R) in Aleppo on February 24, 2013. [/caption] In Aleppo, as in other, less troubled cities, stars are born on YouTube. That is…

Hannah Lucinda Smith

Turkey Transforming

[caption id="attachment_55238676" align="alignnone" width="620"] A view of Istanbul from the Galalta Tower. Source: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images[/caption]Speaking at a press conference at the…

Vedica Kant

Explaining Iraq's Agony

[caption id="attachment_55238644" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iraqi's protest against Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Kirkuk, February 2013. Source: MARWAN IBRAHIM/AFP/Getty Images).[/caption] …

Alex Edwards