#West Arabia

[artsofarabia]

Taybat Museum | مدينة الطيبات

Opened in 1996, the museum is housed in a multiroom complex that re-creates the traditional Hijazi (west Arabian) architecture. It houses many ancient artifacts from the region and the entire Arabian Peninsula in general. 🇸🇦

The museum was visited by many famous figures, including princess Diana and king Charles.

[sayruq]

The Biden administration is both cruel and out of touch with reality

[folkfashion]

Bedouin and Arab women, Saudi Arabia, by Hayat Osamah

[thousandsofnights]

Majnun Layla - مجنون ليلى

Is a story of Arab early-Islamic origin from the Najd region (central Arabia), about the 7th-century poet Qays and his lover Layla. Nicknamed by some people as the “Romeo and Juliet of the East”.

In summary: Qays and Layla fell in love with each other when they were young, but when they grew up, Layla's father did not allow them to be together. In the end Layla was forcibly married to a wealthy merchant and moved with him to somewhere else far away. When Qays heard of her marriage, he went mad and began wandering the deserts. His family eventually gave up hope for his return. His tribe and the community gave him the epithet of “Majnūn” (مجنون "crazy”)

The Layla-Majnun theme was translated and passed from Arabic to Persian, Turkish, and Indian languages as early as the 9th century. The story has been the subject of many Indian movies since the silent films era.

[archtroop]

[hummussexual]

Alexander Durie 23 May, 2024

The Cannes Film Festival this year showcased screenings from the Middle East and North Africa that captured significant attention.

The New Arab has curated a list of the top seven films premiered there, and we highly recommend giving them a watch.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024) 

Director Mohammad Rasoulof – Iran, France, Germany

In the bustling streets of Tehran, the life of Judge Iman takes a drastic turn when he discovers his gun missing, leading him to suspect his own family, including his wife and daughters. The film explores the intricate dynamics of familial relationships, as suspicion and distrust put their bonds to the ultimate test. 

Despite facing an eight-year prison sentence in Iran, Director Mohammad Rasoulof's determination to present this story at Cannes highlights the enduring power of artistic expression in challenging times.

Norah (2024) 

Director Tawfik Alzaidi – Saudi Arabia

Transporting audiences back to the conservative landscape of 1990s Saudi Arabia, Norah introduces us to Nader, a newly arrived teacher in a remote village, and Norah, a spirited young woman yearning for freedom. Their secret affair blossoms amidst the shadows of societal restrictions and impending danger, fueled by their shared passion for art and beauty.

Against the backdrop of a repressive society, the film serves as a reminder of the power of love and the human spirit's pursuit of liberation.

To a Land Unknown (2024)

Director Mahdi Fleifel – Palestine, UK, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

To a Land Unknown tells the story of Chatila and Reda, two Palestinian cousins in Athens, Greece, aiming for a better life in Germany. They face tough challenges as refugees, pushing themselves to their limits. Their journey highlights the struggles of seeking refuge and finding hope in difficult times.

Across the Sea (2024)

Director Saïd Hamich Benlarbi – Morocco, France, Belgium, Qatar

Across the Sea follows Nour, a young immigrant who comes to Marseille, France, for a better life. He faces tough challenges surviving on the outskirts of society, getting involved in small crimes with an uncertain future. But meeting Serge, a charismatic but unpredictable cop, and his wife Noémie, gives Nour hope.

The story spans from 1990 to 2000, showing Nour's search for love, identity, and belonging in a world that's changing fast.

East of Noon (2024) 

Director Hala Elkoussy – Egypt, Netherlands, Qatar

East of Noon welcomes viewers into a fantasy world rooted in Egyptian folklore. It follows young Abdou, a musical prodigy who defies tradition with his music. As Abdou's melodies resonate across the timeless landscape, he confronts the norms, embarking on a bold journey of self-discovery.

Director Hala Elkoussy's tale celebrates Egypt's cinematic heritage, with enchanting characters and captivating storytelling that transport audiences to a realm of limitless imagination.

The Brink of Dreams (2024)

Director Nada Riyadh & Ayman El Amir – Egypt, France, Denmark, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

In a remote village in Upper Egypt, a group of young girls breaks societal norms by forming a street theatre group. They dream of a life beyond their traditional upbringing. Through daring performances, they challenge the expectations of their Coptic families and local communities. Daughters of the Nile, filmed over four years, shows their journey from rebellious teens to empowered women.

This film is a powerful story of resilience and strength, capturing their universal longing for self-discovery and freedom.

Everybody Loves Touda (2024) 

Director Nabil Ayouch – Morocco, France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway

In the charming villages of Morocco, Touda dreams of a life beyond what society expects. She wants to become a Sheikha, a traditional Moroccan performer. Despite facing criticism from her community, Touda finds comfort in her music, singing about resistance, love, and freedom. Every night, she performs in local bars, her voice filling the streets as she imagines a better future for herself and her son.

Driven by a desire to break free from tradition, Touda sets her sights on the bright lights of Casablanca, determined to make her own way in a world full of opportunities.

[claraameliapond]

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud clearly explaining the simple truth and reality of this, asserting Palestinians right to their own land, to live in safety and security with freedom and self determination: "The weight has to be lifted, but it is not to be lifted by the Arab world. It is to be lifted by removing that weight and that is very easy: by stopping the killing, by stopping the blockade, by allowing enough humanitarian aid to go in to support the Palestinians.

The Palestinians do not want to leave their land. And we are not going to encourage them or force them to leave their land and we are not going to work with anyone who has that agenda.

The Palestinians have a right to their land, and they have a right to live in safety and security and dignity on their land. And that is what we will push for and that is what we will work towards."

[safije]

Omani Wedding Dress

[curieklei]

An amazing, detailed video on the geopolitics that led, contributed, and overall interacted with the Israel/Palestine overarching dispute and the current war. I strongly encourage and honestly, almost beg anyone that sees this to watch it entirely, and spread further, including beyond tumblr. It views Israel and Palestine fairly imo, and Russia, China and especially Iran in a very negative light.

Note - I did not watch the Nebula continuation of it, so anyone is welcome to detail on that in a reblog.

[his-heart-hymns]

You might have heard all the buzz about Lloyd Austin being chosen as the first Black Secretary of Defense by President Biden. So today, I stumbled upon something interesting. Turns out, Austin sits on the board of Raytheon Technologies, one of the biggest players in the defense industry, getting millions from stocks and compensations. I wasn't shocked a bit. It's just how things have been working in American politics for decades. The American government starts unnecessary wars, showering defense companies like Raytheon and Boeing with billions in contracts. And in return politicians, generals and bureaucrats get fat payouts. The elected "ruling class" enjoys lavish lifestyles while millions of civilians throughout the world are slaughtered and starved to death. Too much freedom and democracy.🤡

[vyorei]

[artsofarabia]

Al Sadu | السدو

Traditional weaving of Bedouins (nomadic Arabs). Which can be seen decorating many Arab spaces, from nomadic tents to urban and modern houses.

[dailystreetsnapshots]

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

[folkfashion]

Arab Saudi bride, Saudi Arabia, by Hussain Haddad

[thousandsofnights]

Antarah ibn Shaddad - عَنْتَرَة بْنْ شَدَّادْ

Also known as “Antar”, was a pre-Islamic Afro-Arab knight and poet who lived in Najd (Central Arabia) during the 6th century AD. Famous for both his poetry and his adventurous life. The account of his life forms the basis of a long and extravagant romance.

His father was a respected warrior in his tribe and his mother was an Ethiopian woman named Zabībah. Antarah's poetry is well preserved and often talks of chivalrous values, courage, and heroism in battle as well as his love for a woman named Abla.

After defending his tribe from an invading one, he sought to gain permission to marry Abla from their families. To secure allowance to marry, Antarah had to face many challenges, including getting a special kind of animal from a far northern Kingdom.

His poetry hold significant historical and cultural importance in the region. The story of Antar’s life was composed into an epic by a celebrated poet in the court of the Abbasid Caliphate around the 8th century. Its importance has been compared to that of the Arthurian legend in British literature.

[canichangemyblogname]

Israel ignoring Egypt's warnings, Israel's chaotic "recovery" (a.k.a. their explicit non-recovery and bombing of hostages), and the IOF's chaotic engagement with Hamas fighters on Oct. 7th and 8th that caught hostages and civilians in crossfire should be proof enough that Israel cannot and will consistently fail to provide for the security and welfare of Jewish people. It should also be proof enough that Netanyahu's government doesn't give a shit about Israeli lives unless they can be weaponized to serve his political and regional goals.

The argument that the only way for Jewish people to have safety and comfort is through a Jewish ethnostate ignores how the violence necessary to establish an ethnostate breeds extremism and a cycle of violence. It ignores how Israel consistently fails to protect and provide for its citizens, how vulnerable the Israeli state would be without US support, and how politically and numerically insecure settler-colonial populations are without ethnic and genocidal violence to reproduce their position in the social hierarchy. This argument also allows countries in the Global North to wipe their hands of their own country's antisemitism. For them, Israel is the solution to their country's "Jewish Question."

Some of Zionism's basic assumptions about Jewish people and the need for a Jewish state come from antisemitic assumptions. Advocates for a Jewish state frequently invoke antisemitic stereotypes to make their case. Like... literal fucking fascists in the US support Zionism because they want to empty their country of Jewish people and then watch them die in Israel.

The largest group of Zionists in the US are Evangelical Christians. Not just in sheer numbers, but as a percentage of their population. And you know what they believe? They believe that all Jews need to return to the Holy Land to be massacred and raptured so Jesus can return. The majority of Zionists in the US are Zonists because they're antisemitic. Their antisemitism informs their support for Zionism, and their belief in Zionism informs their antisemitism.

It boggles me how the US government, literal fascists, and Evangelicals have so many of you legitimately believing that critiquing a man and a government that throws their lot in with Holocaust deniers is antisemitic.

There are experts out there who attest that Zionism encourages and spreads antisemitism around the globe and that it is a contributing factor to increases in antisemitism in the Global North. Some have gone so far as to say it is a literal threat to the well-being of Jews worldwide and a roadblock in the fight against antisemitism.