Author Archives: Arab America

NEW YORK – From the outside, it resembles the all-American road vehicles that cruise freeways from coast to coast. But inside, rich red fabrics and Arabian rugs tell a different story about life inside this nine-metre motorhome.
 
The six-wheeler – known by its occupants as “Gulf Stream” – has become an on-the-road home for Middle Eastern artists travelling between US art shows, universities and into the boondocks in a three-year mission to bridge East-West divisions.
 
So far, more than 25 artists have travelled from the Middle East to climb aboard, collaborate on artworks and meet with dealers, students and everyday Americans from the skyscrapers of New York to the backwaters of Alabama.
 
The unlikely odyssey is arranged by Edge of Arabia and Art Jameel. It will see more than 100 creatives take cross-continental trips by the time it wraps up in 2017.
 
“We wanted to connect two great centres of ideology and powerhouses of history-making: the Islamic World, centred on Saudi Arabia, and the consumer capitalism of America,” Edge of Arabia’s co-founder Stephen Stapleton told Middle East Eye (MEE).
 
“For us, artists are story-tellers, and this is a format that allows them to travel between each other’s worlds and bring fresh perspectives. Without this, we are saturated with conventional journalistic story-telling, with its focus on violence, religious extremism and so-called clashes of civilisation.”
 
One of the participants, Palestinian artist Yazan Khalili, will visit three US towns called Palestine – in Michigan, Ohio and Texas. Another, Bahrain-based artist Faisal Samra, will examine why tribesmen on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota eschew state housing projects.
 
Visitors to the Armory Show, an annual modern art fair held in New York in March, watched in amusement at the traditionally-dressed Iranian-American artist Darvish Fakhr “gliding” on his flying carpet – a Persian rug atop a motorized skateboard.
 
In the other direction, US artist Matthew Mazzotta is in Jeddah, working to revive more than a dozen buildings in the coastal Saudi city’s old town – a crumbling, cosmopolitan warren of alleys, spice stalls and hookah bars that is reminiscent of the Arabian Nights saga.
 
Palestinian filmmaker Husam Al-Sayed, who was born and raised in Saudi, has also gained from the scheme. Back in Jeddah, he helps run the satirical online video network Telfaz11. In Manhattan, the skyline has re-kindled his creativity.
 
“New York is very generous for filmmakers,” the shaven-headed 30-year-old told MEE. “I’m a street photographer, I thrive on street life, and it’s challenging to do that back in Saudi Arabia. It’s my passion, and I’ve found it here.”
 
Once in New York, al-Sayed met Brian Zegeer and made a documentary about the American artist’s Arab roots and efforts to save the remnants of “Little Syria” – an area of lower Manhattan that was home to Levantine immigrants from the 1880s to the 1940s.

Source: www.middleeasteye.net

Dear Pam,

I’ve been watching you. Now, I don’t mean that I’ve been “watching” you in the same way the FBI watches us Arabs and Muslims. I just mean I’ve been following you. Wait, I don’t mean I’ve been “following” you the same way those crazy guys followed you to Texas. I just mean I’ve been keeping my eye on you. Observing you. Trailing you. Okay, none of that sounds good.

I see that you are spending a lot of time trying to offend Muslims. In fact, you have made a bit of a career out of it. And while you might think otherwise, you’re not doing a great job. You’re going about it all wrong. Sure, drawing cartoons of Muhammad might get a couple of crazies to crash one of your events. But the vast majority of Muslims aren’t really going to do anything about it. You’re just a small nuisance to most of us.

I’m a half-Muslim Arab American, and most of my friends are Arabs and Muslims. And we don’t ever really talk about you. Your hateful rhetoric is just turning you into some kind of weird, irrelevant, creepy sideshow. I mean, you know you’re running amiss when even Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingraham are calling you reckless and stupid.

If you want a glimpse into your future, just look at Terry Jones. Remember him? He’s the Muslim-hating Quran-burning pastor from Florida. During his last “protest” in Dearborn (Dearbornistan, so you might know it), the Muslims just ignored him. Doing something wacky like lighting the Quran aflame got him some fame, but just as quickly as he ignited that lighter, we all forgot about him. I was sitting in a hookah cafe last night in Michigan and no one was talking about him. You know what we were talking about? Football, food, and women. Just like other good Americans. And look at Terry now. He just opened a French fry stand in Florida. He’s gone from cooking Qurans to cooking potatoes. Is that really what you want for yourself?

If you want to get the vast majority of Muslim Americans into a real uproar, you don’t draw cartoons of their prophet and call them savages in subway ads. Those things just make you look absurd. No, you have to hit us where it hurts. I’ve put together a short list of some new slogans for you that might be more potent.

“Driving a BMW makes you look like a terrorist.”

From my unscientific observations of Muslims, I have found that they really love BMWs. It seems to be our car of choice. We are, admittedly, a quite flashy people. And BMW was founded by Nazis, too. You could do a whole national ad campaign on this one. This could be really far-reaching. Not only do Arab Muslims worship their BMWs, Indian, Pakistani, and Iranian Muslims love theirs too. Have you seen “Shahs of Sunset”? Now, targeting BMWs might offend some Jewish Americans too, if my observations serve me right. But if you don’t want to go after BMW, you could just substitute Mercedes or Range Rover. You will achieve the same widespread effect.

“Opening a gas station is so savage.”

I assume I don’t really have to explain this one. By the way, a quick note to my white American friends here. You know that guy with the accent named “Mike” behind the register? His name isn’t really Mike. It’s probably Muhammad or Mahmoud. And “Al” is Ali. And “Sam”… well, that could be anything. Also, contrary to popular opinion, Mike, Al, and Sam are not setting the gas prices. That’s mostly your fellow white friends in New York, Texas, and DC. So enough with that sort of anger. Oh, and to Mike, Al, and Sam, I’m sorry for outing you, but I had to let them know.

From my unscientific observations of Muslims, I have found that they really love BMWs. It seems to be our car of choice. We are, admittedly, a quite flashy people. And BMW was founded by Nazis, too. You could do a whole national ad campaign on this one.”Becoming a doctor or engineer is so ISIS-y.”
As it turns out, Muslim Americans have some of the highest rates of education in the country. In 2009, Gallup even reported that “Muslim American women are one of the most highly educated female religious groups in the United States, second only to Jewish American women.” If you really want to enrage my people, you attack education. Most Americans should be able to get on board with that. But I would be quite careful about using this slogan. You might get every Muslim mother in America at your doorstep.

I hope I have helped. I have a lot of other ideas. You could also go after Marlboro, True Religion jeans, or any business that sells old Baywatch posters. These are all treasures (and some guilty pleasures) of Muslim Americans.

So, Pam, please change your ways. They are more than just hateful, bitter, and despicable. They’re simply not working. If you insist on persisting in your current methods, I don’t see bright days ahead. If your stubbornness gets the best of you, you might end up unemployed. But don’t worry. There are other ways to survive. I’m sure Terry will have a spot for you in Florida. He could always use help on the fryer.

* Amer Zahr is a Palestinian American comedian, writer, and speaker living in Michigan. He is also the editor of “The Civil Arab.”

Source: mwcnews.net

I have written before of some of my Palestinian American heroes, including men like Ibrahim Abu Lughod and Zahi Khouri. I want to add my friend Sam Bahour to the list.

Two and a half decades ago, Ibrahim was a respected tenured professor at Northwestern University and Zahi was chairman of the board of a major Park Avenue-based investment group. Sam, the youngest of the three, was a successful small businessman in Youngstown, Ohio.

When the Oslo Agreements were signed 22 years ago, these three made tough and courageous choices. Realising that the struggle to build a new Palestinian reality was beckoning, they moved to the parts of Palestine that were newly assigned to the fledging Palestinian Authority to become a part of the building process.

Ibrahim, who had been an important mentor to me in my formative years, moved to Birzeit University and dedicated himself to mentoring a new generation of Palestinian youth. Ibrahim passed away in 2001.

Zahi moved to Jerusalem where he waged a difficult but ultimately victorious struggle to win the right to operate the Coca -Cola franchise in the Palestinian territories. To do this he had to wrest control of the franchise from an Israeli owner who wanted to maintain control over both Israel and the occupied Palestinian lands.

For his part, Sam made a seamless transition using both his business and political acumen to contribute to setting up the first Palestinian telecommunications company, Paltel, and the first modern Palestinian shopping centre, Plaza. Sam focuses his organising around key issues of importance to the Palestinian American community. For many years now, Sam has been the central resource for information on the difficulties Israel has created for Palestinian Americans travelling to and working in the Palestinian Authority areas. When the then senator Barack Obama made his first visit to the West Bank in 2006, Sam joined the Palestinian business community to brief him about the burdens imposed on them by the Israeli authorities. On his return to the US, Mr Obama told me how much he had learnt from the group.

Source: www.thenational.ae

The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn has a lot to celebrate on its 10th anniversary.

Since opening in 2005, it has earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, something that only 1,000-plus of the country’s estimated 35,000 museums can boast. It also has become a Smithsonian Affiliate, a partnership granted to just 200 museums.

“It’s a wonderful museum with a very skilled and professional staff that tells an important story about America and a group of people who have been in America since the very earliest times and who have contributed much to American life and society,” said Harold Closter, director of Smithsonian Affiliations, a national outreach program of the Smithsonian Institution.

The museum officially reached the decade mark this week, and over the next 12 months, it’s launching a lengthy list of events tied to the milestone.

As usual, it will present both the Arab Film Festival (which is teaming up this year with the Cinetopia International Film Festival) and the 23rd annual Concert of Colors, a free, diversity-themed music festival.

Exhibits created at the museum are being sent to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., for display, and starting Dec. 4, a new show opens locally on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its founder, Danny Thomas, a Detroit native and iconic Lebanese-American entertainer.

The first official anniversary events kick off this weekend. A group show called “TEN: The Exhibition” opens today. It focuses on the growing impact and awareness of art by Arab Americans. Also happening this weekend at the museum is DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts, a biennial program that brings together Arab-American artists, scholars and performers for a weekend dialogue.

One of the DIWAN guests will be Sudanese artist Khalid Albaih. A current museum exhibition, “It’s Not Funny: Political Cartoons by Khalid Albaih,” features his work, which was embraced by activists from several nations during the Arab Spring.

Though 2015 is going to be a busy year at the first museum devoted to Arab Americans, officials their say their mission has always been big and multifaceted.

“It’s a major undertaking, a major responsibility, especially at a time when there’s a general lack of greater knowledge out there about who Arab Americans are, what their contributions have been to this country,” said museum director Devon Akmon. “To be able to be a beacon of accurate information is a responsibility that we’re quite proud of.”

The Arab American museum has been noticed nationally for its innovative programming, but its goals are about more than what happens inside its walls.

Akmon points to events like Yalla Eat!, the culinary walking tours of East Dearborn and Eastern Market that are among the museum’s efforts to expand its role into the culture of southeast Michigan. Tickets are available for the tours that start May 30.

Said Akmon: “We began to say to ourselves: ‘We do a really good job of telling the Arab-American story in the museum, but it’s happening every day right outside our doors. How can we get people to explore that in a way that people can ask questions and interact with it?’ “

He also is excited about the potential of the new annex that had a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late March. It should provide more chances to hold artistic and cultural events after regular museum hours.

Closter, who’s based in the Washington, D.C., offices of Smithsonian Affiliations, says the museum is at the forefront of such community-oriented thinking.

“They have really set a model for other museums about working in the local community. … It’s not just about collecting objects and creating exhibits, but it’s about sharing the objects, the exhibits, the space and the experience with the local community to serve everyone’s interest. I think they’re doing a spectacular job in that regard.”

Contact Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com

Arab American National Museum 10th anniversary

■” Ten: The Exhibition” opens Friday

■ DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts, Friday-Saturday

13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Admission: $8 adults; $4 students, seniors and children 6-12; free to ages 5 and under and museum members

More info: Go to www.arabamericanmuseum.org or call 313.582.2266 for information on 10th anniversary events. Go to www.diwanart.org for information on DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts.

Source: www.freep.com

Our annual Kahlil Gibran “Spirit of Humanity” Awards Dinner serves as a reminder of why we do the work we do. It speaks to us of the goals we’ve set for ourselves, the progress we’ve made, and the challenges we continue to face.
Thirty years ago, when we launched the Arab American Institute, the political forces that fought to marginalize our community were stronger than our efforts to be included. Our history and culture were denigrated; our organized efforts were excluded from mainstream political activity and discourse; and, all too often, simply being identified as an Arab American was considered more of a liability than an asset.
Because this state of affairs was wholly unacceptable, we resolved to fight back and, as a result of the hard and smart work of dedicated leaders across the country, the tide began to turn. Serious problems remain. Our community still faces challenges to our full inclusion; the protection of our rights and liberty are too often compromised; and, more often than not, America’s political discourse about the Arab World remains ill-informed and misguided. But what has changed is that today Arab Americans are in the forefront of mainstream political coalitions working for justice, equality, and peace, at home and abroad. We may not be winning, but our voices are being heard and cannot be denied.
All of this was on display at this year’s Gibran gala. The two-day event provided us an opportunity to showcase outstanding Arab Americans, to award significant American figures whose works and ideals reflect values we hold dear, and to engage in policy discussions about issues of importance to our country and our world.
A highlight for many attendees at the Gibran dinner was the presence of actress and activist Salma Hayek who was recognized for her outstanding humanitarian work, as well as her efforts to promote her Lebanese Arab ancestry. In receiving the award, Salma related experiences from her recent visit to Lebanon where she had just premiered her newest film, “Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet”. She also spoke passionately about her visit with Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the generosity of Lebanese host communities who are doing all they can to take in their now homeless neighbors.
Michael Baroody was recognized for his outstanding career and for the contributions he and his family have made to advance civil and informed debate on the critical issues facing America. The Baroody family’s commitment to public service and to reasoned discourse, embodied in Mike’s own life’s work, is a matter of pride to all Arab Americans.
We were also delighted to honor John Sexton, NYU President and advocate for global education, and Pulitzer prize winner, Lawrence Wright. Sexton is a true visionary who understands that as our world has become smaller and as the fates of nations and peoples have become more intertwined, our educational institutions must keep apace. Recognizing this new reality, he has transformed his university into a truly global institution bringing together students from many continents to learn with and from each other. NYU’s students graduate with more than a degree. They leave with an expanded consciousness and a confidence in their own possibilities to make change.
During the Gibran dinner, we introduced two young Arab Americans who have been playing leadership roles in the struggle for racial justice in America: Ahmad Abuznaid, co-founder and director of The Dream Defenders; and Tarik Mohamed, founder of the “We Can’t Breathe PAC”. And we closed the evening with reflections about the crises facing the people of Baltimore and so many other communities in America— where issues of racial injustice and police brutality continue to define the daily lives of millions of our fellow citizens.
This year, we were pleased that the White House decided to use our venue to have National Security Advisor, Susan Rice deliver a wide-ranging foreign policy address.
Rice began noting how our community had “to overcome barriers of exclusion and intolerance” in order “to make sure Arab Americans are full participants in our democracy”. And spoke of the role we now play in “helping to lead…on a range of civil rights and political rights issues”.  She singled out several young Arab Americans in attendance who have dedicated themselves, at an early age, to public service and advancing public awareness of social issues plaguing our country and our world.
Rice then ticked off a series of major challenges facing the US and the Arab peoples, beginning with a restatement of the Administration’s commitment to a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace—that included an end to the occupation, and “an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state”—”based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps”. She also restated the Administration’s opposition to Israel’s settlement activity, and expressed concern with the slow pace of work in Gaza saying that “we must accelerate reconstruction…and…address core challenges to Gaza’s future—singling out the need to “reinvigorate Gaza’s connection with the West Bank”.
She made clear that the Administration is committed, together with coalition partners, to defeating ISIS and to achieving negotiated solutions to Syria’s long war and to the escalating conflict in Yemen. Rice also pledged to continue its leading role in providing humanitarian support for Syrian refugees. But went further, noting the Administration’s efforts to assist Lebanon not only in its battle against ISIS, but in its struggle to support its people and its communities who are being challenged by the flood of Syrian refugees who have overwhelmed the country.
Rice also affirmed the Obama Administration’s resolve to complete a pact with Iran to limit that country’s nuclear program, while making clear that the US would work with and support its partners in the GCC to assure their security.
All in all, a powerful set of messages and commitments intended to reassure the Arab World. These themes were enlarged upon the next day when our national leadership went to the White House for a briefing with the Administration’s top Middle East policy advisers.
In addition to the Congressional and White House briefings that are part of our annual Gibran event, this year we were honored to host the US premier of Salma Hayek’s new film on Gibran’s “The Prophet”. Following the film the audience had the opportunity to engage with Ms. Hayek in a lengthy conversation about her work.
Those who have traced the trajectory of Arab American political struggles over the past 40 years could not help but come away from this year’s event with the clear sense that the community has made real progress. We have created a venue that makes an established star like Salma Hayek proud to identify with her community, that can boast of accomplished leaders like Michael Baroody, and can showcase emerging leaders who will continue to build on the gains we have made. And it is no small achievement that we provide the platform for a major foreign address by the Administration.
There are, of course, critics who are more comfortable with what they describe as their “purity” and who prefer to wallow in their impotence grousing from the margins of American politics. But for those who understand that politics is hard work, and that gaining respect and recognition requires engagement in the process, this year’s event is one to remember.

Source: news.sudanvisiondaily.com

Figure 1 – Arab Americans Confidence in Police In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks nearly 14 years ago, Arab Americans came under heightened suspicion and greater counter-terrorism surveillance. Has this changing relationship with law enforcement affected Arab Americans’ levels of confidence in the police? In new study which looks at attitudes of … Continued

Last August, watching the images of militarized police cracking down on protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, after a police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown, Linda Sarsour decided to get involved.

Sarsour, a Palestinian-American activist from New York City, has a growing national profile in battles against surveillance of Muslims, discrimination and Islamophobia. In recent years, her work in New York has brought her closer to African-American activists fighting stop and frisk, biased policing and mass incarceration.

In Missouri, Mustafa Abdullah, an organizer with the local branch of the ACLU, was staring at his computer on the Monday after Brown’s death, feeling overwhelmed by the torrent of complaints about rights violations coming in from the protests, when Sarsour called.

“Mustafa,” she said. “Where is the Muslim community on this?”

“I hadn’t even thought of that question,” Abdullah, who is Egyptian-American, said later. “Linda’s call was almost a prophetic call, a call to conscience.”

Immigrant Muslims have spent the years since 9/11 largely on the defensive against increased suspicion and bias. But a new generation — social media savvy and versed in the new tools of decentralized activism — is asserting itself through multiracial coalitions that challenge the parochial approach and sometimes the prejudices of its elders.

Sarsour, a blunt-talking, hijab-wearing, 35-year-old Brooklynite forged in the crucible of New York City politics, has played a galvanizing role in this mutation. A veteran of nuts-and-bolts local work — for instance, to raise Muslim voter turnout and have the Eid festivals made school holidays — she is also a regular presence on cable, sparring with the likes of anti-Islam activist Pamela Geller. But as the mobilization known as Black Lives Matter has taken flight, Sarsour has thrown her effort into building its Muslim contribution.

Walking her talk

Sarsour asked Abdullah to draft a letter to Brown’s family for Muslim groups to sign. Within days, they started a Muslims for Ferguson campaign, holding conference calls for college students, professionals and imams to hear from Ferguson residents and raising money for local organizers. In October, she visited Ferguson. “It was beautiful,” she said. “I was in hijab. I didn’t look like the other people there, and I was embraced.”

In April she walked 250 miles in eight days from Staten Island in New York to Washington, D.C., in the March2Justice with some 70 other activists to deliver a package of criminal justice reform demands. She co-chaired the march with Tamika Mallory, a former top aide to the Rev. Al Sharpton. A month earlier, Sarsour had been in the Capitol as the guest of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for the address to a joint session of Congress by the president of Afghanistan. This time, she rallied outside with Danny Glover, “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett and U.S. Reps. John Lewis, Yvette Clarke, Keith Ellison and Barbara Lee.

Source: america.aljazeera.com

The discovery of a silver ring with an Arabic inscription in a Viking grave has added credence to the ancient accounts of Arab travellers in their encounters with the Norsemen, and points to a fascinating trade and cultural exchange.

“I have never seen bodies as nearly perfect as theirs. As tall as palm trees, fair and reddish, they wear neither tunics nor kaftans. Every man wears a cloak with which he covers half of his body, so that one arm is uncovered. They carry axes, swords, daggers and always have them to hand. They use Frankish swords with broad, ridged blades.”

So the Arab traveller Ahmad Ibn Fadlan recorded his meeting more than 1,000 years ago with a strange race he called the “Rusiyyah”, now commonly known as Vikings.

Ibn Fadlan first met the Norse warriors as they travelled across the Russian steppes, sailing their longships down the Volga river and looking to trade with the Arab world.

There were women as well, who each wore “a small box made of iron, silver, brass or gold, depending on her husband’s financial worth and social standing, tied at her breasts. The box has a ring to which a knife is attached, also tied at her breasts.

“The women wear neck rings of gold and silver. When a man has amassed 10,000 dirhams, he has a neck ring made for his wife.

“When he has amassed 20,000 dirhams, he has two neck rings made. For every subsequent 10,000 dirhams, he gives a neck ring to his wife. This means a woman can wear many neck rings.”

Among the Arabs who encountered Vikings, the reaction was a mixture of horror and fascination. The knife worn by the women may have actually been a scoop for ear wax. The men were tattooed and performed brutal burial rituals that included killing female slaves.

Almost as bad, they were seen washing their faces and heads each day with “the filthiest and most polluted water”.

Travelling north at about the same time was Ibrahim Ibn Yacoub Al Tartushi, from what was then the Muslim kingdom of Al Andalus in Spain.

Reaching Schleswig, now the town of Hedeby on the border of Germany and Denmark, the Vikings lived in a society in which women could divorce whenever they liked and where both sexes wore “artificial eye make-up”, Al Tartushi wrote.

Even worse, was their singing: “ I never heard any more awful singing then the singing of the people in Schleswig. It is a groan that comes out of their throats, similar to the bark of the dogs but even more like a wild animal.”

The Arabs might have been largely unimpressed with the Vikings, but they made a big impression on the Norsemen, new archaeological discoveries show.

A rare ring with an inscription in Arabic has been uncovered at a Scandinavian site.

Professor Sebastian Warmlander, a biophysicist who is part of the research team that published its findings in March, says it is the only ring of this type ever found.

“The ring may therefore constitute material evidence for direct interactions between Viking Age Scandinavia and the Islamic world,” says Prof Warmlander.

“There are written sources speaking of Viking and Arabic travellers visiting each other. But it is difficult to know if these written documents are true. Finding physical objects of Islamic origin in Viking Age Sweden means that these written sources become more trustworthy.”

The non-gilded silver alloy ring was found in a 9th century woman’s grave at the Viking trading centre in Birka, Sweden.

It is set with a violet stone inscribed with Arabic Kufic writing, interpreted as reading “il-la-lah” (for “or to Allah”).

Source: www.thenational.ae

Every year, the website TripAdvisor ranks top destinations and sites around the world. This year’s number 1 destination, according to voters on the website, was Marrakech, Morocco which incidentally has also been one of my favorite trips. Marrakech is a beautiful, lively city full of rich history and culture. Located in North Africa, along the Mediterranean and across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain, Morocco is a cultural bridge between the West and Africa and the Middle East.
Marrakech is home to Berber, Muslim, and sub-Saharan and Western (namely French) cultures. There is plenty to do in and around Marrakech, and any visit will require a difficult decision. Inside the city, you will find busy souks (open-air markets), old mosques, beautiful palaces, and relaxing hammams. Marrakech is also very close to a number of natural wonders including the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert.

You will have many options in Marrakech, but a trip to the “Red City” would be remiss if you don’t visit at least one of the beautiful, old palaces. I would first recommend the Bahia Palace and the Jardin Marjorelle. The Bahia Palace was built in the 19th century and was meant to be the greatest palace of its time. It is a quintessential Moroccan and Islamic building with highly detailed mosaics in rooms that open into courtyards and gardens.

You will be most struck by the exquisite arches and geometric tile work that was popular at the time of construction and is unique to Islamic art and architecture. The Jardin Marjorelle (Marjorelle Garden) is another popular site in Marrakech where you can get away from the bustle of the busy medina. The garden comprises 12 acres and was designed by French artist Jacques Marjorelle when Morocco was a protectorate of France in the 1920s and 30s.  The garden is known for its beautiful landscaping as well as the bright primary colors that accentuate some of the small buildings and fountains within the walls of this small oasis.

For an additional price, you can also visit the Berber Museum inside the garden to learn more about Morocco’s original settlers who still maintain their unique culture and language as Morocco’s largest minority group. The museum gives visitors a glimpse of Berber art and allows you to more fully appreciate how these people have contributed to the history of North Africa.

A trip to Marrakech would necessarily include a visit to the old Medina (think downtown area) where you can see the sprawling souks (open-air markets), the Djama el Fna (city square), and the Koutubia Mosque which stands above the city. The mosque is the most notable landmark in Marrakech, and was originally constructed in the 12th century. It inspired the architecture of numerous other minarets and bell towers. The outside is beautiful and eye-catching, but non-Muslims may not enter the mosque.

One could spend days wandering the souks of Marrakech where you can buy every souvenir and gift imaginable. Marrakech is home to several tanneries, so genuine leather goods make a great and affordable memento. Come prepared to haggle! Sellers tend to be very aggressive, but if you walk away, you’ll probably get a better deal! The Djama el Fna is the heart of the Medina, surrounded by restaurants as well as smaller vendors. During the day, the square is also full of snake charmers and other entertainers, usually with monkeys or other small animals. While this is certainly entertaining, know that pictures are not free and be prepared to pay a few dirham. Find a restaurant with rooftop seating to try the traditional and delicious couscous or tagine with sweet mint tea. The square is also beautiful and very lively at night. More food stands appear at sundown, and this is a great place for an inexpensive dinner side by side with fellow tourists and locals.

The sights and sounds of the medina can be overwhelming, so to relax, book a visit to a hammam. The hammam is similar to a Roman or Turkish bath, and is an old Moroccan tradition where you can get a massage and truly clean off the dust of the city. The experience will vary depending on what you choose, but the set-up is essentially the same. Each hammam will have a few rooms for different purposes. You may start in a sauna to acclimate to the heat and open your pores, then the bath which consists of a bucket of hot and cold water. Lastly, you lather with a black soap which will remove layers of dirt and dead skin.

You’ll come out feeling fresh and cleaner than you thought possible. It’s a wonderful experience that all travelers will enjoy. You can find more traditional hammams where you’ll encounter more locals while others are marketed for tourists and vary in terms of luxury. You will have an attendant who will help you wash and teach you the very-detailed process of the Moroccan baths.

While there is yet more to do and see in the amazing Red City, visits to the medina, a hammam, and at least one of the palaces or gardens in Marrakech are necessary. You’ll want to stay in a riad close to the medina since you will have to do a lot of walking. If you plan a longer visit to Morocco, you may also want to visit two incredible natural landmarks, the Sahara Desert and the Ouzoud waterfalls.

Regardless of what you choose to do, this city and country will amaze and surprise you with its beautiful and diverse landscape and warm people. Any journey to Marrakech will be an incomparable adventure.

Source: www.erwinrecord.net

Describing a dish as “Middle Eastern” is about as specific as describing a reality show as “that one where they all get in fights.” The catchall phrase includes plates of stewed meats, kebabs and grains combined with spices like cardamom, cinnamon and sumac. Beneath this umbrella term, there are subtle nuances based on the food’s country of origin. The cuisines of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen and Syria are heavily influenced by geography: Desert dwellers rely on ingredients that can withstand an arid climate, like grains and dried fruit, while areas with mountains, seas and pastoral land produce foods like olives and pomegranates. Following are four local Middle Eastern restaurants, each highlighting traditional dishes from a specific region. Renee Sklarew  (For Express)

Aldeerah (Saudi Arabia)
262 Cedar Lane SE, Vienna; 703-992-9994, aldeerah.us
The D.C. area’s only Saudi Arabian restaurant draws inspiration from the Bedouins, desert nomads who herd sheep and goats. “Saudi Arabia is covered by desert, so the menu depends on things that last, are fulfilling and not expensive,” owner Mody Alkhalaf says. The Saudi staple jireesh, which resembles American grits, is made from cracked wheat infused with buttermilk and yogurt, then garnished with caramelized onions. Qursan, another traditional Saudi dish, consists of vegetables boiled in tomato broth with a thin bread called marqooq. Opt to eat Saudi-style — on the floor, without utensils and from a communal platter.

Kabob Bazaar (Iran)
3133 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, 703-522-8999; 7710 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda; 301-652-5814, kabobbazaar.com
Owner Behrooz Sarvghadi re-creates the restaurant experiences of his childhood in Iran. “The only time you went out was for kabobs, because you can’t make them at home,” he says. “You have to have the grill, charcoal, messy stuff.” Lamb, filet mignon, chicken and ground sirloin are highlights, but his specialty is ghormeh sabzi, a stew made with herbs, beef, beans and lime considered to be Iran’s national dish. Dishes come with bread, fresh herbs and yogurt,  “an Iranian salad,” Sarvghadi says. Wrap the herbs inside the bread, dip in yogurt and enjoy.

Saba (Yemen)
3900 Pickett Road, Fairfax; 703-425-1130; sabarestaurantdc.com
Every week, Saba’s kitchen staff mixes 22 different spices to make a batch of Yemeni seasoning called hawaij. “We serve basic, traditional food from different areas of Yemen,” says co-owner Ali Khaled Alrabuoi. “We try to make it how it’s made in Yemen.” Dishes include saltah, a steaming hot soup brimming with okra, yams and tomatoes with fenugreek, a nutty herb, floating on top. Saba’s most popular dish is haneeth, meaty lamb bones served on a bed of spiced rice. Another hit is the masoob, a dessert resembling bread pudding, with bananas, honey and freshly baked dough.
Layalina (Syria and Lebanon)
5216 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-525-1170, layalinarestaurant.com
When husband and wife Souheil and Rima Kodsi opened Layalina in 1997, one of their first guests was the then-Saudi prince. Many dignitaries choose this restaurant for its authentic dishes, many of which come from recipes from Rima’s grandmother. Try the m’hammarah, a pureed dip make with red pepper, walnuts, pomegranate and herbs like cinnamon and cardamom. Like many other dishes here, it’s a combination of sweet and sour, chunky and smooth. Rima pairs her tender, slow-cooked lamb shank with vegetables, including baby okra. “Every day I go to the market to buy what’s fresh,” Rima says.

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

From the executive chef of Pompano Beach’s Shishka Lebanese Grill comes sister restaurant Mijana Lebanese Cuisine.

As one of Gulfstream Park’s latest additions, the eatery combines authentic Lebanese food, Beirut-inspired ambiance and traditional Middle-Eastern entertainment with the goal of immersing local diners into one of the world’s faraway lands.

Mijana is Chef Ali Husseini’s newest endeavor. Born and raised in Lebanon, Husseini received his training while working in restaurants in Beirut. In the early ’90s he moved to the U.S. and has worked in New York, Miami, Orlando and most recently, Pompano Beach at Shishka Lebanese Grill.

“I’ve been in the business since I was about 15 years old,” laughs Husseini. “About five years ago while working at Shishka, my partner Walid Zabib and I started to explore the idea of opening a fine dining Lebanese restaurant and that is how Mijana started.”

In Arabic the word Mijana means a pleasant surprise and that’s exactly what Husseini wants to give his customers.

As both the co-owner and executive chef of the restaurant, Husseini created a traditional Middle-Eastern style menu of beloved dishes that are cherished in his homeland.

The menu is made up of more than 50 different dishes broken up into seven sections all handcrafted by Husseini. He recommends ordering a variety of different plates and sharing to get a better taste of Middle Eastern cuisine. From Lebanese-style salads like Tabbouleh ($7.50) and Fattouch ($7.50), hot appetizers like Fatayer ($6.95) and Makanek ($7.95) and enough fish, seafood and meat selections to please a small army, one will not leave Mijana hungry. And don’t worry – though the names of Husseini’s food might leave you confused, a detailed description of the plate and its ingredients is given under each item.

Source: www.miaminewtimes.com

When news presenter Mouna Elhaimoud visited Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, she was supposed to report on the economic impact of the Syrian war – but found it impossible to ignore the human plight she witnessed.

The Moroccan journalist returned to Dubai to file a report for the news channel CNBC Arabia, where she then worked, but could not forget the people she met at the camp.

It was the young children of Zaatari – now estimated by the U.N. Refugee Agency to number more than 34,000 – that made the biggest impression on her.

“I was surrounded by kids – all of them very little – and I could see that they were living in very bad conditions,” she said.

“But my job was to ask questions on numbers and the effect of that on the economy of Jordan… It was heartbreaking, because I was just a machine [asking] questions. I went back to Dubai, finished the report, and that was it. I felt really empty – how could I forget those kids?”

That was in April 2014. A year later, Elhaimoud has still not forgotten the children of Zaatari – but is now doing something positive about it.

The news presenter – who now works for MBC Group, of which Al Arabiya News is part – has started an initiative called Toys With Wings, which has one bold aim: To give a toy to every single needy Arab child in this region and beyond.

Source: english.alarabiya.net