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Aslan Media seeks to inform, educate, and engage the public on political, social, religious, and cultural issues related to the Greater Middle East and its Diaspora communities worldwide.
We coordinate and disseminate news and information through Digital & Social Media outlets, as well as produce original content that educates while meeting high standards of journalistic integrity and maintaining cultural context.
We also work to provide global youth a place to share their perspectives and voice their ideas on issues related to the region. Learn more about us at our website: www.AslanMedia.com
What We Do Here on Tumblr
While we continue to publish original content on our main website, here on Tumblr we are focused on bringing you responsive digital conversation. An online extension of our INTERSECTION podcast, this is where our team shares their commentaries, not only on the day's Mideast story items, but also on op-eds from other outlets- as well as adding additional thoughts on our own original content (posted on our main site). Our goal is to give you greater context, add depth to current news stories, and leave you feeling more informed.
We'll also share share links, videos, photos, and other digital content that sparks our attention and inspires us. Visual media is a window to explore other cultures and we want to share the beauty of MENA and MENASA with you, as well as the news. Most importantly, this is where we can chat with YOU. And, this is where you can more directly interact with us and our features. So, don't be shy! Sign up for our Email Newsletter
In this article from Your Middle East, Morocco’s religious system is being analyzed as a possible model of moderate Islam. Morocco has been successful in combating extremism at home and squashing violent religious rhetoric in the years since 9/11. Neighboring countries that are concerned with threats or extremism have recently been looking to Morocco for help with guiding religious discourse in their own nations. So far Morocco has responded to this call for religious assistance in the region and embraced the role of “moderate Muslim model.”
The Moroccan state has an interesting relationship with religion, controlling the discourse in society and using religion to legitimize the regime. Will the Moroccan regime continue to embrace this trend and use this religious influence in the region as a form of soft power, and what will that mean for the MENA region as a whole?
In this article from Your Middle East, Sofia Patel decries the simplification that the media has latched onto when referring to IS as ‘Sunni insurgents’.
This should not be understood as a deep-rooted Sunni-Shia conflict, but instead as extremists perverting and exploiting religious Islamic principles.
Patel discusses the social, historical, and political factors that have influenced instability in the region and shaped the nature and growth of this extremist movement.
When the media consistently uses phrases like ‘Sunni insurgents’ to describe IS certain images, thoughts, or assumptions come to mind.
Words matter.
Narrative matters, and though there is clearly an element of sectarianism to IS, the words chosen should not dictate a story that this fight is one large Sunni-Shia conflict. The words we use about this group and the conflict do matter as we try to understand for ourselves what is going on from the outside.
Baseball might just become the newest passion in sports crazy Iran.
From WashingtonPost:
Closer to the “Bad News Bears” than the major leagues, organized baseball has been played here since 1991. Few Iranians beyond the estimated 500 players, coaches and umpires who belong to the national association, however, have even heard of the game.
The lack of exposure means baseball receives almost no funding from Iran’s powerful Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and players actually have to pay — the equivalent of about $5 per month — to be on a team.
“In my village there is one girl who is younger than I am who has not been cut because I discussed the issue with her parents. I told them how much the operation had hurt me, how it had traumatized me and made me not trust my own parents. They decided that they did not want this to happen to their daughter.”
Meaza was 10 when she was subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). She now campaigns to protect other girls from this harmful practice. FGM is declining in Ethiopia and many countries around the world, but still too many girls are at risk. We must do more.
Meaza is inspiration that by speaking up to say NO to this harmful practice, we can change attitudes and change girls’ lives. Add your voice: http://uni.cf/GS14
Loving this video, Amna AlHadad is representing the middle east in Ray-Ban’s latest promotional campaign 'The Order of Never Hide’.
It’s been wonderful to follow her journey these past couple of years via her Twitter and Instagram accounts. Reading about how happy she was to receive her parents blessing, to setting up a make-shift gym in her home to her present day training for the Olympic games. Why do I think she’s amazing? Because of her genuine love for what she does and her all-out commitment to her goal.
Also featured in the RayBan campaign are rapper The Narcicyst, ATA’s favourite comedian Hisham Fageeh and KSA’s favourite croc* Temsa7ly.
*KSA’s favourite croc competition results aren’t in, because they doesn’t exist, but if they did exist, he would win.
Egypt Silent as Neighbors Wage Battles | Kareem Fahim
Again and again over decades, Egypt has leapt in to play the role of mediator during hostilities between the Palestinians and the Israelis, including the time two years ago when Egypt’s president, Mohamed Morsi, helped broker a cease-fire after eight days of bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.
But in the latest battle, the Egyptians appear to be barely lifting a finger, leaving the combatants without a go-between as the Palestinian death toll mounts.
Officials with Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement in Gaza, said on Wednesday they had seen almost no sign of an Egyptian effort to defuse the crisis, in sharp contrast to previous conflicts under Mr. Morsi and President Hosni Mubarak. Making matters worse, according to Palestinian officials, Egypt continued to keep its side of the border all but sealed on Wednesday, barring even humanitarian aid.
U.S. continues to operate without a complete diplomatic toolbox to exert our leadership and advance our security and economic interests across the globe, because a broken Senate confirmation process has left us without permanent ambassadors in 40 countries.
Secretary Kerry, Politico, July 9, 2014 (via statedept)
This poignant Reuters photo essay by Goran Tomasevic, named The Guardian's 2013 photographer of the year, visually chronicles the Free Syrian Army's movements over the course of 18 days. Tomasevic's photos are accompanied by concise commentary that captures the humanity and complexity of the situation:
When some of the rebels took over a government position a few of their fighters were killed by government forces. Five rebels decided to go on a rescue mission to recover the bodies of their comrades. I went with them....The whole process took about 4-5 hours; it was a really long day. The bodies will be sent back to the families. One of the bodies was of the brother of one of the fighters.
After witnessing the horrors of war, Tomasevic has few words to offer:
I can't describe the situations of war.... I can't give any advice. Things are changing with the situation in Syria all the time.
Tomasevic humanizes the rebels in way that removes them from simply being headlines. Most might question this kind of reporting; but perhaps humanizing terrorists helps us understands exactly the things that motivate them- which could ultimately help to defeat their onslaught?
A must-see for insight into the ongoing situation.
This Huffington Post article showcases the work of four female photographers — hailing from Yemen, Iran, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia — who are are “bringing a female perspective on the Middle East to the white walls of New York’s gallery world.”
For the first time in NYC, these four women will showcase their stunning and provocative portraits of non-Western identities in a group show titled “The Middle East Revealed,” shining a light on moments as traditionally significant as the Hajj and mundanely beautiful as a quite minute of reflection in a girl’s bedroom.
Their diverse array of subjects is especially significant in a world in which Middle Eastern women are too often stereotyped and misrepresented. One of the photographers, Boushra Almutawakel, “who is considered to be Yemen’s first female photographer," acknowledges the broader impact of her work:
"I hope my work regarding women will generate curiosity, conversation, and debate, especially in the areas of social norms and stereotypes, and women’s rights. As women, we have sooo many issues to contend with, so many wrongs that need to be corrected, not just for women in the Middle East, but women everywhere."
Online dating has its fair share of difficulties, which a Colorado teenage girl has recently learned after being arrested by the FBI for her relationship with a member of ISIS. Despite being warned by her parents and a field agent, Shannon Conley, 19, was arrested in April after attempting to board a plane to Turkey.
Via the Denver Post:
Conley went ahead with her plans, led by a man she met on the Internet who identified himself as a terrorist associated with ISIL and with whom she built a romantic relationship online as he encouraged her to travel to Syria to fight alongside him.
Although Conley had only been in touch with the ISIS associate for a year, she was enthusiastic about joining the organization.
Conley told the FBI agent she was "ready to wage jihad in a year."
Conley has been arrested on suspicion of supporting ISIS, and if convicted could face up to 15 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, or both.
Frightening that she converted to terrorism so easily.
In a prime example of unchecked reporting, the viral media story that hit the internet yesterday about the Algerian football team donating all $9 million of their World Cup funds to support the people of Gaza has turned out to be completely false.
ESPN and Al Jazeera journalist Maher Mezahi revealed the lack of truth:
Hate to burst everyone's bubble, but there's no credible source for #ALG players donating their bonuses to Gaza. Twitter rumour gone mad.
— Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher)
July 3, 2014
No source for the quote, 'They need it more than us.' Nothing in Algerian press, and the FAF haven't said anything either.
Seems like the rumour was started by this guy https://t.co/5l1t7DeMMk. No idea who he is... Rambles incoherently about Slimani and Gaza.
— Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher)
July 3, 2014
But despite the falseness of the donation, Mezahi notes that the fans of the Algerian team do support Palestine in different ways.
That said those following me might have noticed affection of #ALG supporters for Palestine. Fans sing 'Palestine the martyrs' at every match
— Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher)
July 3, 2014
Palestinian flag on display at the parade yesterday pic.twitter.com/tyk216dpi6
Justin Marozzi, author of Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood, chronicles Baghdad's turbulent history in this article for The Guardian.
...for the city that is next on the ISIS target list, the once glorious capital of the Islamic empire, the sight of a foreign army at the gates is all too familiar. Over the past 13 centuries, Baghdad’s population has been subject to rape, torture and indiscriminate slaughter, with terrible consequences: on the city’s physical infrastructure, on religious convictions, and above all, perhaps, on the minds of the long-suffering Baghdadi
The article humanizes the crisis currently escalating in Iraq, painting a picture of a battered city and a weary people:
Baghdadis will set little store by the self-aggrandising ISIS claims of imposing Islamic rule. Yet again, these citizens are set for a long, violent summer. For many the toll is so acute they can only look for the exit: “All I can think of is how to get out of here,” says Mohammed, an old friend who is desperate for a European visa. “Our lives are over in Baghdad.”
