Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Exploring the plight of Christians in the Middle East makes it a difficult journey for those who wish to include Israel’s abuses of Arab Christians. The issue of Christian persecution in the Middle East, Arab World, Muslim World and in Israel, is not written about enough By Ray Hanania It always amazes me how the brutal…
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Comedian Nemr pushes the envelope on Arab cultural habits, traditions and even politics using laughter to make audiences see past the stereotypes and anger in the post-Sept. 11, 2001 world. This week, he performs in Greater Detroit and expands his already impressive professional comedy resume By Ray Hanania Not many American Arab comedians have made the cover of Rolling Stone…
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BoomGen’s debut television series Of Kings and Prophets, executive produced by BoomGen cofounders Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi premieres on ABC on Tuesday, March 8 at 10pm. For the last eight years we have had the privilege to work with you (members of media and civil society) on incredible projects such as The Square, Rosewater, All-American…
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Now that the Oscars are over, can we have a real discussion about the absence of fairness, the racism, stereotypes and bias that consumes the Hollywood movie industry? And to be honest, African Americans have a lot to complain about here in America over the past 400 years for sure, but they really are the last…
Read More “Oscars debate still bothers me, even though it’s done” »
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan served as the backdrop for three Oscar nominated films in this year’s Academy Awards. Jordan has a long history as a setting for movies including Lawrence of Arabia, The Hurt Locker, Indiana Jones and the Lost Crusade and Zero Dark Thirty. This years entries include Martian, Theeb and A War. As…
Palestinian groups calls on Oscar nominees at this year’s Academy Awards to reject the “Israel propaganda trip” valued at over $50,000 that is included in this year’s “swag bags” Palestinian human rights activists are calling on Oscar nominees not to accept travel vouchers supplied by the Israeli government as part of the gift bag that…
Read More “Palestinians urge Oscars reject Israel trip swag” »
Ancient Roman mosaic from Lydda (Lod) to be showcased at Miami’ Frost Art Museum between Feb. 10 and May 15, 2016. “Predators and Prey” a Roman Mosaic from Lydda (Lod), Israel Visitors to Miami this winter travel season have a chance to meet a true “Roman Rock Star” up close in the magnificent Lydda (Lod) Mosaic, a 3rd-century CE Roman Mosaic from…
Lebanese National Conservatory plans Jazz Fest The only Jazz Orchestra in the Middle East, the Big Band of the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music (LNCM), will present a free concert featuring specially composed newly released pieces arranged by, among others, multiple Grammy Award Winner Michael Mossman, a renowned New York-based hard bop jazz trumpeter. The…
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There are so few positive images of American Arabs on television but one stands out, Tarek El Moussa who with his wife, Christina, star in the popular HGTV series Flip or Flop, purchasing and remodeling homes in need of major repair By Ray Hanania Most people buy and remodel maybe two or three of their own…
An Arabic language film, Theeb, was nominated for an Oscar by the Academy Awards on Thursday. The film is the story about a young boy who helps a British soldier during World War I. Theeb, the Arabic language story of a young bedouin boy who embarks on a journey through the Ottoman Empire during World…
Read More “Theeb, Arabic language film, nominated for Oscar” »
Usama Alshaibi’s documentary “American Arab” has its national television premiere on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at 8 p.m. on WORLD Channel (check local listings), as part of the fourth season of AMERICA REFRAMED, public media’s newest documentary series. The film, made through Chicago production collective Kartemquin Films (makers of THE INTERRUPTERS), will be available for free streaming on www.worldchannel.org starting February…
Read More “New film explores challenges facing American Arabs” »
3 Golden Globe nominations for hit TV Series Mr. Robot and American Arab actor Rami Malek, and co-star Christian Slater By Ray Hanania Mr. Robot, the popular television series directed by an American Arab and starring an Arab American, received three nominations Thursday for the prestigious 73rd Golden Globe awards for 2015. The Golden Globe…
Palestinians protest Israeli violence with creative talents By Mohammed Asad Palestinian youths play music and paint murals during an event to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, in Gaza city on November 18, 2015. The surge in violence across Israel, Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank has been fueled in…
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New Book: “The Making of a Palestinian Suicide Bomber” by Author Mitri I. Musleh analyzes why suicide bombings exist, how to stop them They make the international news all the time, and yet they’re still an enigma to Western culture. The world became more accustomed to suicide bombers after the World Trade Center attacks on…
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Hassan Dominates While Yaman Outscores Fawzy on Dramatic Stars of Science Episode on MBC4, DOHA, Qatar The Stars of Science candidates Hassan Albalawi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yaman Abou Jieb of Syria, outshone the competition in the first design episode of Stars of Science on MBC4, landing them in the finale of…
I don’t know if humor can change anyone’s minds about standing up to extremism and bringing peace to the Middle East, or if it can really bring different rival religious, ethnic or national groups together. But I do know that after performing my first standup comedy show this week, the Jewish, Christian and Muslim audience…
Read More “Performing Arab-Jewish standup comedy, first time” »
Jordan nominates “Theeb” for 88th Academy Awards Award–winning Jordanian feature narrative “Theeb”, by director Naji Abu Nowar, is Jordan’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 88th Academy Awards, the Royal Film Commission (RFC) announced recently. The selection was made by a committee of Jordanian artists and craftspeople involved in the…
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The Cable TV series from FX Tyrant is driven by anti-Arab racism and stereotypes. Not surprisingly, the series is produced by an Israeli who has no compunction to portray Arabs in as negative a light as possible to further libel Arab culture and their just claims against Israel. The real story of greed, betrayal, immorality and…
Read More “FX Tyrant series based on anti-Arab racism and stereotypes” »