For decades, many Egyptians have been straightening their hair to fit a conservative, Western-influenced beauty standard. Many younger Egyptians are rejecting all that.
Author: VIVIAN YEE
In Videos, Dubai Princess Says She Is a ‘Hostage’
Sheikha Latifa, who drew headlines in 2018 when she unsuccessfully sought to flee her country, says she has been held in a virtual prison since her forced return.
On Arab Spring Anniversary, Tunisia, Its Birthplace, Erupts
Tunisians are putting their hard-won right to criticize the government to good use. They just wish there were less to protest.
Egypt Overturns Jail Sentences for 2 Women Who Gained Fame on TikTok
Convicted of inciting debauchery and violating family values, the women were caught up in a conservative backlash as the authorities tried to enforce strict social norms.
Saudi Arabia Will Reopen Borders With Qatar, Easing a Regional Rift
An American official said the agreement was a prelude to a broader agreement to end a boycott of Qatar by its Gulf neighbors that has lasted for more than three years.
Rowing the Nile: A Soothing Respite in a Chaotic Metropolis
Ancient pharaohs rowed the Nile. Now Egyptians have rediscovered the practice, finding a new perspective on the river that shaped their country.
Loujain al-Halthloul, Saudi Rights Activist, Gets Prison Sentence
Loujain al-Hathloul, who was arrested just before the driving ban was lifted, was charged with undermining the kingdom in a case that supporters decried as a political persecution.
Egypt Frees Human Rights Workers Amid Rising International Pressure
The arrest of the civil rights advocates received international attention, as Western policymakers, celebrities and the incoming Biden administration pressed for their release.
Gasser Abdel-Razek, Egyptian Human Rights Activist, Is Jailed
Before his recent arrest, Gasser Abdel-Razek had no illusions about the risks in being a leading rights advocate under the increasingly repressive el-Sisi regime.
‘Call Me a Dreamer’: A Shattered Beirut Neighborhood Rebuilds
Many worry that a full recovery won’t be possible, but residents of one of Beirut’s most diverse and cosmopolitan areas are moving back in and trying to repair the damage from the August explosion.