Lebanon
Arab Idol Syndrome
Once the “King of Emotion,” the Lebanese singer Fadel Chaker’s career was derailed by his association with a radical cleric and alleged involvement in violent clashes. Yet despite his arrest this weekend, he’s topping charts again and is defended by legions of fans.
The Last Stronghold of Sufism
While Sufi practices in Lebanon’s cities have dwindled under pressure from Salafists, rural Akkar remains a bastion of mysticism. Across its villages, Sufi congregations host centuries-old “zikr” prayer ceremonies that center on music, dance and joy.
Inside Beirut’s Fight To Save Its Reading Culture
Lebanon’s bookshops once thrived as hubs of debate and dissent, but economic collapse, censorship and war have gutted Beirut’s literary scene. Still, readers, publishers and book cafes find inventive ways to resist and revive the culture of reading.
Riding Lebanon’s Purple Buses, From Tyre to Tripoli
In Lebanon, amid ongoing war and economic collapse, a surprising new public bus network is connecting the capital Beirut with distant Tyre, Tripoli and beyond.
The Hiking Trails Reshaping Lebanese Tourism
A grassroots ecotourism initiative in Lebanon is using hiking trails to reconnect fragmented communities, revive struggling local economies and reshape the country’s image amid renewed regional conflict.
The Devastation of Lebanon’s Southern Border Towns
Months after Israel’s withdrawal from most of southern Lebanon, many border villages remain largely uninhabitable. New Lines reports from the ground on the immense destruction, lack of basic necessities and continuous strikes that prevent residents from returning.
How Two Sisters Led a Decade-Long Effort To Reform Extremists
Sisters Maya and Nancy Yamout have spent over a decade researching and rehabilitating extremists in Lebanon’s Roumieh prison. Through their organization, Rescue Me Lebanon, they offer psychotherapy and other programs to help prisoners reintegrate into society and prevent extremist groups from recruiting them again.