AMEWS post-election position statement
ASSOCIATION FOR MIDDLE EAST WOMEN’S STUDIES (AMEWS) POST-ELECTION POSITION STATEMENT November 16, 2016 The Association for Middle East Women’s Studies (AMEWS), an affiliate of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), … Continue reading
New review: Speed Sisters
Electronic Intifada, 23rd March 2016 Marah, with whom Betty maintains a sometimes bitter rivalry, comes from Jenin refugee camp but, contrary to the camp’s conservative image, is backed by her … Continue reading
“For 9 months she fought in the Turkish army, up Beersheba way”
Came across this magificent snippet in an edited volume of the letters of Helen Bentwich, from her time in Palestine at the end of World War One and during the … Continue reading
New review: Radwa Ashour’s ‘The Woman from Tantoura’
Electronic Intifada, 8th July 2014 Ruqayya’s story — told partly by her in old age — is the tale of one young girl, her loves, family, marriage, work, children and … Continue reading
Glasgow: action against glorification of WW1
Received by email today. There’s a news report on the action here: Dear friends and comrades, Please circulate throughout your networks. To sign on email: whitefeatherclubglasgow [at] gmail.com We the … Continue reading
Watching academics: power dynamics at conferences
I went to an academic conference the other week. It was in the USA (at Brown), which was in itself strange and disturbing (it’s 12 years since I was last … Continue reading
Leila Khaled biog: Arabic edition
Yesterday I got sent a cover scan of the Arabic edition of my biography of Leila Khaled. It’s published by Al Muassasah Al Arabiya lil Dirasat wal Nashr in Beirut, … Continue reading
Poetry from Iraq and Scotland
Sabreen Kadhim, a young poet from Baghdad who very much dispels any myths linking poetry with dowdiness and cardigans, was supposed to appear at Reel Iraq earlier this year. However, … Continue reading
‘Head over Heels in Saudi Arabia’ at Edinburgh Fringe
Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia is a one-woman show by Maisah Sobahi, in her day-job a lecturer at a university in Jeddah and now the first ever Saudi performer … Continue reading
New review: Louisa Waugh’s ‘Meet Me In Gaza’
Electronic Intifada, 23rd July 2013 For people who know nothing of Gaza but lazy media stereotypes, this book is a perfect introduction. And for those who think they know all … Continue reading
The Sea (the film, that is…)
Went to see The Sea this evening, screening as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It turned out to be the World Premiere of the movie, which meant a … Continue reading
New article: ‘When I Saw You’ reviewed
Electronic Intifada, 3rd June 2013 Jacir’s portrayal of daily life is full of precise details which make it a joy to watch. Copies of Mao’s Little Red Book sit in … Continue reading
Barbara Kingsolver at the South Bank
American novelist and biologist Barbara Kingsolver has a special place in my life, and especially in the story of my marriage, and that alone makes her dear to me. That … Continue reading
New article: Memoirs of an Early Arab Feminist reviewed
Electronic Intifada, 31st May 2013 With the exception of her observations on women’s changing roles, Anbara’s memories are interesting and important not for what they reveal about home life through … Continue reading
New article: Marilyn Booth interviewed
One of the most exciting things about being based at Edinburgh University’s Dept of Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies for the past two years has been people who make up … Continue reading
The Queen of Sheba/Kathleen Jamie
The Scottish Poetry Library has a delightful programme of publishing a set of postcards every six months, each featuring different poems or excerpts from them. One of the first I … Continue reading
Sarah Irving 