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TTHISHIS ISSUEISSUE: TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD ● TThehe world’sworld’s stagestage ● SShakespearehakespeare andand thethe MiddleMiddle EastEast ● UUnitingniting thethe artistartist andand thethe athleteathlete ● MMusicusic asas thethe foodfood ooff hharmony:armony: DanielDaniel BarenboimBarenboim andand thethe West-EasternWest-Eastern DivanDivan OrchestraOrchestra ● BornBorn ofof tthehe wind:wind: tthehe ArabianArabian horsehorse andand equestrianismequestrianism ● LLee Corbusier’sCorbusier’s GymnasiumGymnasium ● TThehe LLondonondon AquaticsAquatics CCentreentre ● TThehe bburdenurden ofof history:history: AlgeriaAlgeria 5050 yearsyears onon ● PPLUSLUS RReviewseviews andand eventsevents inin LondonLondon

West End LIVE June 23- 24, 2011 Trafalgar Square, London, part of the Cultural Olympiad About the London Middle East Institute (LMEI) celebrations © Getty Volume 8 - Number 5 Th e London Middle East Institute (LMEI) draws upon the resources of London and SOAS to provide June – July 2012 teaching, training, research, publication, consultancy, outreach and other services related to the Middle East. It serves as a neutral forum for Middle East studies broadly defi ned and helps to create links between Editorial Board individuals and institutions with academic, commercial, diplomatic, media or other specialisations. Professor Nadje Al-Ali With its own professional staff of Middle East experts, the LMEI is further strengthened by its academic SOAS membership – the largest concentration of Middle East expertise in any institution in Europe. Th e LMEI also Ms Narguess Farzad has access to the SOAS Library, which houses over 150,000 volumes dealing with all aspects of the Middle SOAS East. LMEI’s Advisory Council is the driving force behind the Institute’s fundraising programme, for which Mrs Nevsal Hughes Association of European Journalists it takes primary responsibility. It seeks support for the LMEI generally and for specifi c components of its Mr Najm Jarrah programme of activities. Professor George Joff é Cambridge University Mr Max Scott Mission Statement: Gilgamesh Publishing Ms Sarah Searight British Foundation for the Study Th e aim of the LMEI, through education and research, is to promote knowledge of all aspects of the Middle of Arabia East including its complexities, problems, achievements and assets, both among the general public and with Dr Kathryn Spellman Poots those who have a special interest in the region. In this task it builds on two essential assets. First, it is based in AKU and LMEI London, a city which has unrivalled contemporary and historical connections and communications with the Dr Sarah Stewart LMEI Middle East including political, social, cultural, commercial and educational aspects. Secondly, the LMEI is Mrs Ionis Th ompson at SOAS, the only tertiary educational institution in the world whose explicit purpose is to provide education Saudi-British Society and BFSA and scholarship on the whole Middle East from prehistory until today. Dr Shelagh Weir SOAS

Co-ordinating Editor LMEI Staff: Rhiannon Edwards Listings Director Dr Hassan Hakimian Deputy Director and Company Secretary Dr Sarah Stewart Vincenzo Paci-Delton Executive Offi cer Louise Hosking Designer Events and Magazine Coordinator Vincenzo Paci-Delton Shahla Geramipour

Th e Middle East in London is published six times a year by the London Middle East Institute at SOAS Disclaimer: Letters to the Editor:

Publisher and Opinions and views expressed in the Middle East Please send your letters to the editor at Editorial Offi ce in London are, unless otherwise stated, personal the LMEI address provided (see left panel) Th e London Middle East Institute views of authors and do not refl ect the views of their or email [email protected] School of Oriental and African Studies University of London organisations nor those of the LMEI or the Editorial Th ornaugh Street, Russell Square London WC1H 0XG Board. Although all advertising in the magazine is United Kingdom carefully vetted prior to publication, the LMEI does

T: +44 (0)20 7898 4490 not accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims F: +44 (0)20 7898 4329 made by advertisers. E: [email protected] www.lmei.soas.ac.uk SSubscriptions:ubscriptions: ISSN 1743-7598 To subscribe to Th e Middle East in London, please fi ll out and return the detachable affi liation form in the magazine. Contents 4 How Olympic organisers will LETTER TO THE EDITOR cater for Middle Eastern visitors Sarah Searight 5 EDITORIAL 20 For your comprehension 6 Translation at the 2012 games INSIGHT Rosamund Durnford-Slater Th e burden of history: Algeria LMEI Board of Trustees 50 years on 21 Professor Paul Webley (Chairman) Director, SOAS Roger Hardy Th e Abbas Hilmi II papers Dr John Curtis British Museum Will Berridge H E Sir Vincent Fean KCVO 8 Consul General to Jerusalem THE CULTURAL OLYMPIAD 22 Professor Ben Fortna, SOAS Th e world’s stage London’s Middle Eastern art Professor Graham Furniss, SOAS Nevsal Hughes world – a reality trip Mr Alan Jenkins Janet Rady Dr Karima Laachir, SOAS 10 Professor Annabelle Sreberny, SOAS Dr Barbara Zollner Shakespeare and the Middle REVIEWS Birkbeck College East 23 LMEI Advisory Council Nevsal Hughes and Sarah Searight BOOKS Lady Barbara Judge (Chair) Tripoli Witness by Rana Jawad Professor Muhammad A. S. Abdel Haleem Near and Middle East Department, SOAS 12 Oliver Miles H E Khalid Al-Duwaisan GVCO Music as the food of harmony Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Kuwait Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani Daniel Barenboim and the West- 24 Arab International Women’s Forum Eastern Divan Orchestra Encountering Islam by Paul Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa President, University College of Bahrain Sarah Searight Auchterlonie Professor Tony Allan Peter Clark King’s College and SOAS Dr Alanoud Alsharekh 14 LMEI and Fellow, St Antony’s College Uniting the artist and the 25 Mr Farad Azima Iran Heritage Foundation athlete Dubai High, A Culture Trip by Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif Moira Sinclair Michael Schindhelm Art and Archaeology Department, SOAS Dr Noel Brehony Peter Clark MENAS Associates Ltd. 15 Mr Charles L. O. Buderi Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP Born of the wind 26 Dr Elham Danish Th e Arabian horse and Books in brief Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia HE Mr Mazen Kemal Homoud equestrianism Ambassador, Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ionis Th ompson OBITUARIES Mr Zaki Nusseibeh 27 Mr Rod Sampson Barclays Wealth, Dubai 16 Yousef Daneshvar Le Corbusier’s Gymnasium Founding Sponsor and 28 Member of the Caecilia Pieri and Mina Marefat Advisory Council Pope Shenouda Sheikh Mohamed bin Issa al Jaber 18 MBI Al Jaber Foundation Th e London Aquatics Centre 29 Rhiannon Edwards Chris Rundle

19 30 For your consolation EVENTS IN LONDON

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 3 LLETTERETTER TOTO THETHE EDITOREDITOR

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THIS ISSUE » IRAQ » IRAQ AFTER THE US WITHDRAWAL » IRAQI CINEMA » THE SEARCH FOR THE STOLEN COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM » SUMERIAN CUISINE » THE HYBRIDITY OF IRAQI CULTURE » MAPPING IRAQI ART » PLUS » REVIEWS AND EVENTS IN LONDON

THIS ISSUE : IRAN ● The political cost of sanctions ● Iran’s online warwaar ● NNoroNorouzuz ● Shirazeh Houshiary ● Veggiestan ● The Hajj in London ● Poetry ● PLUS ReviewsReeevvvivieieewsw and and TTHISHIS ISSUEISSUE: PPALESTINEALESTINE ● PPalestinealestine StudiesStudies atat SOASSOAS ● events in London ddeclineecline ● RReinforcingeinforcing thethe structuresstructures ofof occupationoccupation ● GGradationsradations ofof pacificationpacification sseekingeeking a solutionsolution ● RRightight toto rrights,ights, andand rightright toto returnreturn ● A pioneering anthropologistoppoolloogggist in PPalestinealestine ● PPalestinealestine onon ﬁ lmlm ● EEdwarddward SaidSaid andand MahmoudMahmoud DarwishDarwish ● PPLUSLUS eeventsvents inin LondonLondon

Iran and the US – getting the facts right

he article on ‘Th e political cost of Prince – but he said there was no doubt that the Kurds at Halabja, the fi rst reaction of Sanctions’ by Lord Norman Lamont Tehran started to make use of the events the State Department was [also] to blame Tin the February-March edition raises in Bahrain later by spreading its infl uence Iran.’ As noted in a Reuters article printed several important issues. It is useful to hear there. Gates underlined that Iran was in the Guardian on 24 March 1988, the US such points of view and to examine the trying to complicate things for the Arab State Department spokesman said that Iraq arguments that are posed for and against states and in the meantime it suppresses appears to have used chemical weapons, but sanctions. With respect to some of the its own people, which shows a huge added that ‘there are indications that Iran examples he raises, it is also useful to have a contradiction.’ may also have used chemical artillery shells clear understanding of fact. Th ree examples Th e article implied that the US was in this fi ghting.’ he raised about policies and actions of my behind the murders of Iranian scientists, own country, the United States, should be by fi rst citing Newt Gingrich’s call for such Mark Fitzpatrick, Director, Non-Proliferation corrected in this regard. assassinations, then saying ‘To the Iranians, and Disarmament Programme, Th e Th e article states incorrectly that ‘Th e that must already seem to be happening.’ International Institute for Strategic Studies United States also blamed Iran for the To my mind it is not fair to fan this belief unrest in Bahrain in 2011 even though no without also referring to Secretary of evidence has ever been produced.’ Some State Hillary Clinton’s condemnation of other countries have blamed Iran, wrongly, the latest assassination and her strong Th e next issue of Th e Middle East but the US has not echoed this blame. denial of US involvement. To be sure, in London will be published in When then Defense Secretary Robert Gates the Iranian government has produced October 2012. visited Bahrain in April 2011, he stressed ‘evidence’ of US involvement, but some of that Iran could exploit the situation if the this evidence might instead be the result of Bahrainis insisted on making it sectarian, misinformation or false fl ag operations. CORRECTION: but he distinguished between cause and Th e article criticised the US for unfairly In March-April edition of Th e Middle eff ect. Th is point is driven home in an Al casting blame on Iran for the 1988 gas East in London on page 23, we listed Arabiya article interview published on 24 attack against Kurds at Halabja. It was the address of the Ottolenghi restaurant March 2011 in which Gates: ‘said that Iran implied that the US put all the blame on as 41 Connaught Street, London W2 probably did not have any role in igniting Iran. It would have been more accurate 2BB. Th is should have been 287 Upper Bahrain's protests – as he had previously and fair to have added the word ‘also’ to the Street, London N1 2TZ informed Bahrain's King and Crown sentence: ‘When Saddam Hussein gassed

4 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 EEDITORIALDITORIAL © Kois Miah

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The Big World Dance in Trafalgar Square, London, 2010. The Big World Dance is part of the Cultural Olympiad

Sarah Searight and Nevsal Hughes, MEL Editorial Board

he London 2012 Cultural Olympiad collaboration with leading UK and opening night of the Games. Barenboim is the largest cultural celebration in international arts organisations. Globe- has an honorary doctorate from SOAS and Tthe history of the modern Olympic to-Globe was part of that venture in April was able to spare an hour in April for an and Paralympic Movements. Th e aim has and May, where 37 Shakespeare plays were interview with Jon Snow at SOAS aft er a been to leave a lasting legacy for the arts performed in 37 languages – among them week of conducting Brückner at the Festival in this country. Moreover, the Cultural Arabic, pidgin Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew Hall. His orchestra of Israeli and Arab Olympiad is off ering more participation for and Afghan Dari – in Shakespeare’s Globe musicians epitomises the essential spirit of disabled artists than any other festival in the Th eatre. Th e British Museum has also the Olympics. world. prepared an exhibition in collaboration with Two crucial aspects of the actual Games Ruth Mackenzie, director of the Cultural the Royal Shakespeare Company to provide will be ensuring the comprehension of Olympiad and of the 2012 Festival gives an insight into the emerging role of London athletes, volunteers, guides, ‘ambassadors’ of an excellent overall vision of both the as a world city. all the extremely complicated arrangements, nation-wide festival as well as the London A notable Middle Eastern contribution thereby also ensuring the participants programme. Many events on London’s to the architectural scene is the Olympic ‘get to the place on time’. Rosamund South Bank are part of the Festival of the pool designed by Zaha Hadid, the fi rst Durnford-Slater describes some of the World. Each of the 204 Olympic nations building in the UK by this eminent Iraqi details as well as headaches of ensuring will have a chance to voice its talent. Poetry architect. Caecilia Pieri and Mina Marefat perfect comprehension. Th e athletes’ faith Parnassus is one such event where during have drawn attention to an Iraqi ambition and dietary concerns are also important, a week-long celebration (June 26-July 1) to host the Olympics when Le Corbusier just some of the issues faced by the Games shortlisted poets from each of these nations contributed the Baghdad Gymnasium, the chaplaincy offi ce, under Canon Duncan (including many from the Middle East), only built part of a visionary Olympic city, Green. chosen from 5000 nominations, will take now restored. As the director of the Arts Council part in the largest poetry festival in the UK. Daniel Barenboim’s remarkable West- wrote, ‘we want the London Olympics to Another part of the London 2012 Eastern Divan Orchestra is playing all of be remembered as much for the beauty and Festival has been Th e World of Shakespeare Beethoven’s symphonies in a week of the excitement of its cultural experiences as for Festival, a celebration of Shakespeare as the BBC Promenade Concerts, concluding its sporting victories.’ world’s playwright in an unprecedented with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on the

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 5 IINSIGHTNSIGHT On July 5 2012, Algeria celebrates 50 years of independence from France. But half a century on, as Roger Hardy discusses, the historical memory of one of the longest and bloodiest of all the anti-colonial struggles remains, in both countries, bitterly contested TThehe bburdenurden ooff hhistory:istory: AAlgerialgeria 5500 yyearsears oonn © Poortje

ome wars never end. Th e wounds, holds a distinctive place. Th is is due partly Europe. Tens of thousands from Spain, Italy real or metaphorical, remain raw. Th is to its length and brutality, and partly to the and Malta, as well as from France itself, Sis true of some of the 20th century’s fact that even now, fi ve decades on, France heeded the call, settling there as farmers, seminal confl icts, from the Second World and Algeria are unwilling to confront the shopkeepers and administrators. By 1954, War to Afghanistan, and of the fi rst Arab- Gorgon’s head of a deeply unpalatable when the liberation struggle began, there Israeli war (1948-49), whose legacy of historical reality. were virtually a million settlers living among bitterness and dispossession still haunts Algeria was not like Egypt or Sudan, eight million Muslims. Th ese pieds noirs the contemporary Middle East. But among ruled by Britain with a small elite of (as they were nicknamed) became strident the confl icts that have ravaged the world administrators. Th e French encouraged its advocates of Algérie française, the idea since 1945, Algeria’s war of independence settlement by immigrants from southern that Algeria was an integral part of France. Th e settlers in turn had powerful friends Th e independence struggle was prolonged and bloody, lasting in Paris, and for both groups the idea of eventual independence – even aft er this over eight years and leaving a death toll of half a million had occurred in the neighbouring French

6 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 riots of 2005 in the Paris suburbs and French-Algerian relations – based on ties of history, the continuing concerns over Islamist economy, culture, and geographical proximity – have extremism – have had distinct colonial echoes. For the children of Algerian remained close, but constantly confl icted migrants, the daily experience of racism and colonies of Morocco and Tunisia – was the fact that more than a century of French discrimination is rooted, historically, in the simply inconceivable. Th e independence rule had changed the country in a host of unequal relationship of rulers and ruled in struggle, when it came, was accordingly undeniable ways. colonial Algeria. prolonged and bloody, lasting over eight French language and culture left a lasting More broadly, in the decade since years and leaving a death toll estimated by imprint, not least on Algeria’s writers and George Bush launched his ‘war on terror’, the French historian Benjamin Stora at half intellectuals. Mouloud Mammeri, for the Algerian war has, for better or worse, a million. Moreover when decolonisation example, left his isolated Berber village become a laboratory for the study of eventually became inevitable, it took an and eventually studied in Paris, where he insurgency. I well remember the European unusually shrewd and single-minded was conscripted into the French army. His and American participants at a conference French leader, Charles de Gaulle, to cut the novel Th e Sleep of the Just, published in on counter-insurgency in Stockholm umbilical cord. French in 1955 and later translated into trooping off to watch a showing of Th e As a result, the French regard Algeria with English, evokes the profound dislocations Battle of Algiers. Th e French had won the a tangle of wrenching emotions. Th e fi nal of village life under French rule and of the battle, an American military man reminded withdrawal was humiliating, heralding as immigrant experience in France. Th e debate me, but had lost the war: a lesson not it did the demise of France as an imperial over the country’s cultural identity, and lost on those grappling with intractable power. It was also deeply divisive, tearing whether French should give way to Arabic, insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. apart public opinion, the political class, has continued to haunt Algeria to this day. and the army. Since 1962, memories of this At the same time, the Algerian pouvoir Roger Hardy, a former Middle East analyst humiliation and polarisation have been kept has found it can no longer depend on the with the BBC World Service, is currently alive in a host of ways. French-Algerian war of liberation as a source of legitimacy, a visiting fellow at the London School of relations – based on ties of history, economy, especially since most Algerians now have no Economics. He is the author of Th e Muslim culture, and geographical proximity – have direct memory of it. Revolt: A Journey through Political Islam remained close, but constantly confl icted. Th e many strands of this complex (2010) Like a couple in a stormy marriage, the historical legacy are brought out very well in two countries are locked in a relationship Martin Evans’ recent book, Algeria: France’s of mutual dependence and mutual Undeclared War. Two other aspects of it recrimination. Th ese emotions have been are discernible today. One is the burden kept alive, in the decades since the war, of the past for Muslims of Algerian origin by a series of revelations in memoirs and living in France. Th ey, with their children, (Opposite) Even now, ﬁve decades on, France historical accounts and in Pontecorvo’s now comprise the largest component of a and Algeria are unwilling to confront their deeply unpalatable historical reality classic fi lm Th e Battle of Algiers (1966). As Muslim community of some fi ve million. a result, it has become progressively harder Th e crises and controversies involving (Below) Writer Mouloud Mammeri's The Sleep of the Just explores the Algerian immigrant for the French to deny that their soldiers French Muslims in recent years – from experience in France and the tensions that used torture, including electric-shock the headscarf aff air of the 1980s to the surround both communities treatment, against Algerian prisoners. But despite a number of taboo-breaking books and fi lms – such as Tavernier’s four-hour documentary La Guerre sans nom – France has, to a striking extent, remained in denial. As for the Algerian ruling elite, comforting myths have taken the place of an honest historical reckoning. For three decades aft er independence, Algeria experienced authoritarian one-party rule by the FLN (National Liberation Front), the movement that had led the independence struggle between 1954 and 1962. Lacking in political legitimacy, the FLN painted itself as the party that had united the people in a heroic war of liberation against the colonial power that had occupied and oppressed them for 132 years. Left out of this carefully preserved narrative were some essential elements: the fratricidal divisions within the liberation movement; the role of the country’s large non-Arab minority, the Berbers, in the independence struggle; and

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 7 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Nevsal Hughes discusses the Cultural Olympiad with Ruth Mackenzie

TThehe wworld’sorld’s sstagetage

he Cultural Olympiad was launched elaborate on that and give us an idea UK’s greatest fi lm makers – including in September 2008, aft er the Beijing about the overall budget? Mike Leigh, Lynne Ramsay, and Asif TGames and will end on September 9 Kapadia – as part of a brilliant fi lm when the London Games come to an end. RM: Th e London 2012 Festival is the programme, with over 34000 children It is described as a four-year programme of fi nale of the four-year Cultural Olympiad. contributing as well as the stars of today. cultural activity. Th e aim was to showcase Th e London 2012 Festival is a 12-week, - Turner Prize-winning artist and the best of British art in the run-up to the UK-wide cultural celebration that will be musician Martin Creed's sound work to Olympic Games in the summer of 2012. It a key feature of the London 2012 Olympic mark the fi rst day of the London 2012 properly took off aft er the appointment of and Paralympic Games, running from June Olympics on July 27, when a spectacular Ruth Mackenzie, formerly director of the 21 to September 9. Th e festival consists peel of bells will resound across the Manchester Festival, as LOCOG Director of of commissions and invited events in all country. Culture two years ago. art forms, dedicated to showcasing the - BT River of Music, welcoming the world best of world culture through exceptional to London at the start of the Olympics NH: What are you hoping to achieve creative partnerships. We will bring events with an opening weekend of free music with the Cultural Olympiad and London to people across the country, from the from all six continents at landmarks along 2012 Festival? Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, the River Th ames, representing the 205 to the remotest corner of the Shetland Olympic & Paralympic nations. RM: Th ere have been some incredible Islands, from the Raploch Estate in - A series of special events programmed projects since the Cultural Olympiad was Scotland to Hadrian’s Wall on England’s to showcase the UK’s sites of outstanding launched in 2008, and there has been a great most northern border, from Penzance in natural beauty, including Speed of Light response to the programming, with over Cornwall, or Stonehenge to the shores of at Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat, an art 16 million people in communities across Lake Windermere, from the forests of North installation spanning the 86 miles of the the UK having experienced the Cultural Wales and right into the heart of the capital. remains of Hadrian’s Wall by Manhattan Olympiad to date. In 2010, the cultural Total funding for the Cultural Olympiad artists’ collective YesYesNo, and an Olympiad Board decided to add a fi nale is £97 million, of which £53 million is evening of music and fi re on the shores to the programme – something to run allocated to the London 2012 Festival. of Lake Windermere, created by French alongside the Games and that would be street arts company, Les Commandos culture’s answer to what is described as ‘the NH: Can you give us a few clues Percu. greatest show on earth’ – a once in a lifetime of the events that are labelled to be opportunity. Th e result is the London 2012 ‘unforgettable’? NH: Before you got involved with Festival, where people will experience the the Cultural Olympiad the World best artists from round the world, timed to RM: With over 1000 events across the Shakespeare Festival was organised and coincide with the world’s greatest sporting country in the London 2012 Festival, and was very much under way. Did you have a event. 10 million chances to see free programmes, contribution in that area? We hope that the Festival will give visitors there is something for everyone. However, and residents all over the UK some amazing some of the highlights are: RM: Deborah Shaw is the Artistic artistic commissions and free events this - A co-commission to Damon Albarn Director of the World Shakespeare Festival, summer, demonstrating to the global and Rufus Norris to create a new opera but she is generous to her colleagues, and community that Britain’s cultural off er is inspired by the extraordinary scientist Dr has allowed me to propose projects. Th ese world-class, and if we are lucky, we will leave Dee and music of the Renaissance. include the co-commission to Nobel prize a legacy for artists, communities, cultural - A series of commissions in partnership winner Toni Morrison, celebrated composer tourism in the UK, and the place of arts in with BBC Film and Film4 to some of the and singer Rokia Traoré and wonderful future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

NH: Th e London 2012 Festival is not If we are lucky, we will leave a legacy for artists, only a London thing. Can you please communities and cultural tourism in the UK

8 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 We will bring events to people across the country, London 2012 Festival, and which we hope will continue to be developed towards Rio from the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, 2016. I am sure Rio can do even better than to the remotest corner of the Shetland Islands London, and I hope future Games will do better still – of course this is the spirit of the Olympics – new world records each time. director Peter Sellars to create Desdemona, the history of the modern Olympic and inspired by Peter’s production of Othello on Paralympic movements, and I hope it will Nevsal Hughes is a member of the MEL which I worked in Vienna; or the invitation be the best – at least until Rio 2016! We Editorial Board to Calixto Bieito in partnership with have a wonderful programme with artists Birmingham Repertory Th eatre Company from Brazil and partners in Rio that began Ruth Mackenzie, Director of the Cultural and his theatre in Catalonia to take last year, which will be showcased in Olympiad 2011

Shakespeare’s many transforming forests © Getty as an inspiration point; and a few others. However, I must pay tribute to Deborah’s many brilliant ideas, such as her focus on artists from the Middle East, including the fi rst UK visit of the Iraqi Th eatre Company. Also with the ‘Globe to Globe’ programme the Globe has pulled together a programme of Shakespeare’s complete works in 37 languages, including companies from South Sudan and Afghanistan.

NH: Is the Cultural Olympiad celebrating disabled arts?

RM: Th e Cultural Olympiad is off ering more commissioning for disabled and deaf artists than any Cultural Olympiad and festival anywhere in the world. Th e unprecedented £3 million programme, Unlimited, will be the largest ever UK celebration of arts, culture and sport by disabled and deaf people. It is a chance to change the way work by disabled artists is perceived and enjoyed around the world, particularly because many commissions will have an international life beyond the festival. Watch out for remarkable talents such as Claire Cunningham, Simon McKeown, Sinéad O’Donnell and international collaborations like Niet Normaal in Liverpool, Breathe in Weymouth, and Boomba Down the Tyne in Newcastle. Our commissioning programme is a partnership with all the Arts Councils in the UK, the British Council and the Olympic Lottery Distributor. I hope this will be one of our most important legacies for future Games and for disabled and deaf artists round the world.

NH: Do you think London will set a trend for future Cultural Olympiads in other countries?

RM: It would be wonderful if London’s Cultural Olympiad legacy includes a positive impact on future festivals. Ours may be the largest cultural celebration in

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 9 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Sarah Searight and Nevsal Hughes on how the Bard is celebrated by the Middle East – most recently in the Globe to SShakespearehakespeare Globe project aandnd tthehe MMiddleiddle EEastast

hakespeare would be highly diverted countries. All of Shakespeare’s plays were why they chose it. He said that although by the devotion to his name that has shown in just over six weeks. Each of the 37 Th e World Shakespeare Festival organisers Sbeen generated within ‘Th e World plays was done in a diff erent language and wanted them to play Timon of Athens, Shakespeare Festival 2012’. It began on April by a diff erent international company. Here staged by them in 2006, they felt they could 23 with a celebration of Shakespeare as the we are focusing on those companies who not do this old production. In the end they world’s playwright, produced by the Royal performed in Middle Eastern languages. all agreed on Antony and Cleopatra (in Shakespeare Company with leading UK and Oyun Atolyesi from Turkey, founded in Turkish Antonius ile Kleopatra) with Haluk international arts organisations. ‘Sonnet Istanbul in 1999, has done fi ve Shakespeare Bilginer, founder of the company and one Sunday’ was the opening shot in a theatrical plays during its short life. Th eir dedication of Turkey’s most prestigious actors, and extravaganza at Shakespeare’s Globe on to the Bard’s works (they even prepared a Zerrin Tekindor in the lead roles. Of all London’s South Bank with thousands of musical defi ned as ‘a collage of Shakespeare Shakespeare plays poetry is most prominent artists from around the world taking part plays and sonnets’) and its repertoire of in Antony and Cleopatra. Aydogan, who in his plays. Th ere have been supporting other high quality plays was instrumental believes translating Shakespeare’s works into events and exhibitions not only in London in their being chosen to represent Turkey in other languages is rather diffi cult, says their but right across the UK and online. Th e this venture. When the Festival organisers productions attract large audiences and are Festival runs from April 23 (Shakespeare’s from the Globe visited Istanbul last year very much admired. birthday) to November 2012 and forms they were impressed with their production Shakespeare’s plays have served various part of London 2012 Festival, which is the of Macbeth but the play they brought to the functions in parts of Africa and the Middle culmination of the Cultural Olympiad. Globe was Antony and Cleopatra. We asked East. Perhaps most importantly they have Th e Globe-to-Globe programme, from the director of the play, Kemal Aydogan been seen as megaphones for political April 23 until June 3, was a remarkable achievement for organisers but even more Shakespeare’s plays have served various functions – they for the drama companies participating, some of them performing under have been seen as megaphones for political considerable constraints in their own aspirations and camoufl age for political dissent

10 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 aspirations and camoufl age for political Th e Habima National Th eatre of Israel dissent. Th e brand new South Sudan Th eatre Company production of Cymbeline somewhat controversially produced Th e Merchant performed at the beginning of May was of Venice, performed in modern Hebrew claimed to off er the chance to mix South Sudan’s strong tradition of magic, prophets and soothsayers, caste and class, and even Th e company aims at making theatre a sometimes not even wearing headscarves child abduction. ‘I used to lie in the bush fundamental part of Palestinian society; it and lovers holding hands! Th e company under the stars reading Shakespeare’s also seeks to build and strengthen bridges came under attack when rehearsing Errors plays, not thinking about the killing that with the theatre world through creativity. in the British Council compound in Kabul would take place in the morning,’ wrote Th e Habima National Th eatre of Israel so continued its pre-Globe run all over the South Sudanese Presidential Adviser all somewhat controversially produced The India. Th ey perform in Dari or Farsi-ye too appropriately. Th e patron of the project Merchant of Venice, performed in modern Dari, historically the court language of the was one of Africa’s greatest poets, Taban Lo Hebrew. Th is is ‘one of Shakespeare’s most Iranian Sassanians; the term refers to the Liyong, and producer was Joseph Abuk. controversial and most human plays’, said dialects of modern Farsi language spoken in Cymbeline was spoken in Juba Arabic, a the blurb; nevertheless a curious choice Afghanistan today. pidgin Arabic developing in the 19th century given the strong note of anti-Semitism in Th e Globe-to-Globe celebration and recognised by some scholars in the the play. Was this why it was chosen? one coincided with a programme on BBC 1970s as a distinct ‘creole’. asks. Disturbances were threatened for Radio 3 on Shakespeare’s restless world, and A Palestinian company, Ashtar, produced the performances as happened at the BBC how that world was expanding fast in the Richard II, described in its publicity as ‘a Proms in 2010. Habima was founded in playwright’s lifetime. Francis Drake sailed masterpiece of dislocation’. ‘Let’s talk of Moscow in 1913 and settled in Tel Aviv around the world, merchants trading with graves, of worms, and epitaphs; Make dust in late 1920s. Among many other issues, the east founded trading companies (Levant our paper, and with rainy eyes, Write sorrow Habima’s plays deal with questions of Company, East India company) and fi lled on the bosom of the earth’, Richard says on Arab-Israeli relations, tensions between London’s markets with exotic goods. Th is hearing of the desertion to his enemy Henry religious and secular Jews, and also the was followed in June by a British Museum Bolingbroke by his once trusted nobles. Th e status of women, particularly interesting in gesture to the Shakespeare glorifi cation, play was initially performed in the remains the context of the Merchant with the roles of Shakespeare: staging the world. Here the of the great 8th century Umayyad palace of both Portia and Jessica. Museum, in collaboration with the Royal Khirbat al-Mafj ar just outside Jericho. Th e Finally, an Afghan theatre company Shakespeare Company, accentuated more one reads of the play the more sadly Roy-e-Sabs left Kabul for the fi rst time to the connections between the objects in appropriate it becomes. Ashtar is a dynamic bring a production of Th e Comedy of Errors the exhibition, Shakespeare’s text and young company, set up in 1991 in Ramallah, to the Globe, as near the end production performance. As the organisers say, ‘the which made its name in 2010 with the of a remarkable season. Th e company exhibition will create a unique dialogue production of Gaza Monologues, a series has a history of great courage. In 2005 it between an extraordinary array of objects – of stories told by the young people of Gaza performed, Love’s Labour Lost in an ancient from great paintings to exquisite jewels and and acted all over the world. Its production garden in war-ravaged Kabul, close to where rare manuscripts.’ of Richard II was also performed at the Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire, is One of the key innovations of the period Oxfam headquarters in Cowley, Oxford, as buried; in this controversial production was the birth of modern professional part of Oxfam’s 70th birthday celebrations. men and women acted together, the women theatre: purpose-built playhouses and professional playwrights were a new phenomenon, with the most successful of them being the Chamberlain’s/King’s Men at the Globe, and their house dramatist William Shakespeare. Th e exhibition aims to show how the playhouse informed, persuaded and provoked thought on the issues of the day. As Ben Johnson, Shakespeare’s admiring successor, mused: ‘He was not of an age, but for all time!’

Nevsal Hughes and Sarah Searight are members of the MEL Editorial Board

(Opposite) From Antony & Cleopatra performance by Oyun Atolyesi in Istanbul (Left) The cast of the Afghan version of The

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 11 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Sarah Searight discusses Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra MMusicusic aass tthehe ffoodood ooff hharmonyarmony © SOAS

aniel Barenboim (Maestro to his positively, what about his greatly admired his Le marteau sans maître. On July 27 the many admirers) has an honorary West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, booked to Orchestra’s contribution culminates with Ddoctorate from SOAS; even so, play all of Beethoven’s symphonies in this Beethoven’s great Ninth Symphony – at 6.30 given his pace of life, it was gratifying that year’s Promenade concerts. pm so that everyone can run at top speed he was able to give an interview with Jon My own current interest in the Orchestra to Stratford to see the inauguration of the Snow on a Saturday morning, April 21, aft er stems from this prospective achievement Games. Surely the ultimate cultural event a week conducting Brückner symphonies in in the Royal Albert Hall. Between July 20 as far as this issue of Th e Middle East in the Royal Festival Hall. Two broad subjects and 27 it will be playing all those great London is concerned. were covered in the interview: what it symphonies; on several occasions – between Th e idea of bringing together musicians was like growing up in Israel and how its symphonies – compositions by Pierre from either side of the great divide between character had changed over the years; and Boulez are included and Boulez himself Israel and the Arab world was already in secondly, more importantly, creatively and conducts the orchestra on July 26, including Barenboim’s mind when Edward Said, literary critic and tireless campaigner for Palestinian rights (who sadly died in 2003), Th e Orchestra was named the West-Eastern came to him in 1990 in the Hyde Park Hotel. Said’s involvement in this challenging Divan Orchestra (WEDO) aft er Goethe’s cycle or project was crucial in persuading Arab ‘divan’ of lyric poems modelled on the Iranian poet Hafi z musicians, including Palestinians, to

12 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 overcome their resistance to auditioning ‘While music alone cannot resolve the Arab-Israeli confl ict, for an orchestra led by a Jewish conductor. By 1993 the fi rst orchestral workshop was it grants the individual the right and obligation to express held: ‘I expected six applications. Instead him or herself fully while listening to his neighbour’ I got 200!’ says Barenboim. Forty per cent of those attending had never heard an orchestra play, 60 per cent had never played South and North Korea, with superb soloists musicians, Muslim, Christian and Jewish in an orchestra. Th e concept was given and a choir of South Koreans: could the members, plus a group of Spanish members. further encouragement in 1999 by the grim masters of the North have listened in? In its publicity the Orchestra points artistic director of the European Cultural Th e triumphal appearance of WEDO in out that time and again music can break Capital, that year in Weimar. Weimar the Albert Hall is particularly appropriate down barriers previously considered was signifi cant; it was the city of Johann to its playing of Beethoven’s symphonic insurmountable; as one of the players sadly Wolfgang von Goethe, a great admirer masterpieces, which were such a musical commented: ‘we can’t even meet in each of eastern culture, and the Orchestra was break-through in their time. Th ey were other’s countries. We are so near and yet in due course named the West-Eastern composed at a time of terrible upheaval so far.’ Barenboim pointed out to Jon Snow Divan Orchestra (WEDO) aft er Goethe’s across Europe but they soar above the that music is ‘most personal and most cycle or ‘divan’ of lyric poems modelled turmoil as one might also view the abstract’, helping to combat the lack of on the Iranian poet Hafi z. Th e orchestra’s orchestra’s crossing the tragic political curiosity about each other in the Israeli and fi rst sessions took place in Weimar and in barriers between the countries of its Arab worlds. ‘While music alone cannot Chicago. members. Music critic David Cairns writes resolve the Arab-Israeli confl ict, it grants Members of the orchestra are in the Proms programme of the ‘intensity the individual the right and obligation extraordinarily moving and articulate about of the inner drama [of the ninth] and its (my italics) to express him or herself fully their annual gatherings, their gruelling human implications’: how appropriate while listening to his neighbour. Based on rehearsals under |Barenboim’s baton, that it should be played by Barenboim’s this notion of equality, cooperation and their concerts, especially of Beethoven’s musicians. justice for all, the orchestra represents an symphonies. On the other hand they have WEDO only manages to get together to alternative model to the current situation in few illusions about the role of WEDO rehearse for three weeks in the summer, the Middle East.’ in healing the deep-seated hostility and since 2002 they have been provided ‘Engaging with music and the arts is between Israel and the Arab world. Just in Seville with a base, funds and most one of the most important things we have once the orchestra played in the Arab helpful accommodation and provisions in life ...,’ writes Barenboim. ‘If people can world, in Ramallah, an occasion beset by the Andalusian provincial government reach mutual understanding and even by innumerable security complications: (Junta de Andalucia); there is a nice irony harmony over a work of art in this world of special passports, crocodiles of bullet-proof in the fact that it was from Andalusia just confl ict and despair, this gives me hope and cars, wary conducted tours of ‘the wall’ over 500 years ago that Jews and Muslims encouragement that we reach with the arts (members of the orchestra have also visited were expelled. Recently the Andalusian where we can’t get with politics alone’ – a the site of the wall that once divided East government has pledged €150,000 as message applicable to the whole Olympic from West Berlin). But it happened. On scholarship funding; this is contributing scenario. Th rough its work and its existence another occasion they played the Ninth to the establishment of a second orchestra. WEDO demonstrates that bridges can be Symphony in the security zone between Th ere are equal numbers of Arab and Israeli built to encourage people to listen to the narrative of the other. To play Beethoven’s setting of Schiller’s ‘Ode to Joy’ as the climax of his Ninth surely must give the young players at least a moment of optimism for their mutual musical future.

Sarah Searight is a member of the MEL Editorial Board

(Opposite) Daniel Barenboim and Jon Snow at SOAS, April 2012 (Left) Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 13 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Moira Sinclair discusses the work of the Arts Council during the Cultural Olympiad UUnitingniting tthehe aartistrtist aandnd tthehe aathletethlete © Kois Miah he global recession has not dampened our ambitions to bring the Tarts to more people and to celebrate our creativity. Indeed, the unique capacity of the arts to unite people as a nation and an international community, to provide an escape from worldly cares, and to foster understanding, seems more important than ever. Th e 2012 Cultural Olympiad keeps alive the tradition of the ancient games, where art, education and sport were seen as perfect partners to achieve harmony; exercising both the body and the mind. Pierre de Coubertin, inventor of the modern games, The Godiva Carnival, had arts and culture as fi rm features in 2011 his vision for the Olympics as a global movement. As a result, the Games have With more than 10 million free Hendi (Saudi Arabia). Th ese events, which become not just an opportunity to celebrate opportunities to get involved, and artists are just a taster of the phenomenal range on the arts but also to refl ect the culture, music from around the world creating an off er, celebrate diversity in its widest sense. and creative imagination of the host nation. unprecedented range of events, there Th e Arts Council believes that diversity is A programme of cultural events was an really is something for everyone in this an important element in the dynamic that integral part of the UK’s winning bid back Cultural Olympiad. Contemporary drives art forward; a catalyst that brings in 2005. Th e intention was to place the very practice, innovation, diff erent art art closer to a profound dialogue with best of the arts alongside sport, making forms and aesthetics and international contemporary society. We want the London the 2012 Olympics relevant, enjoyable and partnerships are key themes as Britain 2012 Games to be remembered as much benefi cial to as many people as possible brings its unique perspective on, and for the beauty and excitement of its cultural across the UK. embracing of, diversity to the world stage. experiences as for its sporting victories. Arts Council England has been closely Projects such as Th e World in London at Th e Cultural Olympiad is an unparalleled involved in the development of the Cultural Th e Photographer’s Gallery will feature showcase of the best artistic talent, taking Olympiad from its early stage. Th rough this 204 portraits of Londoners originating the Games back to its roots and back to the signifi cant investment and support, we aim from each competing nation, while the ancient arena, where the roar of the crowd to bring the arts to new audiences; to create Southbank’s Poetry Parnassus will see the for the Scissor Sisters at BT’s River of Music opportunities for British artists to shine on largest international gathering of poets in showcase would undoubtedly have been an international stage, and to generate new world history – including Middle-Eastern as loud as for Usain Bolt in the 100m fi nal. partnerships and collaborations that will poets such as Anat Zecharya (Israel), Mimi Th e past and future of the Olympic Games continue to benefi t the cultural sector and Khalvati (Iran), Iman Mersal (Egypt), belongs as much to the artist as to the audiences nationwide, long aft er the torch Amjad Nasser (Jordan), Khaled Mattawa athlete. Arts Council England is proud to be has passed to Rio. (Libya), Rasha Omran (Syria) and Ashjan an instrumental part of that tradition.

Th e 2012 Cultural Olympiad keeps alive the tradition Moira Sinclair is Executive Director, Arts of the ancient games, where art, education and sport Council England were seen as perfect partners to achieve harmony; exercising both the body and the mind

14 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Ionis Thompson discusses how Saudi Arabia has a strong equestrian tradition but that the country may not be allowed to compete in the 2012 games ‘‘BornBorn ooff tthehe wwind’:ind’: tthehe AArabianrabian hhorseorse aandnd eequestrianismquestrianism aatt tthehe LLondonondon OOlympicslympics © The Trustees of the British Museum f there is one sport associated in the Saudi Arabia from the Games as they once public’s eye with Arabs from the Arabian banned Afghanistan under the Taliban for IPeninsula it must be horsemanship. its attitude to women. Th e fi nest type of horse, the Arabian, In fact, the Saudi statement refl ects the developed in the desert. It seems, therefore, reality of the situation in a country with appropriate that a Saudi team of four show very few sports facilities for women: women jumpers has qualifi ed to take part in this are simply unable to reach the qualifying summer’s Olympics, one of just 15 teams. standards required by the Olympics and, Th e last time the Saudis won an Olympic even if allowed to participate, could not medal was for show-jumping in Sydney in qualify to join the male riders in the offi cial 2000. Th ey competed with great success team. Th ere is, however, one glimmer of in the Rolex Kentucky three-day Event at hope for Saudi women athletes. At the Gold model chariot from the Oxus Treasure. Lexington last summer, winning silver for Singapore Youth Olympics in 2010 Dalma Region of Takht-i Kawud, Tadjikistan, show-jumping. Last year they spent millions Rushdi Malhas, a young Saudi horse-rider, Achaemenid Persian, 5th-4th century BC on buying 12 high-performing horses from won a bronze medal for show-jumping, but European stables. Th eir hopes are high for a she competed as an independent. She might medal this summer. be invited to participate in the same way in the Oxus treasure of ancient Persian gold If, that is, they are allowed to compete. London this summer, but she would not be and the Assyrian limestone relief. Th ere will Along with Qatar and Brunei, Saudi Arabia part of the country’s team. be loans of objects from other museums has never sent a woman athlete to an Saudi Equestrian, the body responsible and from archaeological sites in Saudi Olympic Games. Jacques Rogge, chairman for taking the Saudi team to the Olympics is Arabia and elsewhere. Th e exhibition has of the International Olympics Committee also one of the supporters of an exhibition been planned to complement the Olympic (IOC) has been in discussion with all entitled Th e Horse: from Arabia to Royal Games, with which it will run concurrently. three countries about their plans to send Ascot which will run throughout the female athletes to the London Olympics summer at the British Museum*. Th e Ionis Th ompson is a member of the MEL and Qatar is now planning to send women Arabian horse was said to have been created Editorial Board athletes, who have been off ered ‘wild by angels or born out of the wind: in Arabia cards’ by the IOC. Rogge wanted full they were prized more highly than gold. * Th e exhibition, in Room 35 of the gender representation at this Olympics, Th e Arabian Th oroughbred descends from British Museum, will run from May 24 to in compliance with the Olympic Charter just three Arabian stallions introduced into September 30 and will be free. which supports equality for all who want to 17th century Britain, and the exhibition will compete, regardless of gender. On April 4, illustrate the remarkable success of these however, Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, President horses. Th e exhibits will include objects of the Saudi Olympic Committee, said from the Museum's own collection, such as Saudi Arabia was ‘not endorsing female the miniature gold chariot drawn by four participation in the London Olympics’ horses made around 2500 years ago, part of although he did not rule out women entering independently. Th is statement Th e Arabian horse was said to have been created was taken as an offi cial ban on female participation and provoked widespread by angels or born out of the wind: in Arabia outrage, with calls for the IOC to ban they were prized more highly than gold

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 15 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Mina Marefat and Caecilia Pieri discuss the historical and architectural context of Le Corbusier’s Olympic Gymnasium TThehe mmodernodern llandmarkandmark iinn BBaghdadaghdad iinn ssearchearch ooff iitsts ffuture:uture: LeLe CCorbusier’sorbusier’s GGymnasiumymnasium © Caecilia Pieri/ Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris ADAGP 2012 ADAGP Paris © Caecilia Pieri/ Fondation Le Corbusier,

aghdad today is home to an architects to be chosen by the Iraqis. Frank a Hashemite kingdom. Th e renegotiated impressive manifesto of modernism, Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Alvar Aalto, 1950 oil deal with Britain provided an Ba sports facility designed by Le and Gio Ponti each were asked to contribute opportunity for the country’s infrastructure Corbusier. Th e Baghdad Gymnasium is the to the new Baghdad of Iraqi imagination and within fi ve years the Iraqi Development only built part of a visionary Olympic City with commissions that included an opera Board, infused with the energy and of Sport that was to serve as Iraq’s national house, university, museum, and offi ce infl uence of a younger, Western-educated sports arena and recreational centre. headquarters, some of which were built, generation of Iraqis, was ready to re- In 1955 Le Corbusier was Europe’s others not. For Iraq and for the architectural imagine Baghdad as a modern international most celebrated architect, having just profession, it was a historic moment capital. Midhat Madhloom summarised completed two masterworks, the monastery of transcultural dialogue, a time that more than his own sentiment when he told at Ronchamp and the groundbreaking encapsulated the triumph of modernism Le Corbusier in 1956 how much he was multi-family housing in Marseille, and and the international appeal of modern ‘Looking forward with utmost pleasure to was handpicked by Indian Prime Minister architects. the opportunity of meeting an architect Jawaharlal Nehru to design the new city of In 1955 Baghdad was a city aspiring to whose work we admire tremendously.’ Chandigarh. So it was not surprising that he become the centre of a new Middle East, Th ere was already a fi rst Olympic Club was the fi rst among the illustrious band of a showcase capital of a new Iraq ruled as built in the Adhamiya neighbourhood in Baghdad, in the late 1930s, by Ahmad In 1955 Baghdad was a city aspiring to become Mukhtar Ibrahim, the fi rst Iraqi architect in charge of the Public Works Department. the centre of a new Middle East, a showcase capital Th e Iraqi desire for an Olympic Stadium of a new Iraq ruled as a Hashemite kingdom was not unreasonable since Beirut had

16 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 Th e Baghdad Gymnasium is a veritable catalogue of Le Th e purism of modern form clashes with local practices; functional decisions oft en Corbusier signatures, the only one of its kind in the Middle East challenge the value of architecture as work of art – a fact not unique to Baghdad. just completed a large stadium designed by Le Corbusier, as was linking the pools Similar encroachments have occurred in by French architect Michel Ecochard. to the Tigris. Nor were the amphitheatre, the works of other architects as well as in Le How better to outshine a rival capital restaurants, and outdoor gardens that were Corbusier works, for example in the open and manifest modernity than to invite Le to be open to the public. spaces of India’s Chandigarh or in some Corbusier, an avid advocate of sports as an Only the Gymnasium was constructed altered fl ats in France’s Rezé. integrated part of the modern lifestyle? His in the eastern part of Baghdad and that Th e Gymnasium presently serves as Sports City included a stadium, gymnasium, long aft er Le Corbusier’s death. It was the headquarters of the Iraqi National multiple swimming pools, amphitheatre, inaugurated in 1980. Despite the complexity Federation of Basketball. Except during the restaurant, parking, and public gardens. Th e of its structurally ambitious concrete two years (2003–04) of its occupation by extant drawings testify that Le Corbusier roof, its signature curved ramps, and US troops, it has also been used regularly personally sketched designs for Baghdad other challenging details, G M Presenté, for national and international competitions and reworked numerous iterations, signing in collaboration with his Iraqi consulting in sports such as volleyball. Despite the his name to hundreds of drawings. partner Rifat Chadirji faithfully constructed sectarian violence that spread throughout its Despite diffi culties with his Iraqi client the Gymnasium in strict accordance with Le surrounding neighbourhood and witnessed who kept changing the site, and his own Corbusier’s design, honouring the integrity assassinations of many Iraqi sportsmen obsession with his remuneration, his of the master architect’s intent. between 2005 and 2008, the Gymnasium is machinations with both French and Swiss With its sweeping concrete roof, back in use, albeit sporadically. Embassies to ensure payment of his fees, external ramp or ‘architectural promenade,’ Th e scheduled June 1 inauguration of and even more critically, despite political undulating panels that recall his the renovated building marks an important volatility and numerous regime changes, collaborator, music composer Iannis turning point. Perhaps Le Corbusier's work the project continued and Le Corbusier Xenakis, with its subtle use of natural and might deservedly become a living landmark remained personally committed to the indirect light and framed perspectives, its in a country that is still in search of its Baghdad project for almost a decade until articulated details, and fi nally its engraved future. the end of his life. Meanwhile, his own offi ce ‘Modulor’ man, the Baghdad Gymnasium also underwent a transformation during is a veritable catalogue of Le Corbusier Dr Mina Marefat, AIA is Architect and the Baghdad years as he fi red longtime signatures, the only one of its kind in the Principal at Design Research in Washington associates, including Iannis Xenakis, and Middle East. and faculty at Georgetown University permanently restructured his offi ce. In Yet the current renovation is a departure response to contractual requirements, from the original vision of the architect. Dr Caecilia Pieri is Head of the Urban Le Corbusier began a new association Fake ceilings block natural light, coloured Observatory and member of the Ifpo French with French engineer and international stained-glass panels appear to recall ursis- Institute of the Near-East, Beirut practitioner Georges-Marc Présenté as style windows of traditional Iraqi houses, his partner on the Baghdad Stadium and bright-coloured seats have been added.

as well as several other commissions. © Caecilia Pieri/ Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris ADAGP 2012 Th roughout the process and despite the shared responsibilities, Le Corbusier never abdicated his position as principal architect and chastised Presenté if he dared make even modest architectural changes. Not long before his death in 1965, despite his best eff orts, mere functionaries within the Iraqi Development Board hierarchy delayed the construction of his City of Sport. Th e Olympic Stadium Le Corbusier designed as a state-of-the-art sports arena, with its carefully calculated gradients that ensured views to each and every spectator and with its ultra-modern projection screens, was never built. Nor were the swimming pools with waves, another technical innovation proposed

(Opp0site) Plan of the project for an Olympic City in Baghdad (Right) Front façade of the Le Corbusier's Gymnasium, designed late 1950s and built in the early 1980s in the Sha'ab neighbourhood in Baghdad

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 17 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD TThehe LLondonondon AAquaticsquatics CCentreentre

Rhiannon Edwards aaHddAciet © Zaha Hadid Architects © Zaha Hadid Architects © Zaha Hadid Architects © Zaha Hadid

(Opp0site and right) The main pool at the London Aquatics Centre, 2012 (Above-Right) A graphic drawing of the exterior of the London Aquatics Centre

ne of the architectural jewels of ‘gate’ of the Olympic Park means that it will a capacity of 17500. Th e two temporary the Olympic Park is Th e London be the fi rst thing that most visitors see as 'wings' on the building will be removed OAquatics Centre, designed by Iraqi they visit the events this summer. post-games reducing the capacity to a architect Zaha Hadid. Construction of Th e centre will be used for the regular 2500, with an additional 1000 seats the centre started in June 2008 and was synchronised swimming, diving and available for major events. completed in July 2011. Th e construction swimming race events and the modern International Olympic Committee cost was £269m. pentathalon. It has a 50m competition pool, Chairman Jacques Rogge said of the project: Said to be inspired by ‘the fl uid geometry a 25m competition diving pool, a 50m ‘I have seen so many venues in my life but of water in motion, creating spaces and a warm-up pool and a ‘dry’ warm-up area for I had a visual shock when I came into the surrounding environment in sympathy with divers. Aquatics Centre. Everything stands out: the the river landscape of the Olympic Park’, the Aft er the games, the Aquatics Centre will harmony, the quality, the innovation. It’s a 20000m² centre’s most striking feature is the be transformed into a facility for the local masterpiece.’ roof. It is 160m long and up to 80m wide, community, clubs and schools, as well as for giving it a longer single span than Heathrow professional swimmers. Terminal Five. Th e centre’s position at the During the Games the venue will have

18 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Sarah Searight discusses how organisers of the Games will cater for Middle Eastern visitors

FForor yyourour © Getty cconsolationonsolation

hen London applied in 2008 to hold the 2012 Olympics and WParalympics, it stressed the uniquely multi-cultural and multi-faith character of the city. Th is is epitomised by the area of London– Barking and Stepney – where the main arena of the Games is set which is characterised by the great cultural and religious diversity of the local population. From the outset Canon Duncan Green was appointed as the offi cial Church of England Executive Co-ordinator to ensure this defi ning characteristic remained at the heart of the planning. Initially the main objective was to enthuse and excite everyone about the whole project, in particular – for Canon Green – through a focus on interfaith provisions and youth activities (of which he has long personal experience). It was important to bear in mind the average age of the athletes, but also the armies of helpers – volunteers, caterers, ‘ambassadors’ and so on. Nine major faiths are catered for – Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastranism, Jains, Sikhs and Bahais; their leaders have been introduced The Faith Badge of the London 2012 Olympics to the site and even photographed in the Velodrome along with the special ‘faith’ badge (pictured) as Paul Deighton, as, for instance, the qualifying UAE football of fasting Muslims special break-a-fast boxes LOCOG’s chief executive, explained, team) is the coincidence of the Games with will be ready for the blissful moment of ‘the launch of the badge demonstrates the fasting month of Ramadhan (c. July 20 sunset; unfortunately in July-August (better commitment to leaving a legacy of greater to c. August 17). It is possible, on the one for Paralympics in September) this will be inclusion and understanding of diversity hand, to defer one’s fast if one is travelling at nearly 9pm (8.56pm local time on July long aft er the Games have fi nished.’ A or working on a particularly demanding 27). Given the organisation’s precautions major feature of the main arena is a multi- task, provided one compensates at a later regarding health and security, sunset is chaplaincy centre in a large circular building date. But there are also those who feel that unlikely to be announced by cannon shot as that provides facilities for representatives Ramadhan is not only giving up physical is common in the Middle East! of the diff erent faiths ensuring each is sustenance between sunrise and sunset, but satisfactorily accommodated. Th e building is also a time of special prayer which can Sarah Searight is a member of the MEL is due to be become, in ‘Legacy Time’ strengthen physically as well as spiritually. Editorial Board (Olympic speak for post-Games), the As it is, all dietary concerns, including for secondary school Chobham Academy. example halal and kosher requirements as As far as Islam is concerned, a major well as vegetaranism, will be fully catered for problem for many Muslim athletes (such at all hours of the day and night. In the case

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 19 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Rosamund Durnford-Slater on translation at the Olympics FForor yyourour ccomprehensionomprehension

he Olympic Games has always been ferried from place to place with little or no faced with the major challenge of notice and also serviced the media centre Tproviding top quality interpreting and TV. Th e venues are so far apart in the for a large number of diff erent languages. UK that this approach may be unworkable. London is no exception to the rule but It worked well in the past as the offi cial the fi nancial situation has meant that interpreters were always fully qualifi ed the Government has been loath to put to cope with unforeseen circumstances money into what the UK has always and unrehearsed vocabulary. Th ere was, considered to be a matter of secondary however, one famous occasion when a importance (because English is the lingua Slovak-speaking interpreter was sent along Mr Cartwright, Consul at Constantinople, and his franca of the world?) When asked in the to interpret for a Slovenian athlete – aft er Albanian [interpreter]. Hand coloured engraving by Joseph Nash from sketch by David Wilkie, House of Commons at the end of 2011 all the fi rst three letters were the same – and 1840 whether arrangements had been made for she had to enlist the help of enthusiastic interpreting at the Games the government Slovenian fans. In London there will be replied: ‘Yes. We know this is necessary. It no lack of equally enthusiastic volunteers, in the background. Someone googling won’t cost the taxpayer a penny as it will all eminently visible in their shocking pink ‘interpreters – Olympic Games’ was faced be done by volunteers’. Th is approach was and purple outfi ts, not to mention their by a website cleverly entitled ‘Interpret for validated recently when a Spanish colleague trilby hats. Th ere will be 1200 of these London’, a subtle tweak of the ‘Compete for’ contacted the Games organizers about ‘ambassadors’ in all, if you count the website which has been used throughout off ering her services and was told: ‘We do Olympics and Paralympics. Th ey will the offi cial tendering process for passing not need interpreters – we have an army of have been groomed by games-makers on information. LOCOG and the offi cial volunteers’. McDonald’s, Cadbury, Proctor and Gamble interpreting team deny all knowledge of To be fair, there is to be a core team of to mention just a few. Some of them have it. In fact any professional organizer would professional interpreters, the majority been trained by the same people who run a mile on reading through the screeds of them being members of AIIC, the work for Waitrose and insist on taking of way-out language services posted on the International Association of Conference their customers to the very item they are site. Interpreters. Th ey have been recruited looking for, so service standards will be A discreet veil has been drawn over the by the Head Interpreter, Bill Webber, an high. Others have been taught a smattering contract for written translations of Olympic ex-Council member of AIIC, who works of sign language although one wonders material that has been awarded to Applied from California, has previous experience if the fi ner distinctions will have been Language Solutions. Th is has been linked of working at the Games and has chosen drawn between the American and English to a recent decision by the Ministry of tried and trusted veterans from previous language equivalents. Perhaps it will act as Justice to outsource the recruiting of law Olympics. He was awarded the contract a default lingua franca for those who do not court interpreters to this same company, by a fair and open public procurement master English. which has had catastrophic results for the process. Th is team will be in charge of all A complete cross-section of the British judiciary. Questions have been raised in the simultaneous work assignments population will be helping out with all the House. As far as Arabic is concerned the offi cial various tasks involving interaction with All in all, the language arrangements interpreters will attend the meetings of the public. Arabic law court interpreters, at the London Olympics should be on a Chefs de Mission every morning but owners of upmarket cheese shops, par with previous Games – a mixture of no offi cial Arabic interpretation will teenagers, people who used to work for the professionalism, enthusiastic amateurism be provided at the venues. Whenever fi nancial services… Th e level of enthusiasm and a certain amount of inspired creativity. interpreting is needed, for press conferences is such that one ‘ambassador’ is coming over and the like, standard literary Arabic will from Canada every two weeks to attend the Rosamund Durnford-Slater is AIIC Member be used. At past Olympics such as Beijing requisite number of training sessions. and Founder Member of Conference and Athens the offi cial interpreters were Th ere is always the fear of a scam lurking Interpreters UK

20 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Will Berridge discusses a valuable resource for scholars TThehe AAbbasbbas HHilmiilmi IIII PPapersapers aatt DDurhamurham UUniversityniversity LLibraryibrary

mong the rich archival resources Europe and the Middle East, which among there is correspondence regarding the 1919 at Durham University Library is other subjects throw light on khedival Cairo Conference and the 1923 Lausanne Athe collection of Abbas Hilmi II patronage and Abbas Hilmi’s European Conference, and material on Azerbaijan, (1874-1944), the last Khedive of Egypt, travels. Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Palestine in the whose papers provide excellent research Th e collection will be of considerable 1920s and 1930s. Researchers working in material on political, social and economic interest to students of pan-Islamic and Durham’s Sudan Archive may also fi nd that aff airs in Egypt in the fi rst half of the 20th nationalist political activism in Egypt. Abbas Hilmi’s papers are worth consulting, century, the British in Egypt and to a lesser It incorporates letters from the famous since there are a great number of intelligence extent, the Sudan, and Egypt's relations with Islamic modernist Muhammad Abduh reports produced by the Egyptian Army Britain, Turkey and the rest of Europe. Th e to the Khedive, and material that shed and the early Condominium administration collection was deposited in Durham by lights on Abbas Hilmi’s links with leading in Sudan. Scholars of Islamic thought the Mohamed Ali Foundation in 1980. It individuals in the National (al-Watani) and Islamic associational life should also includes material in Arabic, English, French, Party, including personal correspondence be interested by the fi les on ‘Muslim German and Ottoman Turkish. with Mustafa Kamil and records of informal Associations’, which contain information on Abbas Hilmi II ruled as the Khedive of meetings between Muhammad Bey Farid various international Islamic associations, British-occupied Egypt between 1892 and and Aziza de Rochbrune on behalf of journals, humanitarian and social projects 1914 and his papers cover the period from Abbas Hilmi. Th ere are also extensive for which Abbas Hilmi provided funding, 1892 until his death in 1944. Th ey include Ministry of Interior reports on nationalist as well as material on the administration of his personal correspondence with a wide and Islamic organizations within Egypt Egypt’s famous al-Azhar mosque. circle of family and friends, diplomats, and individual activists such as Shaikh Th e very fi ne collection of photographs religious leaders and historians, both in Abd al-Aziz Shawish and the assassin contains numerous studio portraits dating Ibrahim Nassif al-Wardani, in addition to from the 1870s of members of the Khedival petitions regarding the Dinshawai Incident family, including Khedive Tewfi k and Khedive Abbas Hilmi II, c. 1905 of 1906, involving British offi cers in a Delta Khedive Abbas Hilmi and his brothers. pigeon shoot, which was a cause célèbre Other albums illustrate trips by Abbas for the nationalist movement at the time. Hilmi to Upper Egypt in 1891 and 1893, the Th ere is a considerable amount of material visit of King George V to Port Said in 1911 focusing on the internal governance of and a pilgrimage to Mecca by an Egyptian Egypt, including correspondence with the delegation under Prince Ahmed Fouad Egyptian prime ministers Hussein Rushdi in 1909, which was recently displayed in Pasha, Nubar Pasha, and Butrus Ghali Pasha the British Museum’s Hajj exhibition. Also as well as with Lord Cromer, who served represented are albums on the architecture as the British agent and consul general in of Ismailia and Port Said, horses and Egypt between 1883 and 1907, and had a steamships owned by the Khedival family somewhat fractious relationship with the and offi cers and ranks in the Egyptian Army Khedive. before the First World War. Th e collection also contains numerous documents of relevance to wider Middle For further information about the Eastern history, including particularly collection, see http://www.dur.ac.uk/ dense series of correspondence with both library/asc/collection_information/ the Ottoman Grand Vizier Farid Pasha cldload/?collno=1 or e-mail pg.library@ and Jalal al-Din, Abbas Hilmi’s secretary in durham.ac.uk. Constantinople, on the political situation in Constantinople and the Balkans leading Will Berridge is a tutor of Imperial History at up to the First World War. In addition, the University of Nottingham

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 21 TTHEHE CULTURALCULTURAL OLYMPIADOLYMPIAD

Janet Rady explores the highlights of the recent Middle Eastern contemporary art oﬀ erings in London LLondon’sondon’s MMiddleiddle EEasternastern aartrt wworldorld – a

or those who follow its path either by the exhibition features the work of Hanaa Shawa, ‘chronicling the trials and tragedies’ choice or vocation, life in the fast lane Malallah and the collaborative pair of artists, of the Palestine-Israel confl ict. Th e canvases Fof Contemporary Middle Eastern art kennardphillipps and includes large-scale juxtaposed ironic references to Persian shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed, collages, installations, photomontage pieces miniatures with deadly Predator drones it appears to be quite the contrary. While and sculptures. Malallah's work uses burnt circling over Gaza. From the end of June to there was an absence of notable shows canvas, cloths, wire, found objects and paint mid-August the Gallery is exhibiting Benin and events in London last year (blame to create violently abstract yet sensuous artist Romuald Hazoumè’s Cargoland, which the economy), 2012 started off with pieces, whilst kennardphillipps' work satirises the ubiquitous plastic petrol can for considerable excitement (dare we blame the manipulates and subverts press material on fuelling mechanised change but also causing Arab Spring?) and a packed international the Iraq war to create opposing images and fatal explosions. summit on Middle Eastern Art and narratives. Most memorable was the image Two major galleries from Dubai, Artspace Patronage at the British Museum in January. of a smiling Tony Blair revelling in taking and Ayyam, have chosen to settle in Th e Serpentine Gallery chose in March a picture of himself with his mobile phone, London. Artspace opened their new gallery to display On the Edgware Road. Love it or against a backdrop of an horrifi c explosion. in Chelsea in conjunction with Iranian hate it, the Edgware Road is synonymous A fi rm fi xture on the scene, Rose curator, Leili Khalatbari, with the Egyptian with the vibrant Arab community in Issa followed her Canary in a Coalmine artist Mohamed Abla, and will continue London (especially in this Olympic season) exhibition of work by Iranian artist Farhad by featuring a selection of established and and the exhibition was the culmination of Ahrania with photographs by Palestinian younger Iranian and Arab artists, whilst three years of research generated by the Raeda Saadeh who, through her self- Ayyam are yet to announce their new venue. Serpentine's Edgware Road Project. Th e portraits, explored issues of physical and Lastly of note, a new online gallery, exhibition included installations, fi lms psychological exile. In addition to the Moroccan Fine Art, launched in May in and performances, both at the Serpentine Kensington gallery space Rose Issa Projects London with an exhibition An Urban Twist Gallery and at the Centre for Possible will be collaborating with the Qattan showcasing fi ve artists from Morocco, at the Studies, the Project's home. With social Foundation in July to show the work of the Coningsby Gallery. It intends to continue engagement as its main aim (following Egyptian photographer Nermine Hammam. its programme of exhibitions of artists from models in Cairo and Beirut), the Edgware Using images of soldiers plucked from the region and we look forward to following Road Project links local and international Tahrir Square, Hammam has produced a it and the contemporary Middle Eastern art artists with people living and working wonderfully quixotic play on the horrors of scene in general. in the neighbourhood. Th e Centre for revolution in contraposed bucolic settings. Possible Studies will continue to be home to One of the most poignant exhibitions Janet Rady is an expert on Middle Eastern art screenings, events and an ongoing project was at the October Gallery last spring – the and owner of Janet Rady Fine Art archive. canvases and sculptures of Palestinian Laila One of the most thought-provoking exhibitions by Iraqi artists and about One of the most poignant exhibitions was at the Iraq for a long time, was chosen by the Qattan Foundation to grace its imposing October Gallery last spring – the canvases and Mosaic Rooms throughout May and June. sculptures of Palestinian Laila Shawa, ‘chronicling the Entitled Iraq: How, Where, For Whom? trials and tragedies’ of the Palestine-Israel confl ict

22 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS TTripoliripoli WWitnessitness

By Rana Jawad

Gilgamesh Publishing, 2012, £9.95

Reviewed by Oliver Miles

anaanaJawadisaBritishjournalistof Jawad is a British journalist of undunder Gadaffi , as well as the resentment suff ered at the hands of dictatorship? Have Lebanese Muslim origin. She went by Tripolitanians of changes in Tripoli. dictators in the Arab world or in Africa Rto Libya for the BBC in 2004 when Libya is more homogeneous than almost destroyed any possibility of the changes that she was 22 and stayed there until aft er the any other Arab country but she explores the populations are fi ghting for? revolution. She wrote a blog under the regional diff erences and tribalism, which is Th e second part of the book, the Tripoli pseudonym Tripoli Witness while Gadaffi part of Libya's social fabric, binding Libyans Witness blog, is a reminder of the dramatic held out in Tripoli. together rather than dividing them. She events of 2011. Like everyone in Tripoli Th e book falls into two parts. Th e longer describes the heart-warming emergence Rana Jawad was pretty well penned-up fi rst section describes Gadaffi 's Libya as it of the Amazigh (Berber) minority from indoors. Her account is sharp and touching, was. Th e second is made up of her Tripoli repression (although many of the rights with one or two high points – the old Witness postings from February to August denied to them by Gadaffi were denied woman queuing in the bank who stuns 2011, with ‘retrospective’ comments. It is to Arabs as well). Not surprisingly she is everybody by blurting out that there well and simply written, with very few hints particularly interesting on the media, both are no men in Tripoli and they are all in of the haste in which it must have been put on the frustrations and perils she faced as Benghazi (fi ghting for freedom) – but together. virtually the only foreign correspondent mainly concerned with vital but mundane Th e account of Gadaffi 's Libya is factual resident in Libya and on the ludicrous questions like the availability of bread or and written with a minimum of spin. It performance of Gadaffi 's media. petrol. makes an excellent introduction to a subject Most topics of interest to students She off ers little hope for Libya's future, on which sources are scanty. of Libya are therefore touched on. An believing that Gadaffi has left the country As a non-Libyan Arab Jawad was better exception, which perhaps proves the rule in a state with which the new authorities placed than a non-Arab to get a feel for because she is reporting her own fi rst- will not be able to cope. Since she wrote life in Libya, but was nevertheless kept at hand experiences, is Islamic extremism. in November 2011 there has been good arms’ length as a foreigner and a journalist; Foreign commentators, particularly in the progress and although the situation remains contact with foreigners and journalists American media, can fi nd an Islamist under fragile it is possible to hope that she is meant trouble. She paints a vivid picture of every bed but Libyans habitually claim that wrong. boredom, chaos and occasional real fear, while all Libyans are Muslims almost all the sinister and mysterious world described Libyans are moderates. It will be interesting Oliver Miles was British ambassador to in Hisham Matar’s semi-autobiographical to see whether the national election due Libya in 1984, where he broke off diplomatic novel In the Country of the Men. Gradually this month reveals anything like the same relations aft er the murder of Yvonne she made some real friends, to whom she support for Islamists that appeared in the Fletcher. He retired from HM Diplomatic was able to turn in times of diffi culty. In Egyptian elections. Local elections already Service in 1996 and is now a director of her fi ft h year in Libya she fell in love and held in some towns have not. MEC International Ltd, a consulting fi rm married a Libyan, but disappointingly she Rana Jawad’s account does not break that advises mainly on the Middle East, says nothing about the circumstances and new ground. It raises some big questions and deputy chairman of the Libyan British very little about her husband. without attempting to answer them: how Business Council She describes the resentment in Benghazi do you undo decades of policing, and the of the privileges that Tripoli enjoyed knowledge of the many thousands who

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 23 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS EEncounteringncountering IIslam.slam. JJosephoseph PPitts:itts: AAnn EEnglishnglish SSlavelave inin 1177tthh centurycentury AAlgierslgiers aandnd MMeccaecca

By Paul Auchterlonie

Arabian Publishing, 2012. £48

Reviewed by Peter Clark

oseph Pitts, whose dates were book. But what the fascinating introduction strongly Protestant city and his observations probably1663-1739, was a lad from does is put Pitts’s life and adventures into of Muslim life is only negative when he JExeter who became a sailor in his early the wider political and social framework. describes phenomena that resembled teens, sailed to Newfoundland and then in In recent years Nabil Matar and Daniel J Catholic practices, such as belief in the 1678 or 1679 in the west Mediterranean. Vitkus have drawn attention to the personal, intercessory authority of saints or the use Here he was captured by ‘Barbary Pirate’, economic and cultural relations between of the tasbīh, rosary or ‘worry beads’. One and spent the next 15 years or so as a slave western Europe and the Islamic world. Th e would have liked to know much more about in Algiers. Under pressure, he embraced personal contacts were largely through the man. Alas, the whereabouts of his grave Islam and accompanied his master to enslavement of men and women either by is unknown. Tunisia, Egypt and on to Mecca and raiders or pirates. From the 16th to the early Th e production, as we have come Medina, performing the pilgrimage. Aft er 19th century there was a captivity literature to expect from Arabian Publishing, is his manumission, he was able to escape describing experiences and brutalities. Pitts faultless. Th ere are extensive notes, a map, from the world of which he had become encountered cruelty, but also instances of a comprehensive bibliography and some part and return (thanks to British offi cials kindness. During his 15 years in North excellent reproductions from Pitts’s original and merchants) via Smyrna (Izmir) to his Africa and Arabia, he had to master the work. family in Exeter. In 1704 he published his languages – Turkish was obviously much memoirs of captivity, in Exeter. Th ere were used. Other captives had to become Peter Clark is a regular visitor to the UAE later expanded editions, the last of which Muslims and to use Arabic or Turkish. and was Cultural Attache there 20 years forms the core of this book. Th roughout the Mediterranean there ago. He is the translator of Dubai Tales by Pitts was probably the fi rst person from was a lingua franca, a mixture of Spanish, Muhammad al-Murr Britain to undertake the pilgrimage and Portuguese, Italian and French. Th ere is one certainly the fi rst to record his experiences. story of an Irishman who became a Muslim It is a most remarkable document that and also lost his mother tongue from lack has oft en been referred to and has been of use. periodically reprinted: but not in such an Pitts’s own account is full of acute social excellent publication as this. observation. His account of the rituals of Paul Auchterlonie has placed Pitts into Islam is more accurate and unbiased than context. For the author of such a remarkable anything that had been written in western work, little is known about the man languages before, and Pitts comes across himself. Most personal information has to as a sympathetic person: resourceful, be derived from observations within his intelligent and philosophical. Exeter was a

24 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS DDubaiubai HHigh,igh, A CCultureulture TTriprip

By Michael Schindhelm , translated by Amy Patton. Photographs by Aurore Belkin

Arabian Publishing, 2011. £21.95

Reviewed by Peter Clark

ichael Schindhelm is one of kaleidoscopic expatriate community, the country know about them. Th e wish the leading opera and theatre on fi xed contracts, with no permanent to be associated with quality international Mdirectors of the world. Between commitment to the place and hardly any brands – be it Guggenheim, the Louvre 2007 and 2009 he was appointed as a contact with the people of the Emirates. or Booker – is an acknowledgement of cultural adviser to the government of Dubai. Everyone was talking but no one was a wish to be associated with nothing but He stayed there for two years. Dubai High listening. He can be sharply funny: ‘Th e the very best. From the book Michael is a fi ctionalised account, based on a diary shopping mall is a sadomasochistic Schindhelm seems to be uncurious about for the year 2008. It is a credible account funhouse of global consumerism. It far how Dubai’s achievements have been of a year of personal disillusionment. In transcends the simple old-fashioned secured, or how the system works. We do 2007 Dubai’s enterprise, prosperity and business of exchanging cash for essential learn of layers of foggy uncertainty between limitless prospects gave the Ruler a Bob- goods. It’s consumer porn, an interminable the ruler’s articulated dreams and their the-Builder complex. (‘Can we fi x it? Yes, transacting of stimulated desire and implementation. Th e ruling family and the we can.’) Nothing seemed impossible. Th e temporary relief. Lust aft er the brand and merchant princes preside over a system of Emirate could buy the best, paying the top suff er the exquisite whiplash of the price unregulated capitalism. Yet generally things international rates. Michael Schindhelm tag…’ work well. Some foreigners in Dubai and in turned up, ready to deliver. He had an offi ce What went wrong? Is it to be ever thus? the rest of the UAE have helped to achieve in a brand new skyscraper and a staff but Th ere is certainly a culture clash in Michael a great deal in cultural fi elds. How that no clear job description. Th e rules of the Schindhelm’s experience. He was in Dubai happened does not emerge in this book. We game seemed to change without notice. at a critical time, but other consultants and are left with sad disillusionment. He was given a new job title. It was unclear experts, both resident and on short-term who drove the policy or to whom he was contract, have survived and been able to Peter Clark is a regular visitor to the UAE responsible and where his role fi tted into operate. Schindhelm was cut off from any and was Cultural Attache there 20 years the broader picture. It is a not unfamiliar wise national who could have told him ago. He is the translator of Dubai Tales by story. Th e situation was aggravated by the how to bridge the gap between declared Muhammad al-Murr recession that hit Dubai. Building projects aspiration and realistic achievement. Dubai were discontinued. Property prices slumped. has produced venues and institutions of Cars and possessions were abandoned. international excellence, from airlines to Migrant labourers from South India were, golf courses. Dubai and the United Arab of course, worst aff ected, returning home Emirates have also registered enormous to debts and disappointment. Th e streets of cultural achievements in the last 10 years. Dubai were not for them paved with gold. UAE nationals are familiar with what is Schindhelm gives a convincing picture best in the world. Th ey know more about of the society of Dubai, especially the the rest of the world than most visitors to

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 25 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS ININ BRIEFBRIEF EEurope’surope’s MMuslimuslim WWomenomen BBeyondeyond tthehe BBurqaurqa ccontroversyontroversy Sara Silvestri :JGDE:ÉH Sara Silvestri, senior lecturer in religion and international politics at City University, London BJHA>B urges readers to move beyond the ‘burqa debate’ and appreciate the complexity of Europe’s LDB:C female Muslim population. 7:NDC9I=:7JGF6 Between 2008 and 2010, Silvestri conducted face to face research in Britain, Belgium, France, 8DCIGDK:GHN Italy, and Spain. Th rough interviews and questionnaires, she recorded the views of Muslim women from a variety of backgrounds and professions. Bringing their voices to the fore, Silvestri shares the daily concerns, aspirations, and challenges of these women, illuminating their agency, community, and relational status within their families and society.

H6G6H>AK:HIG> Hurst and Co, September 2012, £16.99

AArabrab CChristianityhristianity aandnd JJerusalemerusalem

Raouf Abujaber

As the focal point of the three major monotheistic religions, Jerusalem is home to a diverse spread of diff erent religious communities who have a complex history of alliances and rift s. Today's Christian communities are the survivors of the last two centuries of Islamic and Jewish governance, albeit oft en in the face of seemingly overwhelming challenges. Raouf Abujaber, who has written widely on Ottoman history attempts to chart this struggle, using interview and archival research.

Gilgamesh, July 2012, £24.95

AAfterfter thethe SSpringpring EEconomicconomic TTransitionsransitions iinn tthehe AArabrab WWorldorld Magdi Amin et al

Th e Arab Spring is perhaps the most far-reaching political and economic transition since the end of communism in Europe. Th e authors of this book include Magdi Amin, lead economist at the International Finance Corporation, Nazar al-Baharna, former Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs of Bahrain, and Ragui Assaad, Professor of Planning and Public Aff airs, Minnesota University. Th ey and others argue that signifi cant economic reforms must accompany the major political transitions that are underway. Although each country will develop according to its own distinctive history and economy, each will also undoubtedly be aff ected by its wider trade and investment linkages, the contagion of news cycles, the international links of its people and the sharing of their political aspirations.

OUP USA, May 2012, £22.50

26 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 OOBITUARYBITUARY YYousefousef DDaneshvaraneshvar

ousef Daneshvar was born in Bushehr, Iran in 1930. As a young Yman, he is fondly recalled as having been a gift ed student with a keen mind, a good heart, and a love of sports, taking part in wrestling, volleyball and table tennis. Having completed his high school education in Tehran, he eschewed taking a university degree and instead, took on a variety of projects, culminating in a leading role in the establishment of Japan’s fi rst Embassy in the capital. Having discovered his niche – an intrinsic ability to bring people together and resolve diffi cult situations, he applied himself to the business world and established his fi rst company at the age of 21, Ravand Trading Company in Tehran, followed soon aft er by the Bila Valley Mineral Water Company in Azerbaijan Province. In the years that followed, his commercial activities and interests continued to expand and he returned to the place of his birth to build Bushehr’s fi rst deluxe hotel. In 1969, he made a calculated move to Dubai, then still a dependency of the United Kingdom, and founded Danchalesco International Limited, which began as agents for the Hawker-Siddeley Group, a British company engaged in aircraft production. As a result of this partnership, Danchalesco built the fi rst desalination plant in Jebel Ali, which in its second phase is the world’s largest. Since this accomplishment, the business diversifi ed into electrical installations and became the distributor for Avery-Weight Tronix of Birmingham. It continues to operate today under the name Danlesco Gulf LLC. In the early 1970s, he moved from Dubai Chairman and continues to grow in size operative complications developed. He is to London. Having moved far from home, and signifi cance. In 2007, he was made an survived by his wife, Farideh, and two sons, he rose to the challenge and successfully Offi cer of the Most Excellent Order of the Kooros and Kambiz. launched several trading companies, British Empire (OBE) for services to British Responsible for many ‘fi rsts’ in business, including Lemax Engineering. During this business interest in Iran. Yousef Daneshvar was modest about his time, he met his future wife, Farideh, with With his classic fl air for incidental accomplishments. He will be remembered whom he had two sons: Kooros in 1977 and timings, Iran Heritage Foundation as a distinguished Iranian, a champion of Kambiz in 1980. welcomed both a long-standing patron and Iran’s heritage and culture, as well as of In later years, he revived the British- friend to its Board of Trustees in the year of its people; his vitality, verve for life and Iranian Chamber of Commerce, investing its 15th anniversary in 2010, adding to its magnanimity will be sorely missed, as his charm, time, formidable intellect and team of directors a dynamic business and will his warmth, his disarming smile and network of contacts towards improving community leader. generosity of spirit. business-relations between his home He was diagnosed with cancer of the gall country and his adopted one. Th e BICC bladder in early 2012 and sadly passed away Armin Yavari is research assistant at the Iran fl ourished under his guidance as its Deputy a few months later on March 31 aft er post- Heritage Foundation

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 27 OOBITUARYBITUARY PPopeope SShenoudahenouda IIIIII

he Coptic Pope Shenouda III, the oversaw a huge expansion in the Coptic the Muslim Brotherhood and the military, 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Church’s diaspora. He consecrated two and they attended services for Orthodox TPatriarch of the see of St Mark, bishops in Africa. And he oversaw major Christmas in January 2012. died on March 17, 2012 ending a 40-year diocesan growth in the United States, Shenouda III was buried at Bishoi incumbency. Born Nazeer Gayed Roufail Australia and New Zealand, as well as monastery in the Wadi Natrun, following into a devout Christian family on August Europe and the UK. his funeral in St. Mark’s cathedral, Cairo. In 3 1923 in Asyut, Upper Egypt, he became Shenouda III was committed to these stressed times, Egypt’s estimated 10 a monk in 1954 and joined the Syrian ecumenical dialogue and in 1973 travelled million Copts are now anxiously awaiting monastery in Wadi al-Natrun. Upon his to Rome. His meeting with Paul VI was the emergence of the 118th Pope and ordination as a bishop in 1962, he took the the fi rst between the Roman Catholic and pray that he will have the fortitude of his name Shenouda, aft er the namesake 4th Coptic Popes for 1500 years. However, his predecessor. century scholar. robust opposition to the ‘Nestorian heresy’, His 40-year episcopacy was not without culminated in the Church of the East being Dr Erica C D Hunter is the Chair, Centre political challenge. In 1981 President denied membership of the Middle East of Eastern and Orthodox Christianity and Anwar Sadat banished Shenouda III to the Council of Churches in 1998. Lecturer in Eastern Christianity, Department monastery of St. Bishoi; their relationship Th e last years of Shenouda’s incumbency for the Study of Religions, SOAS had deteriorated in part over the newly- were overshadowed by civil unrest, concluded Peace Treaty with Israel repeating the cycle of violence that the which Pope Shenouda believed should Christian communities had already have been part of a more comprehensive experienced in 1981. Despite the peace package resolving issues with the overwhelming challenges of these events Palestinians. (27 Copts were killed in the Maspero Cairo Restored to favour in 1985 by President demonstration on October 9, 2011) and Hosni Mubarak, Shenouda III worked criticism by young and liberal Copts of tirelessly throughout his incumbency his conservatism, he strove, to the end of to implement his missionary vision. He his days, to foster unity with leaders from

28 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 OOBITUARYBITUARY CChrishris RRundleundle

oming just fi ve months aft er Sandy last of a long line of Oriental Secretaries, knowledge about contemporary Iran and Morton’s passing, the recent death which post he fi lled admirably from 1968 Afghanistan. Cof Chris Rundle is a further blow to to 1970, aft er he had got over his initial Beyond the bare facts though he gives Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies in the shock of encountering Afghan Persian at the rather little detail about his long and United Kingdom. frontier post, and discovering that he could distinguished career in the Foreign Offi ce. Chris Rundle at fi rst appeared destined hardly understand a word. It was during Of course unlike Ambassadors who are to be an expert on the Soviet Union. Aft er these two years in which I was a UNA the public face of the business of foreign his National Service during which he volunteer English language teacher in Kabul relations and subsequently are quite oft en completed the course at the famous Joint that I got to know him quite well. in the news, Chris as a member of the Services School for Linguists where he I use the word ‘quite’ advisedly. On Research Department was essentially a learned Russian, followed by a fi rst class returning to Britain in 1970 and looking back room boy. But among the highlights honours degree in Russian and French him up I was amazed to discover that he of his career were his four years in Iran from Cambridge, and a year translating had in the mean time married an Afghan during 1979 before the American Embassy Russian journal articles at the Central Asian lady. Discretion had of course been occupation, and as one of the fi rst senior Research Centre, he applied for a job in the necessary in this case while Chris was diplomats to return there in 1981. Th ese Foreign Offi ce’s Research Department. He working in Afghanistan, but in general four years very nearly ended tragically for was surprised to discover that he had been discretion and self eff acement were him and his wife, when they were involved assigned to the Middle East Section. Aft er important characteristics of his character, in a serious car accident, in what is still some desultory private lessons he joined and in this he was the perfect diplomat. regarded by some Iranians as being in late one of Professor Lambton’s Persian He did reveal a lot about himself however suspicious circumstances. language classes at SOAS and not only in his memoir entitled ‘From Colwyn Chris Rundle took the chance to do a lot survived but managed to pass the exam. Bay to Kabul’, in which he also wrote a lot of travelling during his busy life. An earlier Aft er a year in Tehran perfecting his spoken about his travels and some very interesting Oriental Secretary in the Kabul Embassy Persian he was sent to Kabul to become the and judicious chapters distilling his deep who had also learned Persian in SOAS called Hugh Carless accompanied Eric Newby on a trip in Afghanistan recounted in ‘A short walk in the Hindu Kush’. Chris accompanied two well known authors, Peter Levi and Bruce Chatwin on a trip to Nuristan, described in the former’s book ‘Th e light garden of the Angel King’. Writing his memoir referred to above was a part of a very active new career Chris embarked upon aft er his retirement from the Foreign Offi ce. He became a member of the Board of the British Institute of Persian Studies, an Honorary Fellow of Durham University with a publication in their Middle Eastern Series, as well as writing a large number of articles and other contributions to bodies ranging from Chatham House to the Royal Society for Asian Aff airs. His familiar presence at conferences and specialist society meetings and his well considered and judicious contributions to them will be sorely missed. He leaves his wife Homa and daughter Susanne.

Peter Colvin was formerly Middle East Specialist Librarian in SOAS Library and is currently a part time voluntary manuscript cataloguing consultant in SOAS and the Royal Asiatic Society Libraries

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 29 LISTINGS EEventsvents iinn LLondonondon

HE EVENTS and of mind. What took place on the Th ursday 7 June Geographical Society (with the organisations listed below mountain that day is the beginning Institute of British Geographers), Tare not necessarily endorsed of a lifetime of suff ering. Tickets: 4:00 pm | AGM Lecture: Th e 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 or supported by The Middle East in £18. Bush Th eatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, Legacy of the Aramaeans and the 2AR. T 020 7792 4830 E info@ London. The accompanying texts London W12 8LJ. T 020 8743 5050 Aramaeanization of the Ancient intelligencesquared.com W www. and images are based primarily W www.bushtheatre.co.uk Near East (Lecture) John Healey, intelligencesquared.com on information provided by the University of Manchester. Organised organisers and do not necessarily Saturday 2 June by: Palestine Exploration Fund 7:00 pm | Fathieh Saudi: Poetry reflect the views of the compilers (PEF). Professor Healey will discuss Reading (Reading) Fathieh Saudi, or publishers. While every possible 2:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) Also at the Aramaization of the Middle East English PEN. Organised by: Th e effort is made to ascertain the 7:30pm. See listing for Friday 1 June in the period from approximately Mosaic Rooms. An evening of accuracy of these listings, readers for details. 900 BCE to 900 CE, showing how poetry readings by Fathieh Saudi are advised to seek confirmation the use of Aramaic spread into new who will be reading from her of all events using the contact 7:00 pm | Festival of Kurdish Music areas beyond its original home. recent collection 'Daughter of the details provided for each event. at SOAS (Concert) Orgabised by: Admission free. Stevenson Lecture Th ames and Prophetic Childhood'. Submitting entries and updates: Peyman Heydarian, SOAS. Doors Th eatre, Clore Education Centre, Admission free. Th e Mosaic Rooms, please send all updates and open at 6:30 pm. A festival of BM. T 020 7935 5379 E execsec@ 226 Cromwell Road, London, submissions for entries related Kurdish music in Sorani, Goran and pef.org.uk W www.pef.org.uk SW5 0SW. T 020 7370 9990 E to future events via e-mail to Kurmanj dialects. Tickets: £10/£8 [email protected] W www. [email protected] or by fax to conc./£6 SOAS students. Lucas 6:45 pm | What to do about mosaicrooms.org 020 7898 4329. Lecture Th eatre (G2), SOAS. E Iran? (Panel Debate) Max Boot, [email protected] W www. Council on Foreign Relations; Mark 7:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) See BM – British Museum, Great thesantur.com Dubowitz, Foundation for Defense listing for Friday 1 June for details. Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG of Democracies in Washington SOAS – School of Oriental and Monday 4 June DC; Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Friday 8 June African Studies, Th ornhaugh Street, University of Cambridge; Fawaz Russell Square, London WC1H 7:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) See Gerges, LSE; Daniel Levy, ECFR and 6:00 pm | Vladimir G. Lukonin 0XG listing for Friday 1 June for details. Middle East Task Force at the New Memorial Lecture: Th e Horses LSE – London School of Economics America Foundation. Organised by: of Ancient Iran (Lecture) John and Political Science, Houghton Tuesday 5 June Intelligence Squared. Doors open at Curtis, BM. Organised by: BM. To Street, London WC2 2AE 6:00pm. A group of leading analysts celebrate the BM’s special exhibition 7:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) See – doves and hawks, Iranians, on Th e Horse, this lecture will trace listing for Friday 1 June for details. Israelis and Americans – debate the the history of horses in Iran from JUNE EVENTS prospect of a nuclear armed Iran. their domestication in around 3000 Wednesday 6 June Chaired by Nader Mousavizadeh, BC down to the beginning of the Former Special Assistant to UN Islamic period in the 7th century Friday 1 June 7:00 pm | Eyal Weizman: Th e Least Secretary-General Kofi Annan. AD. To be followed by a reception. of All Possible Evils (Book Launch) Tickets: £25/£12.50 Students. Royal Admission free. BP Lecture Th eatre, 6:30 pm | Dastforoush (Film) Eyal Weizman, Goldsmiths, Organised by: Omid Cultural University of London. Organised by: Society. Dir Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Th e Mosaic Rooms. Eyal Weizman Irini Gonou: A Tale of Two Cultures (see Exhibitions, page 35) Followed by a discussion with Parviz discusses his new book 'Th e Least Jahed. Tickets: £6/£3 Students. of All Possible Evils' (Verso, 2012). Omid Cultural Centre, 45 Queens Th e principle of the ‘lesser evil’ Walk, London W5 1TL. T 0781 884 exercises a powerful infl uence on 0824 E omidculturalsociety@yahoo. Western ethical philosophy and co.uk W www.omidculturalsociety. modern politics, most recently in com the invasion of Libya. Weizman examines the dark side of this 7:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) pragmatism. Admission free. Th e Organised by: Bush Th eatre. Until Mosaic Rooms, 226 Cromwell Saturday 9 June. By Amir Nizar Road, London, SW5 0SW. T 020 Zuabi. A twist on the historic 7370 9990 E rsvp@mosaicrooms. tale of Abraham and Isaac from org W www.mosaicrooms.org Palestinian Th eatre Company ShiberHur. When Abraham returns 2:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) Also home from a journey with his son, at 7:30pm. See listing for Friday 1 his wife is troubled by the boy’s state June for details.

30 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 BM. T 020 7323 8489 E asmith@ Conference 2012. Tickets: Various. britishmuseum.org W www. New Academic Building, LSE. T britishmuseum.org 020 7955 6250 E mec.brismes. [email protected] W https://sites. 7:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) See google.com/site/brismesgs2012/ listing for Friday 1 June for details. Tuesday 12 June Saturday 9 June 7:00 pm | Salafi Film Screening 10:00 am | 'Grand Designs': (Documentary) Organised by: Amenhotep III and the landscape London Middle East Institute, of Th ebes (Study Day) Organised SOAS (LMEI). Admission free. KLT, by: Th e Egypt Exploration Society. SOAS. T 020 7898 4330 E vp6@soas. Although the monuments of ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/lmei-cis/ Amenhotep III were part of the events/ landscape of Th ebes many of them were unknown until recently, this Wednesday 13 June study day will explore the idea that The Prophet (see June Events, page 31) Amenhotep had a 'grand design' for 7:00 pm | Th e Last Fatimid the city encompassing monuments Fortifi cations, the Towers of and possibly waterways. Tickets: the Vizir Saladin (Lecture) Dr £27 EES Members/£32 non- Stéphane Pradines Archaeologist, Friday 15 June Tuesday 19 June members/£18 EES Student Institut français d’archéologie Members/£22 Student non- orientale (IFAO), Cairo. Organised 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See 7:00 pm | Th e Awkwardness of members. Brunei Gallery Lecture by: Islamic Art Circle at SOAS. Part listing for Th ursday 14 June for Nader Shah (Lecture) Michael Th eatre, SOAS. T 020 7242 1880 of the Islamic Art Circle at SOAS details. Axworthy, University of Exeter. E [email protected] W www.ees. Lecture Programme. Chaired by Organised by: Th e Iran Society. ac.uk Doris Behrens-Abouseif, SOAS. 7:30 pm | Kayhan Kalhor Admission free for members and Admission free. Khalili Lecture Ensemble - Passionate Poems guests.Th e Iran Society, 2 Belgrave 2:30 pm | Th e Beloved (Play) Also at Th eatre, SOAS. T 0771 408 7480 of Rumi (Concert) Organised Square, London SW1X 8PJ. T 020 7:30pm. See listing for Friday 1 June E [email protected] W by: Barbican Centre. Songs from 7235 5122 E [email protected] for details. www.soas.ac.uk/art/islac/ Kayhan Kalhor's latest album with W www.iransociety.org new interpretations of Persian 7:30 pm | Flamenco Extraordinaire Th ursday 14 June classical music based on Rumi’s 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See (Play) Festival of Arts. Hamed poems. Tickets: £22 – £35. Barbican listing for Th ursday 14 June for Nikpay combines his Persian musical 6:00 pm | A War of Choice: Lessons Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, details. traditions with Flamenco and jazz from Britain’s War in Iraq 2003- London EC2Y 8DS. T 020 7638 combined with lyrics from both 09 (lecture) Jack Fairweather, 8891 W www.barbican.org.uk Wednesday 20 June classical and contemporary poets former Baghdad bureau chief for such as Rumi, Emad Khorasani, Th e Daily Telegraph. Organised by: Saturday 16 June 7:00 pm | Th e Oriental Carpet and Fereydoon Moshiri. Tickets: Th e British Institute for the Study of Manufacturers – the early days Various. Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Iraq (Gertrude Bell Memorial). BISI 3:00 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See (Talk) Antony Wynn, author of Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ. T 020 Bonham Carter Lecture. In the 30th listing for Th ursday 14 June for ‘Th ree Camels to Smyrna’. Organised 8904 3003 E [email protected] lecture in this series, Fairweather details. Also at 7:30pm. by: Oriental Rug and Textile Society. W www.festivalofarts.co.uk will discuss his book, 'A War of Talk about the founding of the Choice: Britain’s War in Iraq 2003- Sunday 17 June OCM in Turkey in 1908, and the Sunday 10 June 09', arguably the fi rst full analysis of early days in Iran, up to the end of Tony Blair’s decision to invade Iraq. 2:00 pm | White Rabbit, Red the Great War, telling the story of 9:00 am | Antique Textile & Tribal Admission free, RSVP required as Rabbit (Play) Organised by: the this iconic global carpet trade in Art Fair, London Organised by: seating limited. British Academy, Gate Th eatre & LIFT 2012. 17 & the 20th century. Tickets: £6 non- Clive Rogers Oriental Rugs in co- 10 Carlton House Terrace, London 24 June and 1 July. Also at 5:00 pm. members (includes refreshments). operation with Michael Hawes. SW1Y 5AH. T 020 7969 5274 E Unable to travel, 29 year old Iranian Swedenborg Hall, 20/21 £5. Olympia Kensington Hilton [email protected] W www.bisi.ac.uk playwright Nassim Soleimanpour Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A Hotel, 380 Kensington High Street, turns his isolation to his own 2TH. T 020 8886 3910 E penny@ London W14 8NL. W www.orient- 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) advantage with a play (written in orientalrugandtextilesociety. rug.com Organised by: the Gate Th eatre. English) that requires no director, org.uk W www. Until 21 July. Written by playwright no set, and a diff erent actor for every orientalrugandtextilesociety.org.uk Hassan Abdulrazzak and based performance. Tickets: £10-£12. the Monday 11 June on extensive interviews in Cairo Gate Th eatre, 11 Pembridge Road, 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See with revolutionaries and soldiers, London W11 2HL. T 020 7229 0706 listing for Th ursday 14 June for 8:45 am | Change and Continuity journalists and cab drivers, this new E boxoffi [email protected] W details. in the Middle East: Rethinking drama depicts both a revolution in www.gatetheatre.co.uk West Asia, North Africa and the progress and the society from which Gulf aft er 2011 (Conference) it sprang. Tickets: £10-£20. the Monday 18 June Th ursday 21 June Organised by: British Society for Gate Th eatre, 11 Pembridge Road, Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) London W11 2HL. T 020 7229 0706 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See and the LSE Middle East Centre. E boxoffi [email protected] W listing for Th ursday 14 June for listing for Th ursday 14 June for BRISMES Graduate Section Annual www.gatetheatre.co.uk details. details.

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 31 Friday 22 June listing for Th ursday 14 June for Lecture at SOAS. Professor Karimi- contemporary poetry and prose of details. Also at 7:30pm. Hakkak will survey the exilic mode Iran, primarily in the twentieth and 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See in classical Persian literature from twenty-fi rst centuries. Admission listing for Th ursday 14 June for Sunday 24 June tenth century Central Asia to the free - Pre-registration required. details. waning of the classical tradition and Brunei Gallery Lecture Th eatre, 2:00 pm | White Rabbit, Red the dawning of the modern period SOAS. T 020 7898 4330 E vp6@ Rabbit (Play) See listing for Sunday around the turn of the twentieth soas.ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/lmei- Saturday 23 June 17 June for details. Also at 5:00 pm. century. Lecture to be followed by cis/events/ a reception at 7:30pm. Admission 11:00 am | Self-fashioning' in Monday 25 June free. Brunei Gallery Lecture Th eatre, 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See Ancient Egypt: the testimony SOAS. T 020 7898 4330 E vp6@soas. listing for Th ursday 14 June for of graffi ti (Seminar) Chloe 3:00 pm | Palestine and the Wider ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/lmei-cis/ details. Ragazzoli, University of Oxford; Mediterranean: A View from the events/ Elizabeth Frood, University Middle AgesMarina Rustow, Johns Wednesday 27 June of Oxford. Organised by: Th e Hopkins University, Baltimore. 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See Egypt Exploration Society. An Anglo-Israel Archaeological listing for Th ursday 14 June for 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See examination of the ancient Egyptian Society (AIAS). (Lecture) AGM details. listing for Th ursday 14 June for visitors' inscriptions on historical Lecture. Admission free. Stevenson details. monuments, specifi cally from Lecture Th eatre, Clore Education Tuesday 26 June the rich necropolis of Th ebes and Centre, BM. T 020 8349 5754 W 7:30 pm | Alternative Geographies: the temple landscapes of Karnak http://aias.org.uk 6:00 pm | Kamran Djam 2012 Arabic and Francophone Poetry and Luxor. Tickets: £23 EES Annual Lecture at SOAS: Th e from the Middle East, Africa Members/£28 non-members/£16 6:00 pm | Kamran Djam 2012 Exilic Mode in Persian Literature: and Europe (Reading) Southbank EES Student Members/£20 Annual Lecture at SOAS: Th e Exilic Th e Modern and Contemporary Centre in partnership with Th e Student non-members. Th e Egypt Mode in Persian Literature: Th e Scenes (Lecture) Ahmad Karimi- British Council. In this rare event, Exploration Society, 3 Doughty Classical Background (Lecture) Hakkak, University of Maryland. leading contemporary poets from Mews, London WC1N 2PG. T 020 Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, University Organised by: Centre for Iranian the Middle East, Africa and Europe 7242 1880 E [email protected] W of Maryland. Organised by: Centre Studies (LMEI), SOAS. Professor present an evening of poetry in www.ees.ac.uk for Iranian Studies (LMEI), SOAS. Karimi-Hakkak's second talk (see Arabic and French. Event will be in Th e fi rst of two lectures to mark above listing) will address the Arabic, English and French.£8/50% 3:00 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See the fi rst Kamran Djam Annual exilic mode in the modern and off conc. (limited availability).

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Abdelsalam, Professor of Political Science, International Islamic University, Malaysia ‘Contributes to the debate on the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in Modern Egypt...and draws attention to the new Muslim Brotherhood discourse not only in Egypt but in the entire region.’ – Mahjoob Zweiri, Assistant Professor in Contemporary History and Politics of the Middle East, Qatar University 224 pages 216 x 135mm PB 9781780762173 £14.99 32 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 www.ibtauris.com Weston Pavilion, Southbank to hear a concert of Jewish Kurdish JULY EVENTS (Concert) See listing for Friday 20 Centre, Belvedere Road, London music featuring singer Ilana Eliya July for details. SE1 8XX. T 020 7960 4200 W www. supported by Daphna Sadeh & the Sunday 1 July southbankcentre.co.uk Voyagers: Daphna Sadeh, double Tuesday 24 July bass; Stewart Curtis, woodwind; 2:00 pm | White Rabbit, Red Nim Schwartz, oud and saz; Guy Rabbit (Play) See listing for Sunday 7:00 pm | Prom 13: Beethoven Th ursday 28 June Schalom, percussion. £10. Bernie 17 June for details. Also at 5:00 pm. Cycle – Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8 Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall (Concert) See listing for Friday 20 7:00 pm | My Father’s Paradise, Approach Road, London N15 4RX. Monday 2 July July for details. the Story of the Jews of Kurdistan T 020 7351 6212 E [email protected]. (Lecture & Discussion) Yona Sabar, uk W www.gulan.org.uk/ 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See Friday 27 July UCLA; Ariel Sabar, author of ‘My listing for Th ursday 14 June for Father’s Paradise’. Organised by: 3:00 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See details. Until Saturday 21 July. 6:30 pm | Prom 18: Beethoven Gulan. Doors open at 6:00pm. listing for Th ursday 14 June for Cycle – Symphony No. 9, 'Choral' First of two events on the Jews of details. Also at 7:30pm. Th ursday 5 July (Concert) See listing for Friday 20 Kurdistan, see listing for Saturday July for details. Daniel Barenboim’s 30 June. With Kurdish harp music 6:30 pm | Iran: Th e Next War in Beethoven cycle concludes on performed by Tara Jaff + the fi rst EVENTS OUTSIDE the Middle East? (Lecture) Hamid the opening day of the London showing of historic images of Iraq LONDON Dabashi, Columbia University. Olympics. photographed during the 1940's Organised by: LSE Middle East by Anthony Kersting. £10. Royal Centre. Admission free. Sheikh Geographical Society (with the Tuesday 5 June Zayed Th eatre, LSE. T 020 7955 EVENTS OUTSIDE Institute of British Geographers), 6365 E [email protected] W www2. LONDON 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2:00 pm | Th e Future of lse.ac.uk/middleEastCentre/ 2AR. T 020 7351 6212 E info@ Contemporary Middle Eastern Monday 2 July gulan.org.uk W www.gulan.org.uk/ Art Studies (Seminar) Farzaneh Sunday 8 July Pirouz; Jane Jakeman. Organised 9:00 am | Th e Edomites (Idumeans) 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See by: Khalili Research Centre. Part of 10:00 am | All you want to know and the Nabataeans (Four-Day listing for Th ursday 14 June for the Middle Eastern Contemporary about the Arab revolutions - Conference: Monday 2 July - details. Art seminar series. Admission free. And don't know how to fi nd Th ursday 5 July) Organised Lecture Room, Khalili Research out (Discussion/Performance) by: ARAM Society for Syro- 8:30 pm | Kiarostami Style Centre, University of Oxford, 3 St Organised by: Southbank Centre. Mesopotamian Studies.Tickets: (Documentary) Organised by: John Street, Oxford OX1 2LG. T A day of discussion, Play and TBC. University of Oxford OX1. T UKIFF. Tehran Taxi, Dir Bahman 01865 278222 W http://krc.orient. exchange, curated by novelist Ahdaf 01865 514041E [email protected]. Kiarostami (2011), 52 min. + Th e ox.ac.uk/krc/ Souief and writer and activist Salma uk W www.aramsociety.org Original Certifi ed Copy, Dir Said. Tickets: £12/50% off conc. Hamideh Razavi (2011), Iran, 32 Wednesday 6 June (limited availability). Purcell Room, Th ursday 5 July min. Both fi lms in Persian with Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, English subtitles. Tickets: Various. 5:00 pm | On the Methodology London SE1 8XX. T 020 7960 4200 9:00 am | Zoroastrianism in the Cine Lumiere, Institut Français, 17 of Deriving Ethics from the W www.southbankcentre.co.uk Levant (Th ree-Day Conference: Queensberry Place, London SW7 Qur’anic Worldview (Seminar) Th ursday 5 July - Saturday 7 2DT. T 020 7589 5433 W http:// Ahmed Abaddi, Secretary-General Friday 20 July July) ARAM Society for Syro- ukiff .org.uk / www.institut-francais. of the Rabita Mohammadia des Mesopotamian Studies. Tickets: org.uk Oulémas, Morocco. Organised by: 7:30 pm | Beethoven Cycle – TBC. University of Oxford OX1. T Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (Concert) 01865 514041 E [email protected]. Friday 29 June Admission free. Oxford Centre Daniel Barenboim directs his fi rst uk W www.aramsociety.org for Islamic Studies, George Street, Beethoven symphony cycle in 7:00 pm | Solo Kanun Recital Oxford OX1 2AR. T 01865 278730 London bringing together Arab and Friday 6 July with Maya Youssef (Concert) E academic.offi [email protected] W Israeli players in his West-Eastern Organised by: Asian Music Circuit. www.oxcis.ac.uk Divan Orchestra. See article by 9:00 pm | Th e Th ree Disappearances Maya Youssef will perform her Sarah Searight on page 13 'Music as of Soad Hosni (Film) Part of the interpretation of pieces from Tuesday 12 June the food of harmony'. Tickets: £13- Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Syrian, Arabic classical, Turkish £55. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington 2012. An award-winning elegy to and Azerbaijani traditions. Tickets: 6:30 pm | Pre Launch: Double Gore, London SW7 2AP. T 0845 the richest era of fi lm production £10. Museum of Asian Music, 1-2 Bill: I Want to See (Je Veux Voir) 401 5040 W www.bbc.co.uk/proms in Egypt, seen through the work of Bradford Road, London W3 7SP. T + Incendies (Film) Part of the / www.royalalberthall.com one of its most revered actresses. 020 8742 9911E [email protected] Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2012 Admission free. Th e Kazimier W www.amc.org.uk Pre Launch (Friday 6 - Sunday 15 Saturday 21 July Outdoor Screen, Th e Kazimier, 4-5 July). I Want to See, Catherine Wolstenholme Square, Liverpool L1 7:30 pm | Th e Prophet (Play) See Deneuve journeys through war- torn 7:30 pm | Prom 10: Beethoven 4JJ. T 0871 902 5737 W www.fact. listing for Th ursday 14 June for Lebanon. Incendies, Adaptation of Cycle – Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 co.uk details. Wajdi Mouawad’s play ‘Scorched’, (Concert) See listing for Friday 20 a tale of family ties, duty and the July for details. Saturday 7 July Saturday 30 June inescapable links between past and present. Tickets: £5/£4 conc. FACT, Monday 23 July 1:00 pm | Th e Arab Street Part of 8:00 am | Ilana Eliya in concert with 88 Wood Street, Liverpool L14DQ. the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Daphna Sadeh and the Voyagers T 0871 902 5737 W www.fact.co.uk 7:30 pm | Prom 12: Beethoven 2012. Includes discounted & free (Concert) Gulan. A rare opportunity / www.arabicartsfestival.co.uk Cycle – Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 events. Street dance, music, food,

June-July 2012 The Middle East in London 33 performance and fi lm. the Bluecoat, Sunday 8 July Arabic Arts Festival 2012. Nomad’s Tuesday 10 July School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX/City Home, Filmmaker Iman Kamel is Centre. T 0151 702 5324 W www. 12:30 pm | Family Day Part of the invited into tribeswomen’s circles 5:00 pm | Fleeing Words (Reading) thebluecoat.org.uk Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2012. and discovers their lives are more Part of the Liverpool Arabic Live music, dance, workshops, connected than might appear. From Arts Festival 2012. An anthology 1:00 pm | Ghussoun (Film) Part of stalls and food suitable for all. Palestine With Love, Maya lives in of Tunisian fi ction, poetry and the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Admission free. Seft on Park Palm the occupied Palestinian territories. articles; freedom of speech aft er 2012. Fly on the wall documentary House, Liverpool L17 1AP. W www. She plans a life with her boyfriend in the revolution. Admission free. the about a young Iraqi woman arabicartsfestival.co.uk Stockholm but the road from dream Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool in Jordan. Admission free. the to reality is fi lled with obstacles. L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 W www. Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool 7:00 pm | Caramel (Film) Part of Admission free. FACT, 88 Wood thebluecoat.org.uk L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 W www. the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Street, Liverpool L14DQ. T 0871 thebluecoat.org.uk 2012. Romantic comedy about fi ve 902 5737 W www.fact.co.uk 6:00 pm | VHS Kahloucha (Film) Lebanese women living in Beirut. Part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts 2:00 pm | Freedom Hour Part of the Admission free. the Bluecoat, School 7:30 pm | Nadim Sawalha: An Arab Festival 2012. Documentary Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2012. Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX. T 0151 702 Actor, for Better for Worse Part of on amateur fi lmmaker Moncef Also on Sunday 8 and Saturday 14 5324 W www.thebluecoat.org.uk the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Kahloucha -- a North African Ed July and at 5:30pm on Monday 9 2012. Th e actor refl ects on 50 years Wood.Tickets: £5/£4 conc. FACT, -Th ursday 12 July. Daily debates on in British show business, stories and 88 Wood Street, Liverpool L14DQ. current aff airs, freedom and change Monday 9 July anecdotes. Tickets: £3/£2 conc. the T 0871 902 5737 W www.fact.co.uk in the Arab world. Admission free. Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool the Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool 5:30 pm | Bidisha: Reading L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 W www. 8:00 pm | Rest Upon the Wind L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 W www. and Conversation followed thebluecoat.org.uk (Performance) Part of the Liverpool thebluecoat.org.uk by Freedom Hour Part of the Arabic Arts Festival 2012. Written Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2012. 8:30 pm | Axis of Light (Film) Part by Nadim Sawalha the story of 7:30 pm | Funoon Al Jazeera A reading from the writer, critic of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Middle Eastern immigrants forced (Performance) Part of the Liverpool and broadcaster Bidisha’s fourth 2012. Th e changing contemporary through Ottoman oppression and Arabic Arts Festival 2012 (Friday book, ‘Beyond the Wall: Writing A art scene in the wider ‘Middle wars seeking refuge in America. 6 - Sunday 15 July). Arabian Folk Path Th rough Palestine’. Admission East’ through the eyes of 8 artists Tickets: £12/£10 conc. Unity dance performance exploring the free. the Bluecoat, School Lane, including: Jananne Al-Ani, Ayman Th eatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool history, diversity, and depth of the Liverpool L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 Balbaaki, Mona Saudi, Mona L1 9BG. T 0844 873 2888 W www. Arab culture. Tickets: £10/£8. the W www.thebluecoat.org.uk Hatoum, Etel Adnan, Youssef Nabil, unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool Rachid Koraichi and Shirin Neshat. L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 W 6:30 pm | Double Bill: Nomad’s Tickets: £4/£3 conc. FACT, 88 Wood Wednesday 11 July www.thebluecoat.org.uk / www. Home + From Palestine with Street, Liverpool L14DQ. T 0871 arabicartsfestival.co.uk Love (Film) Part of the Liverpool 902 5737 W www.fact.co.uk 4:00 pm | Sufi Dance Workshop

The Second Symposium 12 - 13 November 2012 Deorientalizing citizenship? Goodenough College London Experiments in political subjectivity Organised by Oecumene: Citizenship after orientalism ERC funded project at the Open University

What images of citizenship are emerging in relation to the processes of decolonization and deorientalization? Keynote speakers Saba Mahmood and Walter Mignolo together with a selection of panellists will address this question from multi-disciplinary perspectives. The possibility of conceiving practices of citizenship after orientalism points to experiments that uncover, rearticulate and provoke subjugated forms of politics. Through addressing the intersections between orientalism, colonialism and citizenship (panel 1), exploring possibilities of democratic politics for decolonizing citizenship (panel 2) and troubling universal claims to rights (panel 3), we ask what images of citizenship are emerging in relation to the process of deorientalization? It is this experimentation itself, rather than its outcomes, that constitutes 'citizenship after orientalism' as a field of investigation. Ticket prices: £30 for both days to cover catering costs. For more information visit www.oecumene.eu/events/2nd-symposium. If you have any further queries please contact us 34 The Middle East in London June-July 2012 via [email protected]. Part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 W www. Suite, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, McQueen and Francis Alÿs. Tickets: Festival 2012. Open to all levels thebluecoat.org.uk Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BP. £6/£5 conc. or £6.60/£5.50 conc. from beginner to advanced. including Gift Aid W www.tate.org. Explore Sufi dance from Iraq led by 12:00 pm | Lion of the Desert 7:30 pm | Alif Ensemble (Concert) uk/tickets Tate Britain, Gallery 2, performer Duraid Abbas. Tickets: (Film) Part of the Liverpool Arabic Part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. T £4.50/£4 conc. MDI, 24 Hope Street, Arts Festival 2012. Movie classic Festival 2012. New music by Iraqi 020 7887 8888 E visiting.britain@ Liverpool L1 9BX. T 0151 708 8810 starring Anthony Quinn and Oliver oud player Khyam Allami, with a tate.org.uk W www.tate.org.uk/ W www.mdi.org.uk Reed set between two world wars band of musicians from traditional britain/ depicticting the struggle for freedom and contemporary Arabic music 6:30 pm | El Shooq/Lust (Film) Part in the African desert. Tickets: £3/£2 disciplines from Syria, Lebanon, Friday 22 June of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival conc. the Bluecoat, School Lane, Egypt, Jordan and Palestine. 2012. Tickets: £6/£5 conc. UK Liverpool L1 3BX. T 0151 702 5324 Tickets: £22.50/£15 conc. Liverpool Until 6 July | Home Th e Mosaic Premiere. Umm Shooq has deserted W www.thebluecoat.org.uk Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Rooms fi rst architecture exhibition, her family to marry the man she Liverpool L1 9BP. T 0151 709 3789 presented by the Museum of loves. Selected as Egypt’s offi cial 6:30 pm | A Star is Born: Emerging / W www.liverpoolphil.comc Architecture, will feature responses entry for the Academy Awards Talent Part of the Liverpool Arabic from diff erent Arab architects to the in 2011. FACT, 88 Wood Street, Arts Festival 2012. Including a solo notion of Home. Admission free. Liverpool L14DQ. T 0871 902 5737 piece from ballet dancer Ayman EXHIBITIONS Th e Mosaic Rooms, 226 Cromwell W www.fact.co.uk Safi ah (the Arab Billy Elliot). Road, London, SW5 0SW. T 020 Tickets: £5/£4 conc. Concert Friday 1 June 7370 9990 E [email protected] Room, St Georges Hall, St George's W www.mosaicrooms.org Th ursday 12 July Place, Liverpool L1 1JJ. W www. Until 8 June | Iraq: How, Where, arabicartsfestival.co.uk For Whom? A collaborative Friday 6 July 6:30 pm | Okay, Enough, Goodbye exhibition between the Iraqi (Film) Part of the Liverpool Arabic 8:00 pm | Merseyside Arabic Dance artist Hanaa' Malallah and the Until 15 July | Laughing at the Arts Festival 2012. A 40-year-old Showcase (Performance) Part of the UK duo kennardphillipps, who Government A glimpse of the ever- lives with his elderly mother and has Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2012. share a critical and refl ective changing art of satirical cartoons given up on becoming independent. Tickets: £10/£8 conc. An evening view of the occupation/invasion from the Arab World. Rolling digital One day she leaves him and he is of music and dance performances of Iraq. Th e exhibition features slide presentation. Admission free. left with nothing but the small city. from North Africa and beyond. large-scale collages, installations, Walker Art Gallery, William Brown Tickets: £5/£4 conc. FACT, 88 Wood Unity Th eatre, 1 Hope Place, photomontage pieces and sculptures Street, Liverpool L3 8EL. W www. Street, Liverpool L14DQ. T 0871 Liverpool L1 9BG. T 0844 873 2888 . Admission free. Th e Mosaic arabicartsfestival.co.uk 902 5737 W www.fact.co.uk W www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk Rooms, 226 Cromwell Road, London SW5 0SW. T 020 7370 9990 Until 29 July | Reading Emotions 8:00 pm | 1979 (Performance) Part 8:00 pm | Maysoon Zayid: E [email protected] W www. Part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Laughing Widely (Performance) mosaicrooms.org Festival 2012. Children’s visual 2012. Iraq and Iran lead by Saddam Part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts presentation of emotions through Hussein and Ayatollah Khomeini Festival 2012. A night of comedy Until 23 June | Disappearing a series of photographic artwork engage in a devastating Gulf-war. with Maysoon Zayid, actress and heritage of Sudan 1820 - 1956: and Arabic calligraphy. Admission An installation-dance-performance. professional stand up comedian. A photographic and fi lmic free. Th omas Steers Way, Liverpool Tickets: £10/£8 conc. Unity Tickets: £12.50. Concert Room, research exhibition by Frederique ONE, Liverpool L1. W www. Th eatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool St Georges Hall, St George's Place, Cifuentes A unique collection arabicartsfestival.co.uk L1 9BG. T 0844 873 2888 W www. Liverpool L1 1JJ. T 0151 709 3789 of photographs and videos that unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk W www.arabicartsfestival.co.uk document the remnants of the Friday 20 July colonial experience in Sudan from Friday 13 July the Ottoman, Egyptian, and British Until 24 August | Nermine Sunday 15 July periods. Admission free. Brunei Hammam: Cairo, Year One First TBC | Maysoon Zayid Workshop Gallery, SOAS. T 020 7898 4046 E UK solo show by Egyptian artist (Arab Comedy Festival) T 0151 702 3:30 pm | Reem Abdelhadi: [email protected] W www.soas. Nermine Hammam featuring two 5324 W www.thebluecoat.org.uk Laughing at the Government Part ac.uk/gallery of Hammam's most recent series, of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival Uppekha and Unfolding, which 5:00 pm | Yemen Day Music, fi lm, 2012. Reem discusses the history of Until 25 July | Irini Gonou: A Tale look at therecent civil unrest and food, Yemeni culture and more. Arab political humour and the art of of Two Cultures Greek artist Irini uprisings in Egypt. Admission free. Admission free. Liverpool Arabic drawing cartoons. Admission free. Gonou's exhibition, which takes the Th e Mosaic Rooms, 226 Cromwell Centre,163 Lodge Lane, Liverpool Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope form of a dialogue between Greek Road, London SW5 0SW. T 020 L8 0QQ. W www.arabicartsfestival. Street, Liverpool L1 9BP. W www. and Arabic culture, explores the 7370 9990 E [email protected] co.uk arabicartsfestival.co.uk healing and protective power of the W www.mosaicrooms.org written word as a specifi c cultural Saturday 14 July 1:30 pm | Aft ernoon Symposium: idiom. Admission free. T 0207 435 Friday 24 August Khyam Allami with Maurice 7323 E [email protected] W 12:00 pm | Th e Big Saturday Louca and TamerAbu Ghazaleh In www.lahdgallery.com Until 22 September | Olympians: Part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Conversation Part of the Liverpool Portraits of athletes from the Festival 2012.Debate, fi lm, poetry Arabic Arts Festival 2012. Join Until 12 August | Migrations: United Arab Emirates Olympic and food including Libyan poet Khyam and the musicians of the Journeys into British Art and Paralympic teams Admission Khaled Mattawa and live music Alif Ensemble for a wide ranging Exhibition exploring how British free. Brunei Gallery, SOAS. T 020 in the garden. Admission free to discussion. Admission free to ticket art has been shaped by migration. 7898 4046 E [email protected] W some events and paying events. the holders for the evening concert, see Featuring artists from van Dyck, www.soas.ac.uk/gallery Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool listing below for details. Rodewald Whistler and Mondrian to Steve

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