This Issue: Iran's Environmental Challenges

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TTHISHIS ISSUEISSUE: IIRAN’SRAN’S ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGESCHALLENGES ● MMENA,ENA, cclimatelimate changechange andand COP21COP21 ● EEnvironmentalnvironmental sustainabilitysustainability inin IranIran ● CComplexitiesomplexities iinn addressingaddressing waterwater securitysecurity inin IranIran ● TTehranehran andand itsits mountainsmountains ● AAirir ppollutionollution andand publicpublic hhealthealth inin TehranTehran ● LLearningearning toto valuevalue greenishgreenish spacesspaces ● TTourismourism aandnd thethe environmentenvironment ● EEnvironmentalnvironmental policymakingpolicymaking inin TurkeyTurkey ● PPLUSLUS RReviewseviews andand eventsevents inin LondonLondon

Parinaz Eleish, Barren Land. Courtesy of Vida Zaim and Leila Varasteh © Parinaz About the London Middle East Institute (LMEI) Eleish Th e London Middle East Institute (LMEI) draws upon the resources of London and SOAS to provide teaching, training, research, publication, consultancy, outreach and other services related to the Middle Volume 12 - Number 3 East. It serves as a neutral forum for Middle East studies broadly defi ned and helps to create links between individuals and institutions with academic, commercial, diplomatic, media or other specialisations. April – May 2016 With its own professional staff of Middle East experts, the LMEI is further strengthened by its academic Editorial Board membership – the largest concentration of Middle East expertise in any institution in Europe. Th e LMEI also Professor Nadje Al-Ali 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 Dr Hadi Enayat it takes primary responsibility. It seeks support for the LMEI generally and for specifi c components of its AKU programme of activities. Ms Narguess Farzad SOAS LMEI is a Registered Charity in the UK wholly owned by SOAS, University of London (Charity Mrs Nevsal Hughes Registration Number: 1103017). Association of European Journalists Professor George Joff é Cambridge University Mission Statement: Ms Janet Rady Janet Rady Fine Art Mr Barnaby Rogerson Th e aim of the LMEI, through education and research, is to promote knowledge of all aspects of the Middle Ms Sarah Searight East including its complexities, problems, achievements and assets, both among the general public and with British Foundation for the Study those who have a special interest in the region. In this task it builds on two essential assets. First, it is based in of Arabia London, a city which has unrivalled contemporary and historical connections and communications with the Dr Sarah Stewart SOAS Middle East including political, social, cultural, commercial and educational aspects. Secondly, the LMEI is Dr Shelagh Weir at SOAS, the only tertiary educational institution in the world whose explicit purpose is to provide education Independent Researcher and scholarship on the whole Middle East from prehistory until today. Professor Sami Zubaida Birkbeck College Coordinating Editor Megan Wang LMEI Staff: SSubscriptions:ubscriptions: Listings Vincenzo Paci Director Dr Hassan Hakimian To subscribe to Th e Middle East in London, please visit: Designer Executive Offi cer Louise Hosking www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/affi liation/ or contact the Shahla Geramipour Events and Magazine Coordinator Vincenzo Paci LMEI offi ce. Administrative Assistant Aki Elborzi Th e Middle East in London is published fi ve times a year by the London Middle Letters to the Editor: East Institute at SOAS Publisher and Please send your letters to the editor at Editorial Offi ce Disclaimer: the LMEI address provided (see left panel) Th e London Middle East Institute or email [email protected] SOAS Opinions and views expressed in the Middle East University of London MBI Al Jaber Building, in London are, unless otherwise stated, personal 21 Russell Square, London WC1B 5EA views of authors and do not refl ect the views of their United Kingdom organisations nor those of the LMEI and the MEL's T: +44 (0)20 7898 4330 E: [email protected] Editorial Board. Although all advertising in the www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/ magazine is carefully vetted prior to publication, the ISSN 1743-7598 LMEI does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers. Contents

LMEI Board of Trustees 4 17 Baroness Valerie Amos (Chair) EDITORIAL Iran post-sanctions: tourism Director, SOAS and the environment Professor Richard Black, SOAS Dr John Curtis 5 Minoo H. Esfehani Iran Heritage Foundation INSIGHT Dr Nelida Fuccaro, SOAS MENA, climate change and 19 Mr Alan Jenkins COP21 Environmental policymaking in Dr Karima Laachir, SOAS Hamid M. Pouran Turkey: a triumph of conviction Dr Dina Matar, SOAS over evidence Dr Hanan Morsy European Bank for Reconstruction 7 Ece Ozdemiroglu and Development Dr Barbara Zollner IRAN’S ENVIRONMENTAL Birkbeck College CHALLENGES 21 Environmental sustainability in REVIEWS LMEI Advisory Council Iran: the bumpy road ahead BOOKS Janet Blake Damascus Diaries: Life Under Lady Barbara Judge (Chair) the Assads Professor Muhammad A. S. Abdel Haleem H E Khalid Al-Duwaisan GVCO 9 Diana Darke Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Kuwait Complexities in addressing Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani Arab International Women’s Forum water security in Iran 22 Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Ali Nazemi BOOKS IN BRIEF President, University College of Bahrain Professor Tony Allan King’s College and SOAS 11 24 Dr Alanoud Alsharekh Senior Fellow for Regional Politics, IISS Tehran and its mountains: a EVENTS IN LONDON Mr Farad Azima deteriorating interface NetScientifi c Plc Dr Noel Brehony Ali Madanipour MENAS Associates Ltd. Professor Magdy Ishak Hanna British Egyptian Society 13 HE Mr Mazen Kemal Homoud Air pollution and public health Ambassador, Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Iran Mr Paul Smith Chairman, Eversheds International Hamid M. Pouran

Founding Patron and Donor of the LMEI 15 Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber Learning to value greenish MBI Al Jaber Foundation spaces James Hitchmough

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 3 EEDITORIALDITORIAL © Armin Amirian

DDearear RReadereader

Armin Amirian, Coalition, 2015. Digital C Print, 70 x 100 cm. Edition of 3. Courtesy of Janet Rady Fine Art

Hamid M. Pouran, IHF Visiting Fellow in Iran’s Environmental Sustainability

n March and April 2015 we published aspects of Iran’s environmental policies, she this discussion. Minoo H. Esfehani informs the fi rst issue of Th e Middle East in also notes the myriad of challenges that still us how an expected surge in tourism to ILondon dedicated to the environment. need to be addressed. and within Iran may negatively impact the Th e importance of environmental Iran’s water shortage is arguably as old as environment. Iran is not prepared and does sustainability in the MENA region and its history. Ali Nazemi discusses the roots not have the proper infrastructure in place the wide spectrum of challenges faced of this complex problem and notes the – in particular with respect to its natural was refl ected in that issue, which covered uncertainty in existing scientifi c knowledge landscapes – to successfully manage the subjects from the Nile Basin hydrosolidarity as well as the unsustainable culture of socio- environmental consequences of a predicted to depleted uranium pollution in Iraq. economic development. ‘tsunami of tourists’. In this issue we focus on Iran on the eve Two articles focus on Tehran. In the Iran is not the only country in the of its opening up aft er last year’s nuclear fi rst, Ali Madanipour explains how the Middle East that practises poor standards agreement with the P5+1 countries to draw city’s rapid urbanisation has changed and neglects existing legal frameworks to attention to its neglected environmental its relationship with its immediate prevent environmental damage. As Ece challenges. environment. Th e depletion of aquifers Ozdemiroglu writes, while Turkey does To talk about environmental problems and air pollution are among the major not lack laws and regulations, existing laws in Iran – or any other country, for that challenges that Tehran faces. My second and regulations are commonly bypassed matter – we must fi rst discuss the 2015 article expands on this theme looking at air or ignored. To improve environmental COP21 Paris Climate Change agreement. In pollution. I explain the Air Quality Index policymaking in Turkey, assessments of the Insight I describe what the 21st Conference (AQI) and talk about some of the causes long-term environmental impacts of major of Parties (COP) in Paris has achieved and and consequences of air pollution that construction projects and activities such as how MENA countries have committed Tehran suff ers from. mining are proposed. themselves to reducing their greenhouse James Hitchmough sheds light on gases emissions. Iran’s urban greenspace by looking at As the magazine is going to press, Nowrouz Janet Blake’s article explains how increasing urbanisation and the ability celebrations and Easter are around the geographical location and climate variations to provide benefi cial urban landscape corner. We’d like to take this opportunity have made Iran’s ecology rich: the country infrastructure. Th e connection between to wish all of our readers a Joyful Nowrouz is habitat to a vast array of diff erent animal cultural aspects of such spaces and their and a very Happy New Year and Easter! species. While she mentions some positive function in an ecosystem are also part of

4 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IINSIGHTNSIGHT Climate change will disproportionately impact MENA countries. Hamid M. Pouran examines the forecast in light of the Paris climate change agreement, COP21 MMENA,ENA, cclimatelimate cchangehange

aandnd CCOP21OP21 Commons, CC BY 2.0 © Presidencia de la República Mexicana, Wikimedia

Heads of delegations at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), which led to the signing of the Paris Agreement. By Presidencia de la República Mexicana

he Middle East and North Africa MENA’s environment in a fragile state. level of temperature increases on a global region (MENA) is blessed with Th is condition is expected to deteriorate scale. 2015 was the hottest year on record Tabundant natural resources, in further given current climate change (since the late 19th century). We have particular oil and gas. Nevertheless, the observations and future forecasts. Here already passed the 1°C increase in global arid and semi-arid climates of this region we describe what climate change means mean temperature and are on a fast track have imposed risks and limitations on for MENA countries and what we hope to experience 2°C mean temperature these countries, particularly in regard to will come from the recent Paris climate increases (compared to the pre-industrial available water resources. change agreement (COP21). era), which is considered a point of no Population growth in the MENA Conference of Parties’ (COP) roots return for climate change. Th is may not countries has been amongst the highest in go back to 1992 when, during the Earth seem like a critical increase on the local the world for the past half a century. Th e Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the importance scale (i.e. microclimate), but at a global total population of this region is estimated of recognising climate change as a level it will lead to existential threats for to be around 430 million today, which common threat was accepted and the many countries and regions. Frequent, amounts to a 420 per cent increase since UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention extreme heatwaves, droughts and fl oods 1950, with a projected population of 692 on Climate Change) was draft ed, which are some of the expected, irreversible and million for 2050; such high growth levels became eff ective in 1994. In 2015 the devastating impacts of climate change. in general pose severe environmental parties to this agreement gathered in Implementing the COP21 agreement challenges including water shortages, land Paris for the 21st time – hence, COP21 is the last chance to curb current levels of degradation and pollution. – to develop an agreement on climate greenhouse gases emissions; otherwise, in Another unique feature of this change that aimed to signifi cantly reduce only 30 years, we will inevitably pass the geopolitically strategic region, especially greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) to 2°C level. Drastic changes by all countries in its recent history, is heightened prevent further increases of Earth’s mean are required to deviate as much as possible political tension, violent confl icts and temperature. from the current trajectory, which, some distrust among neighbouring countries. Since the start of the new millennium say, could even cause increases up to 5°C Survival, then, is a top priority for many we are experiencing an unprecedented in global temperature levels. It is worth of these governments; environmental sustainability receives low priority. Rapid urbanisation, the absence of proper legal frameworks to Rapid urbanisation, the absence of proper legal frameworks to protect the protect the environment and a failure to implement national environment and a failure to implement national and international environmental and international environmental protection guidelines protection guidelines have all put have all put MENA’s environment in a fragile state

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 5 Th e question is not if the MENA region will be aff ected prolonged and hotter summers expected, along with extreme heatwaves, will make by climate change, but how severe the impacts will be these countries suff er disproportionally compared to others. Th is means that the mentioning that, on a global scale, a and 12 per cent conditional targets. already ineffi cient agricultural systems of 5°C diff erence in mean temperature is Accordingly, Iran will reduce 12 per these countries will face new challenges; equivalent to the temperature change cent of its greenhouse gases emissions for instance even less grazing lands will from the ice age to the modern era. by 2030 and start implementing related be available for livestock. New studies MENA countries, along with other frameworks from 2021 if its sanctions are suggest that, towards the end of the nations, have agreed to limit their lift ed (this document was submitted to century, severe heatwaves combined with greenhouse gases emissions by submitting COP21 on 21 November 2015, before the humidity in countries in the Persian Gulf their Intended Nationally Determined nuclear agreement implementation day). region will make it impossible for people Contributions (INDCs). Th ese countries Algeria is another country that has set to stay outside for more than a few hours constitute a small portion of global two targets: 7 per cent unconditional and at a time. Th e conditions will be beyond emissions compared with China, India 22 per cent conditional (2030 target year). the human adaptability threshold to and the USA, which account for 50 per Algeria’s ability to meet the conditional tolerate; sweating and ventilation would cent of the global greenhouse gases target is based on receiving external not be enough to mitigate the heat. Th is emissions. In 2014, Iran ranked 8th support in terms of fi nance, technology means that outdoor professions would and Saudi Arabia 9th with respectively transfer and development and capacity face major restrictions and that the 1.71 and 1.67 per cent of world total building. Qatar’s INDC document sets a required infrastructure and the built emissions. However, in terms of emissions series of policies and intentions and does environment need to be drastically per capita and vulnerability against the not clearly quantify a mitigation target. adapted to cope with such radical climatic impacts of climate change they occupy With COP21 – as was previously agreed changes. very diff erent positions. Some of the Gulf in Copenhagen in 2009 and in Cancún Th e main question thus is not if the Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2010 – developed countries agreed to MENA region will be aff ected by climate have the highest emissions per capita, provide external funding for developing change, but how severe the impacts will namely Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman countries to speed up the transition be. At least some of these countries have and Bahrain, which respectively occupy towards renewable energy resources and prosperous economies, which allow them the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 11th positions in the to build resilient infrastructure to adapt to invest in new industries, diversify global ranking. Saudi Arabia and Iran are to the impacts of climate change. Th e their economies and better adapt to respectively 7th and 35th in this ranking. allocated fund is $100 billion USD per the inevitable risks imposed by climate On the other hand, people in Egypt, year provided to developing countries change. Tunisia and Morocco emit approximately to meet their goals and to stay on the 1/10th of the greenhouse gases per capita correct trajectory. Some MENA countries, Hamid M. Pouran has a PhD in compared to Qatar, Kuwait and UAE. specifi cally those with lower GDPs, expect Environmental Engineering. Before joining MENA countries’ commitments to the to receive a portion of this available the LMEI as an IHF Visiting Fellow COP21 agreement, as asserted in their support to meet their commitments. in Iran’s Environmental Sustainability, submitted INDCs, vary notably from Despite the overall relatively small he was a Senior Research Associate at rather vague statements about avoiding contribution of MENA countries to global Lancaster University and a member of the CO2 emissions to detailed pledges warming, these countries are among those Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology with clear implementation periods. that would be most aff ected by climate and the Environment Nevertheless, where a mitigation target change. Th e arid and semi-arid climates has been expressed two diff erent targets of this region have already put water have been off ered: conditional and resources under stress. Th e anticipated, unconditional.

Th e unconditional commitment is Satellite.svg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 © NASA's Earth Observatory – Finding the Hottest Spots on by under the current circumstances of the countries and based on existing resources within them, while the conditional target depends on external fi nancial investment and technology transfer. For example, Iran has pledged 4 per cent unconditional

This map shows global maximum land surface temperatures from 2003 to 2009, as measured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites. In ﬁ ve of the seven years (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009) the highest surface temperature on Earth was found in the Lut Desert of Iran. By NASA's Earth Observatory

6 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IIRAN’SRAN’S EENVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTAL CCHALLENGESHALLENGES

Janet Blake argues that despite some positive aspects of Iran’s environmental policies there are still many obstacles to be overcome EEnvironmentalnvironmental ssustainabilityustainability iinn IIran:ran: tthehe bbumpyumpy rroadoad aaheadhead © Siamax – ‘Iran-climate-map.svg’, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0;

This map shows the diﬀ erent climates of Iran. By Siamax

ran’s amended post-Revolution studying the factors for environmental Iran is a monumental task (the total land Constitution (1989) considers the degradation, including pollution; employing area of Iran is 164.8 million hectares). Th e Ipreservation of the environment environmentally-friendly technologies; country is located at the meeting point of ‘a public duty in the Islamic Republic.’ ensuring environmentally-sound land three climatic zones: the Mediterranean, Accordingly, economic and other activities use policies; identifying wildlife habitats the arid West Asian and the humid/semi- that inevitably involve pollution of the of a high ecological value in a critical humid Caspian zone. As a result, the habitat environment or cause irreparable damage situation; adopting environmental standards and ecosystem diversity found in Iran is to it are forbidden. Th us, offi cially at least, for the correct management and use of vast: its coastal zones alone encompass 25 we see a commitment to the sustainable environmental resources; enhancing public ecological types and units, and its deserts management and protection of the environmental awareness; and monitoring cover 53 per cent and forests more than 10 country’s environment and, in particular, the enforcement of environmental per cent of the country. Iran also possesses the need to balance economic development legislation to prevent further environmental over 1,000 wetlands of various types, with environmental quality and inter- degradation. Th ese priorities are little whose signifi cance for global biodiversity generational justice. changed today. is unparalleled in the region. Indeed, Iran When the Environmental Protection Due to its sheer size and varied played a role in the early development Organization (EPO) was established in ecosystems and climatic variations, the of international conservation law: the Iran in 1971 its main priorities were: conservation of biological diversity in International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was concluded at Due to its sheer size and varied ecosystems and Ramsar located in northern Iran in 1971. Th e country also enjoys a relatively climatic variations, the conservation of biological high level of animal species diversity with, diversity in Iran is a monumental task for example, as many as 517 species of

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 7 birds representing 5.6 per cent of the total Th e regional situation has led to a number of important number of bird species living in the whole of the Middle East. Iran is also a signifi cant environmental challenges for Iran which are not location on the migration routes of many wholly within the country’s power to control animals, with the majority of Iran’s birds (68 per cent or 340 species) being migratory. the Zayanderoud River that runs through A further project that demonstrates a However, the current rate of extinction in Esfahan and the dramatic loss of water positive use of the natural and human the country is greater than the typical rate of in Lake Urmia (an internationally-listed resources of the country concerns carbon extinction in the fossil record. For example wetland) – can be attributed as much to sequestration in the desertifi ed rangelands in the period from 50 to 30 years ago Iran poor management as to greater demands in southern Khorassan, using a community- lost two of its most spectacular carnivores, on water resources. More than half of the based management approach. Th is last the Persian Lion and Caspian Tiger, as a country’s land mass is uncultivable and only demonstrates a willingness on the part result of uncontrolled hunting and habitat 10 per cent of the country receives suffi cient of Iran’s Department of Environment destruction. According to the International rainfall for agricultural purposes. In to employ participatory approaches to Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) addition, since the season for rain is limited environmental management issues. Red List of Th reatened Animals, 110 to October to March, there is a long period With regard to the urban environment Iranian animal species were designated as when the land is starved of rain. When the too, projects are underway in the areas threatened (i.e. listed in one of the categories rains do come, the dry land cannot cope of industrial energy effi ciency (in key critically endangered, endangered or with sudden heavy rainfall. Th is leads to sectors), including policy reforms and vulnerable). Of these, 15 are critically at fl ooding and causes much damage to the market transformation for energy effi cient risk, all of which are showing a decreasing surrounding areas. buildings and reduction in Tehran transport population trend, including the Siberian Indeed, there remain a number of emissions. Crane and the Slender-billed Curlew. serious challenges in the management and A further important consideration It can be said that Iran’s environment protection of Iran’s environment, both urban that must not be underestimated is the is very much the product of the and non-urban, as refl ected in the projects regional situation in which Iran is located. aforementioned variations in aridity and agreed by the Global Environmental It is a country surrounded by political climate. Moreover, the human society in Facility for Iran. For example, Iran’s instability and even armed confl ict (in Iraq, Iran and its culture has also developed in EPO has received international support Afghanistan and Northwest Pakistan). response to these challenging environmental for preparing its National Biodiversity Moreover, there are tensions with its conditions. Th e traditional knowledge Action Plan for the conservation of the neighbours in the Persian Gulf region that surrounding water use in Iran, in particular Asian Cheetah and its natural habitat, the further hinder cooperation. In the Caspian the extensive qanat underground aquifer conservation of Iranian wetlands and the Sea region, as well, reaching compromises systems, is an extremely valuable resource preservation of biodiversity in the central on regional cooperation for the protection and one that the country needs to exploit Zagros Landscape Conservation Zone. of the environment of this highly polluted in order to respond to the great pressure Further GEF-approved projects include sea has proven very diffi cult. Th e regional being placed on this limited resource by strengthening and providing coherence for situation has led to a number of important agricultural, industrial and human uses. integrated natural resource management environmental challenges for Iran which are Indeed, it is fair to say that the water and the rehabilitation of forest landscapes not wholly within the country’s power to crisis faced in parts of Iran over recent and degraded land, especially for saline control, ranging from dust storms as a result years – as evidenced by the drying up of soils and areas prone to wind erosion. of the increasingly dry and desertifi ed land of Iraq, pollution of the Caspian Sea and the drying up of the shared water basins with Afghanistan. As a result, the lacuna in terms of any comprehensive regional agreement for the protection of the environment and its natural resources (testament to the lack of regional cooperation generally) is a major challenge to Iran and other regional countries in terms of sustainable environmental protection.

Dr Janet Blake is Associate Professor of Law and a member of the Centre of Excellence for Education in Environmental Sustainability at Shahid Beheshti University (Tehran) , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Commons, CC BY-SA Wikimedia , Isfahan's bird garden. Iran's climate and

geographical location has made it the habitat of ﻓﻠﻮﺭﺍﻧﺲ

ﻓﻠﻮﺭﺍﻧﺲa wide range of animals species. By ©

8 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IIRAN’SRAN’S EENVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTAL CCHALLENGESHALLENGES

Ali Nazemi examines the scientiﬁ c, socio-economic and cultural challenges to achieving water security in Iran CComplexitiesomplexities iinn aaddressingddressing wwaterater ssecurityecurity iinn IIranran

Si-oh-seh pol ('The bridge of thirty-three spans') on the Zayandeh River, Isfahan, Iran during a

ater is among the most essential catastrophes across the country such But why does addressing water security requirements for human life and as the critical conditions of lakes and exhibit a complex problem? Based on Wsociety. Water availability – in aquatic ecosystems, the severe decline in system theory, any system that shows the right quality, quantity and timing – groundwater storage and the translation of self-organising and emerging behaviours directly translates to human and ecosystem middle-intensity rainfall events to deadly is complex. As drivers and processes that welfare. Th is, however, is just one side of the fl oods to name but a few. determine the states of natural and human coin: deviation from the ‘rightness’ of the Addressing water security involves water systems are massively interconnected water availability can also result in a wide studying the behaviour of both natural and and evolving, rather substantially during range of vulnerabilities in socio-economic human water systems with the larger goal the recent past, addressing water security activities and can consequently endanger of diagnosing, describing and managing is essentially a complex problem. Th ere are food, energy and environmental security. current and future vulnerabilities in optimal various examples of catastrophic behaviours Considering the ever-increasing human anthropogenic and ecosystem states. occurring in regional water systems that had water use, warming climate and growing Th is is an extremely complex problem in been previously unknown and unseen. Th e variability in hydroclimatic extremes, there general, and in Iran in particular. Here it current state of the Lake Urmia is a vivid is an urgent need for addressing ‘water is argued that the complexity involved is Iranian example for such complex responses security’ across various scales. not only due to the epistemic uncertainty to changing anthropogenic interventions in Looking at the current state of water in scientifi c knowledge, but also due to the a natural water system. security on county-wide scales, Iran unsustainable culture of socio-economic Th e complexity in addressing water certainly stands out due to a wide range development within the country as a whole. security is well recognised in the scientifi c of long-standing issues and emerging threats due to the changing socio-economy, population growth and warming climate. Th e complexity involved in addressing water security in Th e creeping eff ects of water insecurity in Iran is not only due to the epistemic uncertainty in scientifi c Iran have started to be noticed, not only by experts but also by the general public, knowledge, but also due to the unsustainable culture of thanks to a number of recent environmental socio-economic development within the country as a whole

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 9 Natural and anthropogenic mechanisms that determine and water management practices across the country. Ineff ective management and current and future water availability and use are not a lack of careful study prior to land use fully understood, and therefore, any projection of change and/or development of new water infrastructure have all played a crucial role future water security is inherently uncertain in the state of water insecurity throughout discourse. We are fully aware of various challenge here is the fact that characteristics the country. sources of uncertainty in our data, theories of both natural and human water systems Considering the current water insecurities and models that are used to understand have substantially changed and will in conjunction with the mismanagement the current and future states of natural and vary more in the future due to emerging of other natural resources in Iran, it seems human water systems at local, regional and behaviours in both natural and human that the virtue of sustainable development global scales. Let us consider the hot topic systems. as a whole has been broadly ignored in of addressing the climate change impacts Unfortunately, the level of data availability the country. While climate change will on natural water availability. We are still not and the quality of existing information do most likely add to the water insecurity in able to reproduce historical hydroclimatic not allow a thorough understanding of Iran by perturbing the natural patterns of observations using mathematical models the current and future vulnerabilities in water cycles across the country, current and further bias adjustments and/or response to water scarcities, and therefore manifestations of water insecurity in Iran downscaling are required. As a result, do not delineate a set of operational are mainly the result of the overexploitation using mathematical models for future management decisions for mitigation and/ of natural resources, without considering hydroclimatic projections requires or adaptation. As a result, we are not only the essential need for developing assuming that the model parameters and/ dealing with a complex natural system with sustainably within nature. To understand or relationships between model simulations a variety of ‘unknown’ emerging behaviours; the anthropogenic roots of unsustainable and gauged observations remain unchanged we also do not have enough information to development in Iran, we urgently need in time. Th is assumption is highly fully quantify the conditional relationship critical inputs from a range of social questionable and ignores the dynamic that links the historical characteristics scientists including sociologists, political relationship between large-scale weather of natural and anthropogenic systems to scientists, economists and psychologists. patterns and local hydroclimate. already ‘known’ water insecurities. Similar arguments can be raised for the Th ese scientifi c challenges are exacerbated Ali Nazemi is an Assistant Professor in anthropogenic dimension of water security, by Iran’s population growth, ineffi cient the Department of Building, Civil and particularly the magnitude and extent of water and land management and penchant Environmental Engineering at Concordia land and water resource management. For for ‘quick-and-easy’ development. Since University in Montreal, Canada. His research instance, we are currently unaware of exact the late 1970s, the population of Iran has involves understanding the eff ect of climate human water abstraction and use, because increased more than twofold. Th is trend change and human interventions on water the majority of human interventions in is expected to continue in the future security at local, regional and global scales surface and ground water are still not as the result of an agenda that calls for measured. In addition, the mechanisms that increasing the rate of population growth in Lake Urmia in Iran is experiencing a drastic loss determine current and future water use are order to mitigate the impacts of an ageing of water and now holds only approximately 5 per cent of its known, high-stage volume. Created not fully understood, and therefore, any population. Th is population growth has not by the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory of projection of future demand is inherently really promoted the need for improved land the NASA Johnson Space Center

uncertain. Moreover, there are various © Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons socio-economic and cultural elements that drive human water use. Th ese qualitative variables are hard to quantify, and hence, cannot be readily captured in mathematical models for current and future projections. Th ese complexities are much more pronounced in Iran due to its semi-arid climate, large heterogeneity in its natural and human water systems, poor data availability and particular conditions within the socio-economic and cultural narratives that lead to extremely complex responses in natural and anthropogenic water systems. Indeed, Iran has been historically a water- scarce country with substantial temporal and spatial diff erences in hydroclimatology, population and socio-economy. Facing these conditions through developing socio- economy requires strict policies for optimal water resource management, which have not been and still are not in place. Th e key

10 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IIRAN’SRAN’S EENVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTAL CCHALLENGESHALLENGES

Ali Madanipour describes how rapid urban expansion has altered Tehran’s relationship with its immediate environment TTehranehran aandnd iitsts CC BY 2.0 © NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA - Landsat View: Tehran, Iran, Wikimedia Commons, mmountains:ountains: a ddeterioratingeteriorating iinterfacenterface

Between 1985 and 2009, the population of Tehran, Iran, grew from six million to just over seven million

n its rapid development and expansion in its mythology. Th e mountain range eradicated and trees cut in the name of in recent decades, the relationship embraced the city, providing defence and urban development by the public authorities Ibetween the city of Tehran and its fresh water. In recent decades however, eager to build wider and longer roads, and mountains has changed from an embrace to this relationship between the city and the by the private developers driven by high a tension, as if the mountains have changed mountain has radically changed, with land prices and the demands of a growing from a source of life and security to a source negative implications for air quality, water middle class. Th e air quality suff ers from of threat and an obstacle to health, all owing supply, and residential safety. the disappearance of these green spaces. It to our disregard for the environment. Tehran has grown northwards towards also suff ers from heavy traffi c, industrial Th e location of Tehran in the natural the mountains, climbing ever higher in pollution and urban heat islands. landscape has been highly symbolic its search for cooler and cleaner air. Its Th e incidence of air pollution has grown and strategic in history. Th is is refl ected selection as the capital city two centuries ago to become the primary environmental in its place on the historic Silk Road, fi rst led to the development of lush, large concern of the citizens. Motor vehicles are which gave it strategic importance as gardens surrounding the city and summer the main source of air pollution in the city: an intercontinental crossroad. Th e city residences nearer to the mountains. In as the mayor announced recently, 800,000 is spread on the southern slopes of the its restless growth, however, the city has tons of pollutants enter the city’s air each Alborz mountain range, with its nearby devoured these gardens and turned the year, of which 82 per cent is produced by highest peak, Mount Damavand, a dormant foothills into high-density residential motor vehicles. Old cars and substandard volcano which at 5,670 metres is the highest areas, increasingly losing its vegetation. fuels have been identifi ed as the main cause, in the country with a longstanding presence Gardens and green spaces continue to be as the residential heating systems – which had been formerly blamed for much of the In 2011, Tehran suff ered from 230 days of air pollution. On air pollution – are shown to contribute only 4 per cent. Manufacturing industries are many days vulnerable citizens are advised to stay indoors located on the western and southwestern

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 11 fronts, where the only considerable winds, Depletion of the aquifers causes massive land collapse: which used to freshen the city’s air, bring their pollution to the city, trapped behind as Iran’s Geological Survey has shown, the southern the mountain walls in the north and east. plains of Tehran have subsided by 36 cm Th e phenomenal growth of high-rise buildings has increasingly been seen as another source blocking the fl ow of air collapse: as Iran’s Geological Survey has of casualties. Th e northern foothills are and creating polluted micro-climates. In shown, the southern plains of Tehran have wealthier areas with better-built buildings 2011, the city suff ered from 230 days of air subsided by 36 cm, which has more than on solid ground, but in the event of a major pollution. On many days, especially during doubled from eight years ago. Th e water earthquake, it is feared that the collapse of the winter, vulnerable citizens are advised to channels that link the city to the mountain tall buildings in narrow streets will block stay indoors, and health emergency teams have also changed in another way. In the any rescue teams. In the south of the city, are stationed in some of the city’s main rapid urban development phases of the near the southern deserts, the higher- nodes. Th e mountain range, which is now mid-20th century, the seasonal riverbeds density, poorer areas are built badly, and it rarely visible behind a veil of atmospheric and valleys were built over, depriving the is here that the majority of casualties might pollution, seems to be preventing the city city of its ability to channel storm water be found. Th e mountain range, with its from breathing. and occasional fl oods. Together with volcanic and seismic activities, looks like a Th e qanat is an integrated system of wells the expansion of hard surfaces and the permanent threat to the city, to the extent and underground streams which collects disappearance of the gardens, the city that there have been serious discussions and channels fresh water, making the is much more exposed to increasingly about the relocation of the capital to another Iranian foothills habitable for millennia. dangerous fl oods that fl ow from the area, although this relocation would not In Tehran, dozens of qanat ranges acted mountains, sometimes causing fatal off er a solution for the millions who remain as a permanent source of water and the damage. Th e sustainable and fresh waters in Tehran. lifeline that linked the city to the mountains. of the mountain have been turned into Th e relationship between Tehran and its Now, they have fallen into disrepair or aggressive and polluted waters. mountains was a protective embrace, albeit been contaminated by the rising levels Tehran sits on top of the meeting point at once a combination of fear and pride: of underground pollution caused by the of the Iranian Plateau and the Alborz living next to the highest peak which could absence of a comprehensive sewage system. mountain chain, where seismic activity erupt at any moment, but which also off ered Drinking water is brought to the city from is considerable. While the volcano has security, a healthy environment and fresh long distances and deep underground levels. been inactive for thousands of years, water. Th e unprecedented metropolitan Deep wells, however, empty the aquifers, earthquakes are a frequent occurrence. expansion, however, has transformed which are slowly recharged, especially in Th e concentration of fault lines, rock mass this interface into insecurity and danger the current drought; maintaining the supply movements and discontinuity is highest by removing the greenery; building over of potable water is one of the most urgent in the northern parts of the city, next to earthquake fault lines, riverbeds and valleys; challenges the country faces. Depletion the mountains, and it is estimated that a locating industries and tall buildings in the of these aquifers also causes massive land major earthquake could cause millions wrong places; continuing to rely on the use of old vehicles rather than expanding the public transport systems and depending on unsustainable sources of water. While the mountains continue to off er a peaceful refuge from the polluted city, the interface between the city and the mountain is no longer a protective embrace.

Ali Madanipour is a Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University

Aerial view of Tehran and its mountains. By

12 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IIRAN’SRAN’S EENVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTAL CCHALLENGESHALLENGES

Tehran has a serious air pollution problem. Hamid M. Pouran discusses the causes and eﬀ ects AAirir ppollutionollution aandnd ppublicublic hhealthealth iinn IIranran

he Air Quality Index (AQI) oft en level. An AQI of 100 is the threshold. AQI measurements for each of the above- reaches alarming levels in Tehran. measurements of 100-150, indicated by the mentioned pollutants, which are recorded TNowadays the city’s residents pay colour orange, mean that the air quality is in diff erent units. For example carbon close attention to the AQI, though they unhealthy for sensitive groups (e.g. children, monoxide is reported as parts per may not quite understand the science pregnant women and those with cardiac million (ppm) and particulate matter in behind it. Th e AQI is a yardstick to measure and respiratory system problems). When micrograms per cubic metre. A sub-index air quality. It is inversely proportional to the AQI goes above 150 it is unhealthy for is calculated for each of the pollutants, and how clean the ambient air is: the higher all people. Th us, AQI measurements of then the highest sub-index of the fi ve major the AQI, the more serious the associated 150-200 are displayed in red. Such levels of polluters is used as the air quality index. health eff ects are for people who breathe air pollution require that specifi c measures AQI is oft en reported for a specifi ed average the (polluted) air. Th ese eff ects include a be implemented. For instance, emergency period (oft en 24 hours). wide range of both short-term (coughing, services and hospitals are put on full alert Airborne particulate matter or PM is asthma-like symptoms) and long-term and paramedics are deployed to busy a complex mixture of extremely small (impacting breathing passages, causing areas of the city. People are advised to stay sized particles that may have diff erent chronic disease) health problems. Th e AQI home, air polluting industries are ordered natures (e.g. solid, liquid, organic and is usually reported for fi ve key air pollutants: to put their activities on hold and traffi c inorganic chemicals). Th ese particles can (1) carbon monoxide, (2) ground-level restrictions are imposed. When the AQI is be natural, manmade or a combination of ozone, (3) nitrogen dioxide, (4) sulphur red, visibility is signifi cantly reduced and both. According to the US Environmental dioxide and (5) particulate matter (PM) a thick layer of smog covers the city. Th e Protection Agency (EPA), smaller particles measured at 2.5 and 10 micrometres. highest level of air pollution, 200-300 AQI, increase the potential risk of causing Among these pollutants, PM is one of the is defi ned as very unhealthy and indicated health issues. Industrial activities, such most hazardous. by the colour purple. as cement manufacturing or petrol and Th e AQI in Iran is comprised of fi ve Th e AQI is a product of scientifi c diesel combustion engines, are examples diff erent levels, which span from 0 to 300. Th ey are also colour-coded. Th e air is considered clean when the AQI is below In the 12 months from 21 March 2014 the people of Tehran 50; for this range the index is highlighted experienced 16 clean days, 233 healthy days, 113 unhealthy green. An AQI of 50-100 is indicated by the colour yellow and is considered a healthy days for sensitive groups and 3 unhealthy days for everyone

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 13 of anthropogenic sources of air pollution. Mobile pollution sources – petrol and diesel Soil and dust particles are among natural causes of PM. Particles smaller than 10 cars and motorcycles – are thought to cause micrometres are oft en not trapped in the 80 per cent of Tehran's air pollution nose and throat and can therefore enter the lungs. In terms of health impacts, the 113 unhealthy days for sensitive groups and about two years ago, due to nuclear-related associated risks with PM 2.5 are notably 3 unhealthy days for everyone. sanctions, it was virtually impossible for higher than PM 10. Well-documented Tehran’s air pollution is not a new Iran to import high standard fuel. Reverse research shows both short and long-term concern; it has been publicly discussed engineering combined with the use of exposure to PM has negative impacts on during the past four decades. Even among indigenous technology and existing systems human health, from asthma aggravation developed countries air pollution is a major for producing petrol led to the production to lung cancer. Hospital admissions problem. But the frequency and intensity of nonstandard, low quality fuel in Iran that notably increase when the AQI reaches the of the air pollution in Tehran makes it compounded the problem. Th ese days high unhealthy level (above 150). As mentioned stand out among other cities. Th ermal/ standard fuel is imported, which has helped earlier PM 2.5 imposes stronger risk factors temperature inversion is a phenomenon that produce a notable reduction of nonstandard than PM 10. It is now well established oft en occurs in winters. It happens when the carcinogenic products emissions. that exposure to PM 2.5 negatively aff ects temperature close to the ground is colder Th e incomplete combustion of fuels by children’s lung development and generally than the temperature above it. In such cars and motorcycles, regardless of the causes irreversible damage to the lungs. atmospheric conditions we have limited fuel standard, leads to the formation and At the moment the data available is not natural air movement, so atmospheric emission of air pollutants including PM 2.5. suffi cient to establish a safe level of exposure pollutants are not completely dispersed and Many of the vehicles in Tehran do not pass with no adverse health impacts. removed and instead remain in their place. minimum standards; some do not even Tehran, with a population of more than Th is leads to sharp increases in AQI levels. have a catalytic converter. Regrettably these 8 million as of 2011, has one of the worst Th e geographical location of Tehran and nonstandard vehicles also form a big part of air quality records in the world. Th ough the presence of the Alborz mountain range Tehran’s public transport systems; taxis and Tehran does not have the highest level of in the north only exacerbates this problem. buses contribute disproportionately to the air pollution in Iran – particularly when Rapid urban development, including the problem. compared to Ahwaz and Sanandaj, which construction of a number of high-rise Solving Tehran’s air pollution problem are oft en among the top 10 most polluted buildings that limit natural air movement is not easy, but it is achievable. London cities due to the high concentration of PM, corridors in Tehran, also contributes to this and Mexico City have succeeded before. as Iran’s capital it dominates the news and problem. Investing in public transport, especially receives substantially more attention. In Mobile pollution sources – petrol and by replacing old vehicles with new ones, 2012 an advisor to Iran’s Health Minister diesel cars and motorcycles – are thought to adopting green technologies like electric announced that, in a period of one year cause 80 per cent of Tehran’s air pollution. and hybrid cars, raising people’s awareness from March 2011, 4,460 people had died Th e number of cars in Tehran is estimated and increasing their understanding of from air pollution in Tehran. According to be about four million. Motorcycles are the role they play in air pollution, and to the AQI records, in the 12 months said to number about one million, though implementing effi cient regulations are some from 21 March 2014 the people of Tehran some observations suggest that the real of the essential steps that must be taken in experienced 16 clean days, 233 healthy days, number is closer to three million. Until order to address this challenge.

Hamid M. Pouran has a PhD in Environmental Engineering. Before joining the LMEI as an IHF Visiting Fellow in Iran’s Environmental Sustainability, he was a Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University and a member of the Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment

Smog over Tehran seen from Mount Tochal.

14 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IIRAN’SRAN’S EENVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTAL CCHALLENGESHALLENGES Iran must adopt a more sustainable approach to plant use in urban greenspace. Can it be done? James Hitchmough discuses LLearningearning ttoo vvaluealue ggreenishreenish sspacespaces © Behrooz Rezvani, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Expressways in Abbas Abad, Tehran, Iran. By Behrooz Rezvani

egetation in urban greenspace in water can be used more effi ciently. Th is to implement. By step two a vested interest Iran combines the traditions of typically entails investigation into diff erent irrigation constituency oft en develops that Vindigenous design with a Western types of irrigation delivery system, such as lobbies for the maintenance of the status European and North American overlay that substituting drip irrigation for sprinklers quo. originated in the 1970s, at a time when there and highly ineffi cient open furrow Step two involves rethinking the norms was little real awareness of water as a scarce irrigation. Installing electronic controllers by which irrigation is managed and, in resource. One challenge facing Iran at a time that monitor the actual water content of particular, moving away from agriculturally of increasing urbanisation is how to provide the soil before switching the sprinklers on founded notions that irrigation an urban landscape infrastructure that and off is a key part of this strategy. Th is management of greenspace should be provides positive cultural services to people is a constructive and positive response, based on the avoidance of stress. Th e latter and equivalent ecosystems services to fl ora but, depending on the degree of water is strongly developed in agriculture and and fauna (and people) without increasing shortage and the scale of the problem, it is productive horticulture as a means of water consumption. generally insuffi cient to resolve the crisis. maintaining high levels of photosynthesis Th is is a challenge faced by many Some cultures fi nd it very diffi cult to move in order to maximise yield and economic countries around the world. Normally beyond this technological phase as the next return. However, rapid levels of growth are the fi rst step taken to address it involves steps requires more cultural adaptation not necessary as a permanent characteristic a technological approach: to look at how and change, which is much more diffi cult in urban greenspace. Here excess growth is a problem, requiring more maintenance One challenge facing Iran at a time of increasing urbanisation for its control. So the goal is to cultivate is how to provide an urban landscape infrastructure that plants that look satisfactory (i.e. not wilting or dying back) but do not grow rapidly. provides positive cultural services to people and equivalent To achieve this, greenspace planners, ecosystems services to fl ora and fauna (and people) designers and managers need to embrace what is known as stress management, without increasing water consumption which entails working out how infrequently

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 15 Poorer people experience very undeveloped public and private the same place the retirees had left only with a lot more sunshine. Over the past 40 years greenspace while richer people live in verdant green bubbles there appears to have been a major cultural shift , and there is at least anecdotal evidence a given species can be irrigated before it Th is leads to the familiar urban inequality: of a move to embrace the dryness of the ceases to look acceptable in its role in urban poorer people experience very undeveloped desert as beautiful rather than ugly. You see greenspace. public and private greenspace while richer this in plantings in public space that use Applied research is very useful in people live in verdant green bubbles. plants that are extremely drought tolerant informing these decisions, but very little We know from environmental psychology and are either not irrigated at all, or irrigated of this work has been published. In studies research that it is normal for people to value very little. In many cases these plants are that have been undertaken the authors oft en big wet leaves over small dry ones. Th ese native species. Th ese changes seemed to fi nd that most plants can be irrigated far values may even be hard wired into our have occurred through the activism of less frequently than normal without adverse heads as part of our shared biological and individuals and various subgroups, mostly, visual and functional impacts. Once you cultural evolution. Places with bigger ‘moist- I suspect, drawn from the Phoenix middle question irrigation frequency, the next step looking’ leaves and vigorous growth inform class. Th ere has been a re-branding of what is to question the type of plants used; this us that water and resources are nearby, that it means to live in a semi-arid, near desert could mean moving away from tradition. this is a good place. On the other hand, environment. Dry has become culturally Ultimately, the goal is to fi nd species places with small dry, xerophytic-looking cool, making Phoenix a desirable place which look good with very infrequent leaves say the opposite. Th ese cultural and to live and worthy of celebration. Th e dry or no irrigation at all. At a scientifi c level perhaps even biological attitudes seem to vegetation that naturally occurs in Arizona scientists have refi ned techniques – using be just as strong in cultures that have lived oft en provides a very colourful show of an instrument known as an osmometer in dry landscapes for millennia as they are annuals, herbaceous plants and shrubs in – to rapidly assess the fundamental stress in cultures that have lived in much wetter spring, and this has probably helped greatly tolerance capacity of trees, shrubs and landscapes. It does however seem as if these in generating a real sense of pride in the herbaceous plants. attitudes can be moved. Perhaps the best Arizonan landscape. Th e idea of substituting new species for examples of this are some cities in Arizona So what about Iran? Might it be possible ones that were traditionally used in irrigated – specifi cally Phoenix and Tucson. Annual in the 21st century to meld the processes greenspace has been widely adopted over rainfall there is about 200-300mm per (but not the same plants and planting) the past 30 years elsewhere in the world. In annum, mainly distributed in the summer evident with Arizona, with its new/old dry parts of the USA, for example, Arizona, when high temperatures are experienced cultural traditions applied to Iran’s own, Colorado and California, botanic gardens but are mediated by the altitude, similar to highly drought tolerant fl ora? and other institutions have established the Iranian plateau. Th e dry, sunny and mild plant evaluation schemes to provide the winters made these cities very attractive to James Hitchmough is Professor of greenspace industry and home gardeners North Americans from the NE and Midwest Horticultural Ecology in the Dept. of with less-water demanding plants. Given as retirement destinations from the early Landscape, University of Sheffi eld. His the extremely rich Iranian fl ora, there is 20th century on. interests lie in rethinking the use of native huge potential to undertake this process Initially the landscape of these cities was fl ora for sustainable urban environments in Iran, but this will require research an attempt to pretend Phoenix was really

leadership by people who both understand © Hooperag – ‘File:Azadi_Square_in_Tehran,_Iran.jpg,’ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Iranian fl ora and cultural attitudes towards the unfamiliar. Step three builds on and is integrated with the second. It is mainly concerned with public reception and involves evaluating psychological responses based on normative cultural positions about the appearance of moisture stress in urban places. If you can get urban people to be more comfortable with the visual symptoms of moisture stress and plants of more xerophytic appearance, the possibilities for having more green, or greenish or seasonally brown-space in cities would increase. Under current approaches in Iran it is diffi cult to expand ‘greenish’ space to parts of cities where wealth levels are too low to allow water to be purchased.

Azadi Tower and grounds, Tehran City, Iran. By Hooperag

16 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IIRAN’SRAN’S EENVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTAL CCHALLENGESHALLENGES

If Iran wants to reap the socio-economic beneﬁ ts of tourism post-sanctions, it must ﬁ rst plan accordingly. Minoo H. Esfehani explains IIranran ppost-sanctions:ost-sanctions: ttourismourism aandnd tthehe eenvironmentnvironment

Persian Gulf beach, Iran. These areas often lack the basic, essential infrastructure needed to host large groups of people. Photograph by Mr

© Mr Ahmad Bazmandegan Qeshmi © Mr Ahmad Bazmandegan Qeshmi ccording to the World Tourism and Iranian offi cials are anticipating a is a powerful draw. Th us, it is expected that Organization (UNWTO), new ‘tsunami of tourists’ now that sanctions have more foreign tourists will visit the natural Atourist destinations are expected been removed. Likely it is correct that this attractions of Iran in the near future. to emerge worldwide. About a decade ‘tsunami of tourists’ will soon arrive in Iran, Tourism brings huge benefi ts to countries ago many developing countries began but one must wonder: is Iran prepared to along with a set of socio-economic campaigns to present themselves as deal with and mitigate the potential negative advantages, however this is not without emerging and attractive destinations for impacts that tourism could have on existing complications. Th e impact tourism has travellers, attempting to carve out space resources and the environment? on the environment is an old and ongoing in the highly competitive global tourism Although Iran is considered mostly a topic that sparks fi erce debates. One of market which serves mostly high income cultural destination for tourists, that doesn’t the more widely accepted repercussions and developed countries. mean that nature in Iran is not appealing to for many is that unplanned tourism Now – aft er the nuclear-related sanctions them. On the contrary, it seems that some development and mismanagement can levelled against it were lift ed – Iran fi nds specifi c aspects of Iran’s natural resources cause irreparable destruction to diff erent itself in a very specifi c situation regarding – such as its deserts, mountains and some parts of environment. Yet others believe tourism development. As one of the species of its wildlife – have been very that in comparison with other big industries most ancient countries in the world with attractive for nature-based tourism. Th e tourism has much less of a negative numerous attractive natural and cultural uniqueness of the tight links and mutual impact on the environment. In reality the landscapes, it has recently opened its relationship between the old culture of this story is not that simple; a sudden burst doors to tourists from all over the world. A country and its various natural landscapes in mass tourism in a short period of time country in heart of the Middle East, Iran has remained somewhat of a mystery to people In the face of an expected ‘tsunami of tourists’ in Iran, one for quite some time. Economists say that, as a fl ourishing market, tourism can bring wonders if the country is prepared to deal with and mitigate the country’s economy out of recession, the potential negative impacts of tourism on the environment

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 17 Th e uniqueness of the tight links and mutual cultural benefi ts of tourism, Iran is in crucial need of a systematic, tourism relationship between the old culture of Iran and development master plan that determines its various natural landscapes is a powerful draw the strategies that should be adopted in order to promote sustainable tourism that has a minimal impact on natural resources. in a region with a limited environmental more eco-friendly tours, but the total A tourism master plan could be designed carrying capacity that lacks an effi cient number of these types of activities and by applying current global knowledge in management system will disturb the their eff ectiveness is not considerable in the tourism fi eld and learning from the well-being of all ecosystems. Water, soil comparison with the size and variety of guidelines and experiences of sustainable and air pollution, water and food resource natural attractions in Iran. tourism development from developing shortages, the threatening of wildlife (fl ora Lack of public awareness is another countries. Finally, and more importantly, and fauna), the damaging of once pristine problem. Neither the public nor many of the this plan must take into account aspects of geographical landscapes and unnecessary tourism decision makers and stakeholders geographical, cultural and socio-political land use change are only some more visible have been trained enough about tourist features of the country in order to make it environmental impacts of unplanned and behaviour in natural environments. practical. mismanaged tourism. Surprisingly, the shortage of this type of knowledge is also present at the academic Minoo H. Esfehani is a PhD candidate in Potential Th reats and Solutions level because of a lack of up-to-date, Tourism at the University of Otago, New Th e potentially destructive aspects of tourism-related academic resources in Zealand tourism can be considered from diff erent either English or Persian. perspectives. Regarding the post-sanction Notably, the majority of the tourism conditions in Iran, some aspects environmental issues caused by tourism are require urgent attention. First, the fragile explained by the fact that tourism in Iran is ecosystems of protected areas in Iran – such not following any special plan or practical as national parks – are more at risk from strategy. In other words, no expert-based tourism development. Most of these areas and reliable tourism development master are managed via traditional management plan or strategic development plans have systems; tourism, then, has not been been prepared in Iran. Th is means that foreseen or accounted for as an accepted even if Iran is meant to accept 20 million activity. Th us these areas suff er from a tourists in 2025, the strategies and resources shortage of the basic required infrastructure required to meet this goal are undetermined – such as access and accommodation and completely vague. facilities, interpretation and security – to Much of the recent tourism news from make them ready to receive even a few Iran is very inspiring. However, there is visitors. no doubt that any type of development Pollution in Bandar Torkaman, a port on the Second, uncontrolled growth of domestic needs correct planning. Th erefore, in Caspian Sea, Northern Iran. Photograph by tourism to the natural areas in Iran has order to achieve the economic and socio- Mostafa Hasanzadeh already caused many problems. Th e most obvious example of this is the air, water and soil pollution, forest deteriorations, land use change, and cultural change in local communities that domestic mass tourism has caused along the southern coastline of the Caspian Sea. Th e arrival of foreign tourists – combined with the already failing infrastructure – is going to generate even more pressure on these ecosystems to survive. Ecotourism (which is defi ned as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves interpretation and education tourism), if planned and practiced correctly, can be a tool to mitigate the environmental problems that tourism can cause. But in Iran, ecotourism and other types of environmental-friendly tourism are mostly just ‘words on paper’. Some Iranian tour operators claim that they are promoting

18 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 IIRAN’SRAN’S EENVIRONMENTALNVIRONMENTAL CCHALLENGESHALLENGES

There is a lack of systematic and detailed analysis on the long-term environmental © Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons and social impact of large construction projects in Turkey. Ece Ozdemiroglu sites three current examples EEnvironmentalnvironmental ppolicymakingolicymaking iinn Turkey:Turkey: a ttriumphriumph ooff cconvictiononviction ooverver eevidencevidence Istanbul, Turkey. Astronaut photograph ISS008-E-21752, NASA Earth Observatory

‘ o air, to water her people. But how to use them is a source permitted on some of the rivers, raising To mountains and soils of constant division. Th is division is, of serious concerns about their environmental TTo all the friends course, not unique to Turkey, manifesting impact as well as the medium to long-term I gladly sacrifi ce myself itself whenever and wherever one group’s productivity and profi tability of the dams. To the country, every corner of which is interest lies in confl ict with another’s. What One of many such catchments is the paradise’ I fi nd particularly challenging in Turkey Alakır Valley, home to abundant fl ora is that the confl ict is not only between and fauna within its 20 km width and 70 So begins a patriotic song from my diff erent groups in society, but also between km length, spreading from the Kumluca childhood. When I listen to it today from society and the government and sometimes district in Antalya to the Mediterranean the distance of London, it reminds me of even between diff erent functions of the Sea. From the source of the Alakır River to how things have changed since then. state. Th ree topical examples are presented the coast, eight hydroelectric plants have Th e latest Environmental Performance below. been designed: four are in operation, one Index (EPI), prepared by Yale University, is under construction, two are awaiting places Turkey 99th out of 180 countries Th e hydropower stations – Alakır Valley the Environmental Impact Assessment in 2016. Th is position is the result of Turkey strives for energy security and one (EIA) reports and another is in the project improvements in infrastructure, like public way to achieve this is to utilise the country’s development phase. Th e projects require water supply and wastewater and waste hydropower potential, favoured for being a the river water to be channelled into pipes collection systems. However, these successes renewable energy source. Th e confl ict arises and transported downstream. Such drastic – and, more generally, the economic with the scale of the investments and how reduction in the river fl ow means that growth – seem to have come at the cost they are managed: there are tens of dams the animals and plants the river habitat of a signifi cant decline in biodiversity and habitats (especially in respect to species protection at national and global levels), for Turkey has made improvements in infrastructure, like public which the country ranks 177th in the same water supply and wastewater and waste collection systems. index. Turkey’s vast size and the richness of its However, these successes seem to have come at the cost natural resources are a source of pride for of a signifi cant decline in biodiversity and habitats

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 19 supports cannot survive; the whole ecology Th e problem is that existing laws and regulations are not along the valley and the estuary has been aff ected. Th is, in turn, could aff ect the executed as intended, and gaps in laws are exploited against tourism potential of the area, as well as the interests of the environment and other social concerns ecological functions like nursery habitats for fi sh, forestry and so on. Th e loss of more Transport is becoming unbearable Th e problem is that existing laws and intangible benefi ts, like culture and heritage, in Istanbul as seen in a report by Th e regulations are not executed as intended, must also be noted. Independent newspaper in April 2015 which and gaps in the laws are exploited against Alakır Valley has been designated by the reveals it as ‘the most congested city in the the interests of the environment and other State Council as a Grade 1 Natural Site Area world’. One’s daily commute can take up social concerns. Th e way public interest to be protected under law. But like many to four hours or more and the romance of is defi ned is mistakenly and dangerously similar decisions, this designation has been crossing continents during the commute biased towards short-term fi nancial gains. ignored by the executive agencies. Rather wanes quickly. Analysis, if undertaken, does not include than government action, it seems to have One would expect a large and evidence on the environmental damage and been left to a small NGO to lead the legal comprehensive study to be undertaken to its long-term economic and social impact opposition by raising grass roots awareness investigate a variety of possible solutions to on the profi tability of such development and organising protests. this problem, including expanding public projects. transport and other social and security- As an economist, I prefer to collect Mining – Artvin related policies. Instead, the main solution evidence about all sides of an argument Mining is an important sector for creating presented is the third bridge connecting before weighing them against each other jobs and export opportunities, but it can Asia and Europe over the Bosporus. In fact, and making recommendations. I would, have a devastating environmental impact: the bridge seems to be part of an even larger for example, compare the fi nancial benefi ts the degradation of land, loss of habitats in development vision that includes a new, six- from mining to the company and to the mined areas and the surrounding regions, lane motorway cutting through the forests local and national population with the pollution of soil and water systems with in the north of the city, a third airport and environmental, economic and cultural consequences for human health and plant even a canal to the west that will be more costs of the choice of site and technology and animal life. At the time of writing this or less parallel to the Bosporus. All of these to be used for mining. Th e result of such article, residents of Artvin (in the Northeast are likely to contribute to enlarging the city an analysis is as robust as the information corner of Turkey bordering Georgia) are in even further, simply postponing the current that goes into it and the assumptions that the streets and up in the mountains trying problem rather than solving it. Th e bridge have to be made. Including the views of the to stop copper and open cast gold mining was considered, on its own, to be of major population aff ected by the decision (and operations in Cerattepe, 1,700 metres above public interest and, as such, was exempt not only of the politicians and experts) adds sea level, known for its natural beauty and from the EIA process. Although bypassing legitimacy to the analysis. Such an analysis cultural importance for the Caucasian the EIA without suffi cient evidence should is surely a more sound and unifying exercise people’s festivals and general way of living. be against the law, this has been overridden than the current opaque procedures which Despite failing to fulfi l the necessary by political will. can prove to be against the long-term legal requirements, the mining company is Indeed, there should be greater interests of society. pushing ahead with its operations, and riot transparency about the analysis of evidence, police have been deployed to suppress the consultation of the people and consideration With thanks to Alpar Sargın for the protests. While the residents are objecting of the wider, long-term impact of and information on Alakır Valley to the mine itself, lack of consultation by mitigation/restoration options for major the government during the licensing and projects like the third bridge. Turkey Ece Ozdemiroglu studied Economics in environmental impact assessment process does not lack the legal and institutional Istanbul and Environmental Economics in and disrespect for rule of law are the main structures nor the technical capacity to London, where she has been advising public, cause of their frustrations. conduct analyses like the EIA. Many of its private and third sector clients since the early environmental laws are in line with those 1990s Major infrastructure projects – the third of those of the European Union due to the bridge across the Bosporus country’s application for membership.

The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge (the third Bosporus bridge) under construction on 6 October 2015 in Turkey. US Navy photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 1st

20 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS DDamascusamascus DDiaries:iaries: LLifeife UUndernder tthehe AAssadsssads

By Peter Clark

Gilgamesh Publishing, January 2016, £12.50

Reviewed by Diana Darke

he only book of its kind on the was called the ‘Intermediate’ level, but Clark getting things done. His embassy diplomatic market, Peter Clark’s Damascus worked at the language by himself, raising colleagues come across as a far more TDiaries: Life Under the Assads is it to a standard well beyond the ‘Advanced’ cautious bunch, with the exception of what exactly what it says on the cover: a diary level which Foreign Offi ce diplomats he calls ‘the embassy spook’. of the time he spent in Damascus between notionally attained. As well as the key personalities whom 1992 and 1997 as director of the British Th is energy and enthusiasm for the Clark met over the course of his fi ve years Council. As such it off ers a unique insight Arabic language and its literature comes inside Syria, the diaries also give interesting into life as a British offi cial inside Syria, through in the diaries, enabling him to make windows onto locations inside the country, conveying all the frustrations – and long-term friendships with many Syrians places whose names are much in the news sometimes unexpected rewards – of having in a way that was unusual for an expatriate today – like Aleppo, Homs, Latakia and to interact with the notorious bureaucracy offi cial. One also gets the sense that for Palmyra. Th anks to his tireless eff orts, the of Syrian offi cialdom under Hafi z al-Assad, Clark, these friendships with Syrians – some British Council was able to open an offi ce father to Syria’s current president Bashar at an elevated level of society, others lower in Aleppo in 1997 towards the end of his al-Assad. down – were what made all the bureaucratic posting, a fi tting climax to his career, and Th anks to the extensive index carefully frustrations worthwhile. In that respect it something beyond imagining given the put together by the author himself, the book is also a diary of human relationships. One conditions inside that city today. is more than just an amusing snapshot of of the most striking aspects of the society life as an expat in an Arab country. It is described in the diaries is how prominent Diana Darke is a Syria specialist and also a useful source of historical reference. women were in Syrian public life during the Middle East cultural expert who has lived Key players of the time make appearances, 1990s. Many of his closest Syrian friends and worked in the Arab world for over 30 as these are people he meets regularly were also women. years. An Arabic speaker, she is also the through his work. Th ere are politicians For those who knew Syria before the 2011 author of the highly acclaimed My House in like Bouthaina Shaaban, still today Bashar uprising against the Assad regime, these Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian al-Assad’s political and media advisor, and diaries will forever serve as a snapshot of life Crisis (Feb 2016) Najah al-Attar, Minister of Culture for 20 as it could oft en be there: full of life, laughter years, who held a PhD from Edinburgh and enterprise in spite of the ever-present and was a close friend of Hafi z’s wife Anisa tentacles of the state security apparatus al-Assad (died early 2016 in Damascus), and which employed, by some reckonings, up also literary fi gures like Ulfat Idilbi, whose to a tenth of the population. Clark is well novel Clark is translating in his spare time. aware of these undercurrents – ‘I realise that A keen Arabist, he was only sent for one the Ba’ath party is all-powerful in day-to- year, like all British Council personnel, to day decision making’ he writes – but like MECAS, the British government’s Middle most Syrians who knew what was good for East Centre for Arabic Studies in Shemlan, them, he steers a careful course through the Lebanon. Most had had enough by the end oft en labyrinthine corridors of power and of that year and were happy to stick at what learns how to stay out of trouble while still

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 21 BBOOKSOOKS ININ BRIEFBRIEF VViolenceiolence aandnd tthehe CCityity iinn tthehe MModernodern MMiddleiddle EEastast Edited by Nelida Fuccaro

Th is book explores violence in the public lives of modern Middle Eastern cities, approaching violence as an individual and collective experience, a historical event and an urban process. Violence and the city coexist in a complicated dialogue, and critical consideration of the city off ers an important way to understand the transformative powers of violence – its ability to redraw the boundaries of urban life, to create and divide communities, and to aff ect the ruling strategies of local elites, governments and transnational political players. Th e essays included in this volume refl ect the diversity of Middle Eastern urbanism from the 18th to the late 20th centuries, from the capitals of Cairo, Tunis, and Baghdad to the provincial towns of Jeddah, Nablus and Basra and the oil settlements of Dhahran and Abadan.

March 2016, Stanford University Press, £19.30 FFragileragile PPolitics:olitics: WWeakeak SStatestates iinn tthehe GGreaterreater MMiddleiddle EEastast Edited by Mehran Kamrava

Th e 2011 Arab uprisings precipitated the relatively quick collapse of a number of Middle Eastern states once perceived as invincible. Th e Tunisian and Egyptian states succumbed to revolutionary upheavals early on, followed by that of Qaddafi ’s Libya. Yemen’s President Saleh was also eventually forced to give up power. A bloody civil war continues to rage in Syria. Th ese uprisings highlighted weaknesses in the capacity and legitimacy of states across the Arab Middle East. Th is book provides a comprehensive study of state weakness – or of ‘weak states’ – across the Greater Middle East. Fragile Politics begins with laying the theoretical framework for the study, examining the theoretical controversies surrounding the topic, the causes and characteristics of weak states, and their consequences for the Middle East, before examining a series of case studies.

March 2016, Hurst, £25.00 PPoetryoetry aandnd PPoliticsolitics iinn tthehe MModernodern AArabrab WWorldorld By Atef Alshaer Th e representation in poetic form of political events and ideas in the Arab world since the 19th century is this book’s principal theme. Atef Alshaer demonstrates an integral connection between poetry and politics, refl ecting the holistic character of Arab culture as well as the longstanding embodiment of poetry in the socio-political life of the Arabs. Poetry as the essence of language served as an illuminating, and oft en mobilising, medium of expression which brought the tensions and aspirations of each age to the fore. Beginning with the colonial empires and their colonisation of the Arab world, Alshaer illuminates the perennial concerns of major Arab poets with their societies. He discusses the poetic representation of the end of the Ottoman Empire, the onset of Arab nationalism, French and British colonialism, Palestine and the struggle against Zionism, as well as Arab inter-relationships, the emergence of Islamism and Islamist movements, and fi nally the Arab Spring.

April 2016, Hurst, £35.00

22 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 BBOOKSOOKS ININ BRIEFBRIEF SSaudiaudi AArabiarabia aandnd IIran:ran: FFriendsriends oorr FFoes?oes?

By Banafsheh Keynoush

Based on accounts of her interactions with Saudi and Iranian politicians and rich archival material, Banafsheh Keynoush unravels the mysteries of a contentious relationship. She shatters the myth of the inevitability of sectarian confl ict and that the diplomacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran is exhausted. Instead, Banafsheh Keynoush argues that it has yet to be explored, by recasting the partnership from a US-centered point of view to one based on how Saudi Arabia and Iran see their roles. Who is to blame and how to fi x it are both part of this account which off ers readers an accurate, non-sensational and objective analysis.

February 2016, Palgrave Macmillan, £68.00 TThehe SStruggletruggle fforor tthehe SStatetate iinn JJordan:ordan: TThehe SSocialocial OOriginsrigins ooff AAllianceslliances iinn tthehe MMiddleiddle EEastast By Jamie Allinson Why do the states of the Arab world seem so unstable? Why do alliances between them and with outside powers change? In Th e Struggle for the State in Jordan, Jamie Allinson argues that the answer lies in the expansion of global capitalism in the Middle East. Drawing out the unexpected way in which Jordan’s Bedouin tribes became allied to the British Empire in the 20th century, and the legacy of this for the international politics of the Middle East, he challenges the existing views of the region. Using the example of Jordan, this book traces the social bases of the struggles that produced the country’s foreign relations in the latter half of the 20th century to the reforms carried out under the Ottoman Empire and the processes of land settlement and state formation experience under the British Mandate.

January 2016, IB Tauris, £69.00 TThehe LLoveove ooff SStrangers:trangers: WWhathat SSixix MuslimMuslim SStudentstudents LLearnedearned iinn JJaneane AAusten’susten’s LLondonondon By Nile Green In July 1815, six Iranian students arrived in London under the escort of their chaperone, Captain Joseph D’Arcy. Th eir mission was to master the modern sciences behind the rapid rise of Europe. Over the next four years, they lived both the low life and high life of Regency London, from being down and out aft er their abandonment by D’Arcy to charming their way into society and landing on the gossip pages. Th e Love of Strangers tells the story of their search for love and learning in Jane Austen’s England. Drawing on the Persian diary of the student Mirza Salih and the letters of his companions, Nile Green vividly describes how these adaptable Muslim migrants learned to enjoy the opera and take the waters at Bath.

November 2015, Princeton University Press, £24.95

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 23 LISTINGS EEventsvents iinn LLondonondon

(LMEI).Brian Whitaker is a (University of Oxford). Organised former Middle East editor of the by: Palestine Exploration Fund Guardian. He fi rst visited Yemen and the Egypt Exploration Society in 1991 and wrote about the in association with Middle East country regularly for the now- Department, BM. Hulin explores defunct Middle East International the social impact of the Egyptian magazine between 1993 and empire upon Egyptians during 2005. Admission free. MBI Al the New Kingdom, when Egypt Jaber Conference Room, London commanded an empire that Middle East Institute, SOAS stretched from modern Lebanon (LMEI), University of London, to Sudan. Admission free. Pre- MBI Al Jaber Building, 21 Russell registration required T 020 7323 Square, London WC1B 5EA. T 8181 BP Lecture Th eatre, BM. T 020 7731 3260 E [email protected] 020 7323 8299 E information@ W www.al-bab.com/bys/ / www. britishmuseum.org W www. soas.ac.uk/lmei/events/ britishmuseum.org

Tuesday 5 April 7:00 pm | Th is Orient Isle (Book Launch) Jerry Brotton, Queen Hajra Waheed, A Short Film 1-331, 2014. Image courtesy of The Mosaic Rooms. Sea Change - Chapter 1: Character 1, In the Rough (see Exhibitions p. 31) 1.15 pm | Th e Conservation of Mary University of London. Footwear from the Islamic world Organised by: Th e Mosaic Rooms. (Gallery Talk) Barbara Wills (BM) Event to mark the launch of HE EVENTS and APRIL EVENTS and Bronwen Roberts (BM). Jerry Brotton’s Th is Orient Isle: organisations listed below Organised by: BM. Admission free. Elizabethan England and the Tare not necessarily endorsed Saturday 2 April Room 34, BM. T 020 7323 8299 E Islamic World in which Brotton or supported by The Middle East in [email protected] shows that England’s relations London. The accompanying texts W www.britishmuseum.org with the Muslim world were and images are based primarily 7:30 | Marcel Khalifé far more extensive, and oft en on information provided by the (Performance) Starting as a Wednesday 6 April more amicable, than we have organisers and do not necessarily performer of protest songs, Marcel appreciated. Admission free. reflect the views of the compilers Khalifé has become one of the 8:00 pm | Scenes from 68* Years E [email protected] Th e or publishers. While every possible biggest popular musicians of the (Performance) Until Saturday 30 Mosaic Rooms, A.M. Qattan effort is made to ascertain the Arab world. Join the Lebanese April. Saturday matinee at 3:30pm. Foundation, Tower House, 226 accuracy of these listings, readers composer, singer and oud master No performances Sunday. An Cromwell Road, London SW5 are advised to seek confirmation as he is joined by the Al Mayadine epic snapshot of life in Palestine, 0SW. T 020 7370 9990 E info@ of all events using the contact Ensemble. Using his position to then and now. Palestinian-Irish mosaicrooms.org W http:// details provided for each event. spread a message of peace and playwright Hannah Khalil draws mosaicrooms.org/ Submitting entries and updates: freedom, he has faced blasphemy on stories from family and friends’ please send all updates and trials, funded music education lives to paint this alternative Sunday 10 April submissions for entries related in Palestine and performed in picture – one rarely glimpsed in to future events via e-mail to bombed-out concert halls. Tickets: mainstream media and told with 7:30 | Mohammed Assaf [email protected] £20-£30. Hall, Barbican Centre, typical Palestinian black humour. (Performance) Palestine’s biggest Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. T Tickets: £12-£17. Arcola Th eatre, pop star sings material from BM – British Museum, Great 020 7638 8891 W www.barbican. 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, his newest album alongside Russell Street, London WC1B org.uk London E8 3DL. T 020 7503 1646 familiar favourites from his time 3DG E boxoffi [email protected] W on TV talent show, Arab Idol. SOAS –SOAS, University of Monday 4 April www.arcolatheatre.com Overcoming incredible odds to London, Th ornhaugh Street, get an audition – travelling from Russell Square, London WC1H 6:00 pm | Yemen: What went Th ursday 7 April the Gaza Strip to Egypt, navigating 0XG Wrong (1990-2016) (Lecture) diffi cult checkpoints along the way, LSE – London School of Brian Whitaker. Organised 4.00 pm | Being imperial: Assaf has become an inspiration Economics and Political Science, by: British-Yemeni Society in Egyptians at home and in the and fi gure of unity for the whole Houghton Street, London WC2 association with the London Levant in the New Kingdom of Palestine, and a human face 2AE Middle East Institute, SOAS (Gallery Talk) Linda Hulin of Gaza for the rest of the world.

NEW MA PALESTINE STUDIES Ŕ Develop an understanding of the complexities of modern and contemporary Palestine

Ŕ Explore history, political structure, development, culture and society

Ŕ Obtain a multi-disciplinary overview

Ŕ Enrol on a ﬂexible, inter-disciplinary study programme For further details, please contact: Dr Adam Hanieh E: [email protected] www.soas.ac.uk April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 25 Tickets: £35-£55. Hall, Barbican in Ramat Gan, Israel). Organised Synagogue, 36, Hallam Street, the Mumbai-based collaborative Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y by: Anglo Israel Archaeological London W1W 6NW. T 020 7794 studio CAMP and sailors from 8DS. T 020 7638 8891 W www. Society and the Institute of 4655 W www.spiroark.org Kutch, Sindh, Baluchistan and barbican.org.uk Archaeology, UCL. Followed by Southern Iran, working in the refreshments. Admission free. Th ursday 14 April wharfs of Sharjah and Dubai. Monday 11 April Lecture Th eatre G6, Ground Floor, CAMP follows the sailors on their Institute of Archaeology, UCL, 6:00 pm | Arabian Nights: Volume voyages as they take a variety of 9:30 am | BRAIS 2016 (Two- 31-34 Gordon Square, London 3 – Th e Enchanted One +Q&A cargoes from hospital equipment Day Conference: Monday WC1H OPY. T 020 8349 5754 E (Film) Dir Miguel Gomes (2015), to goats, from the Persian Gulf to 11 - Tuesday 12 April 2016) [email protected] W www. France/Portugal/Germany/ the Gulf of Aden, to the Somali Organised by: British Association aias.org.uk Switzerland, 125 mins. Th e fi nal coast and back again. Tickets: for Islamic Studies (BRAIS) in part of Gomes’s Arabian Nights £6.50/£7.50 on the door. E rsvp@ Collaboration with the Institute Tuesday 12 April trilogy focuses on Scherezade, mosaicrooms.org Th e Mosaic of Commonwealth Studies & drawing on aspects of the Arabic Rooms, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Human Rights Consortium. Th ird 9:30 am | BRAIS 2016 (Two-Day folk tale to create a portrait of Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, Annual Conference. Tickets: Conference: Monday 11 - Tuesday Portugal in the wake of economic London SW5 0SW. T 020 7370 Various. Pre-registration required 12 April 2016) See event listing crisis. In Portuguese with English 9990 E [email protected] W W www.brais.ac.uk/conferences/ above. subtitles. Includes Q&A with the http://mosaicrooms.org/ brais-conference-2016 Senate director. Tickets: £8-£12. Cinema House, University of London, Wednesday 13 April 1, Institute of Contemporary Arts Friday 15 April Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. (ICA), Th e Mall, London SW1Y E [email protected] W www.brais. 7:00 pm | Th e Smouha City 5AH. T 020 7930 3647 W www. 9:00 am | Th e Past in the Present ac.uk Venture; Alexandria 1923-1958 ica.org.uk of the Middle East (Two-Day (Book Launch) Organised by: Conference: Friday 15 - Saturday 6:00 pm | Th e Ancient Colours Th e Spiro Ark. Th e story of how 7:00 pm | From Gulf to Gulf 16 April 2016) Organised by: of Kings and Priests (Lecture) Joseph Smouha came to buy, to Gulf (Film) Organised by: Council for British Research in Zvi Koren (Th e Edelstein Centre build, and eventually lose Smouha Th e Mosaic Rooms. Introduced the Levant (CBRL) and London for the Analysis of Ancient City to the Egyptian State, is told by Edward Simpson (SOAS). Middle East Institute, SOAS Artifacts at the Shenkar College by his grandson Richard (Dicky) From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf is the (LMEI). Conference showcasing of Engineering, Design and Art Smouha. Tickets: £10. Central result of an exchange between the work of the CBRL and its ALEPPO The Rise and Fall of Syria’s Great Merchant City Philip Mansel

Aleppo now lies in ruins, its population decimated - but it was once a major world city. Philip Mansel reveals its vibrant history as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Collating a rich array of contemporary accounts Mansel uncovers a cultural melting pot, famed in the Ottoman Empire for its souks, food and music. He reveals how Aleppo was a crossroads of East and West, where Muslims, Christians and Jews lived and traded together in peace for ﬁve centuries.

‘Elegant and elegiac, Aleppo is a precious monument to a once-splendid city that has been reduced to abject ruin and misery’ - Justin Marozzi, The Spectator Hardback ‘A compelling portrait of one of the Middle East’s greatest February 2016 cities, by one of the ﬁnest modern historians of the Levant... 272 pgs | 216 x 135 mm An important and outstanding book’ - Eugene Rogan £17.99 | 9781784534615 ‘Characteristically concise and elegant... as tragic as it is www.ibtauris.com timely, this book succeeds magniﬁcently in showing why we should mourn the fall of Aleppo’ - William Dalrymple

26 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 partners in the region, it will Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T 020 (BFSA) and the Anglo-Omani book Social Movements in Egypt present sessions on a number of 7898 4724 E [email protected] W Society. Doors open 5:30pm for and Iran (Palgrave Macmillan, themes linking the past to the www.soas.ac.uk/politics/events/ a drinks reception. Tickets: Pre- 2015) in which she analyses the present day in the Middle East. registration required E manager@ reform movement in Iran and Tickets: £50/£30 (Students who Wednesday 20 April angloomanisociety.com Anglo- the groups and organisations that register before 7 April may attend Omani Headquarters, 34 Sackville form the basis of the Egyptian for free and should e-mail lh2@ 7:00 pm | Travelling in Style Street, London W1S 3ED. E opposition movement in their soas.ac.uk). Pre-registration along the Great Khurasan [email protected] historical contexts. Part of the required W www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/ Road: ‘Palatial Caravanserais’ W www.thebfsa.org LMEI's Tuesday Evening Lecture events/ Brunei Gallery Lecture in Northeastern Iran 10th-13th Programme on the Contemporary Th eatre, SOAS. E CBRL@britac. Centuries CE (Lecture) Paul 6:00 pm | Th e Concept of Iran Middle East. Admission free. ac.uk W http://cbrl.org.uk/ Wordsworth (University of in Zoroastrian and Other Khalili Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T Oxford). Organised by: Islamic Traditions (Lecture) François 020 7898 4330/4490 E vp6@soas. 12:00 pm | Islamic & Indian Art Circle. Chair: Scott Redford de Blois (UCL). Organised by: ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/ Arts Auction Organised by: (SOAS). Admission free. Khalili Department of Religions and events/ Roseberys London. Admission Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T Philosophies,SOAS in association free. Roseberys London, 70/76 07714087480 E rosalindhaddon@ with Th e World Zoroastrian Wednesday 27 April Knights Hill, London SE27 0JD. T gmail.com W www.soas.ac.uk/art/ Organisation. Nineteenth Dastur 020 8761 2522 W www.roseberys. islac/ Dr Sohrab Hormasji Kutar 7:00 pm | William Morris’s co.uk Memorial Lecture. People calling Fascination with Carpets from 7:30pm | Clocks 1888: the greener themselves Iranians (Avestan the Middle East (Lecture) Anna Saturday 16 April (Performance) Until Friday airiia-, Old Persian ariya-, Middle Mason (William Morris Gallery). 22 April. Produced by Brolly Persian ēr), and their country Organised by: Oriental Rug and 9:00 am | Th e Past in the Present Productions. A brilliant young Ērānšahr, play a prominent role Textile Society, UK (ORTS). Doors of the Middle East (Two-Day migrant girl is single-handedly in religious and secular texts from open 6:00pm. William Morris Conference: Friday 15 - Saturday running the towering clock that the Avesta onwards. Th e changing was intrigued by historic carpets 16 April 2016) See event listing is the beating heart of the East implications of these terms for from the Middle East and started above. End. When she is discovered by a the political and religious self- to collect as early as the 1860s, gentleman explorer they are forced defi nition of Zoroastrians, and Mason explores Morris's interest Sunday 17 April to choose between the worlds they of others, will be discussed. in Middle Eastern carpets and how know or each other. Tickets: £10- Admission free. Khalili Lecture they infl uenced his own practice 11:00 am | Digital Workshop: £20. Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Th eatre, SOAS. E [email protected] as a designer. Tickets: £7/£5 Explore Islamic Patterns Street, London E81 JEJ. T 020 8985 W www.soas.ac.uk/religions-and- students. Th e Conference Room, Organised by: BM. Also at 2:00pm. 2424 W www.hackneyempire. philosophies/events/ St James Piccadilly, 197 Piccadilly, Use smartphones to explore co.uk London W1J 9LL. E membership@ beautiful and complex patterns 6:30 pm | Beyond the Chador: orientalrugandtextilesociety.org.uk on the objects in the Islamic world Th ursday 21 April Iranian Dress for Women W www.orientalrugandtextilesociety. gallery (Room 34) and then create (Lecture) Gillian Vogelsang- org.uk your own design inspired by what 5:45 pm | Dress and Identity in Eastwood (Leiden University). you've discovered. Admission the Sultanate of Oman (Lecture) Organised by: Th e Iran Society. Th ursday 28 April free. Samsung Digital Discovery Aisa Martinez, BM. Organised by: Doors open 6:30pm. For centuries Centre, BM. T 020 7323 8299 E MBI Al Jaber Foundation. Talk Iran has been producing textiles 5:00 pm | Sustaining Confl ict: [email protected] by Martinez, who is currently a and garments, especially for Apathy and Domination in Israel W www.britishmuseum.org project curator at the BM working women, which refl ect the - Palestine (Book Launch) Katie on the content development of the complexity of its cultural history. Natanel (SOAS). Organised by: Monday 18 April Zayed National Museum Project, Vogelsang-Eastwood looks at how Centre for Gender Studies, SOAS. exploring how regional styles of urban and regional dress have Admission free. DLT, SOAS. T 020 6:00 pm | Democracies with Large Omani dress reveal the individual responded to each other over 7898 4547 E [email protected] Muslim Populations: Refl ections wearer’s age, wealth, socio- time. Admission free for Society W www.soas.ac.uk/genderstudies/ on Indonesia, India, Senegal economic status, and other aspects Members and one guest. Pall Mall events/ and Tunisia (Lecture) Alfred of the wearer’s identity. Part of Room, Th e Army & Navy Club, 36- Stepan (Columbia University and the MBI Al Jaber Foundation 39 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN 7:00 pm | Th e Voice of a Kurdish British Academy). Organised by: Lecture Series. Admission free. (Dress code calls for gentlemen Troubadour (Concert) Organised International Relations Speaker Pre-registration required E info@ to wear jacket and tie). T 020 by: Department of Music, School Series and the Department of mbifoundation.com MBI Al 7235 5122 E [email protected] of Arts, SOAS. Part of the SOAS Politics and International Studies, Jaber Conference Room, London W www.iransociety.org / www. Concert Series. With Ali Baran SOAS. Democratic successes in Middle East Institute, SOAS therag.co.uk accompanied by Zafer Demir such Islamic-majority countries (LMEI), University of London, (percussion) and Arsen Doğaner as Indonesia, Senegal, and Tunisia MBI Al Jaber Building, 21 Russell Tuesday 26 April (bass). Admission free. Brunei have been under-documented and Square, London WC1B 5EA. E Gallery Lecture, SOAS. T 020 7898 under-theorized. India, with its [email protected] W 5:30 pm | Social Movements 4500 E [email protected] huge Muslim population, could www.mbifoundation.com and the Future of Politics W www.soas.ac.uk/music/events/ also be included in the "success" from Below in the Middle East concerts/ category. Th is SOAS Centennial 6:00 pm | Oman's unique (Book Launch/Panel Discussion) Lecture will attempt to expand our position in the archaeology of Stephanie Cronin (Oxford), Saturday 30 April imaginations about the multiple pre-Islamic Arabia (Lecture) Carl Sameh Naguib (activist) and ways democracy can be craft ed. Phillips. Organised by: British Tara Povey (SOAS). Event to 11:00 am | Digital Workshop: Admission free. Brunei Gallery Foundation for the Study of Arabia mark the publication of Povey’s Exploring Egyptian Mummies

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 27 CENTRE FOR IRANIAN STUDIES – SCHOLARSHIPS

SOAS, University of London, is pleased to announce the availability of several scholarships in its Centre for Iranian Studies (CIS). The Centre, established in 2010, draws upon the range of academic research and teaching across the disciplines of SOAS, including Languages and Literature, the Study of Religions, History, Economics, Politics, International Relations, Music, Art and Media and Film Studies. It aims to

build close relations with likeminded p 25 . of the School Oriental and African Studies, London, 2007, Treasures institutions and to showcase and foster the best of contemporary Iranian talent in art and culture. MA in Iranian Studies *OCISNFNCFSTTVDDFTTGVMMZ launcIFEBOinterdisciplinary MA in Image: Anvār-i Suhaylī (Lights of the Canopus) Manuscript (Ref: MS10102) from: Anna Contadini (ed.) Objectsof Instruction: Image: Anvār-i Iranian Studies, UIFGJSTUPGJUTLJOE which will be off ered BHBJOJO2015/16. Thanks to the generosity of the Fereydoun Djam Charitable Trust, a number of Kamran Djam scholarships are available for BA, MA and MPhil/PhD studies. MA in Iranian Studies For further details, please contact: Dr Nima Mina (Department of the Languages and Culture of the Middle East) Scholarships Offi cer E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)20 7898 4315 T: +44 (0)20 7074 5091/ 5094 W: www.soas.ac.uk/nme/programmes/ W: www.soas.ac.uk/scholarships ma-in-iranian-studies Centre for Iranian Studies Student Recruitment Dr Arshin Adib-Moghaddam (Chair) T: +44(0)20 7898 4034 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)20 7898 4747 W: www.soas.ac.uk/lmei-cis

28 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 Organised by: BM. Explore digital Funny! (Performance) An evening Wednesday 4 May archaeological analysis of Yemen techniques used by Museum of comedy with British Nigerian using satellite imagery. He will also scientists to uncover the secrets of comedian and actor Nabil Abdul 11:00 am | Members Visit talk about recent issues of heritage the ancient Egyptians. Admission Rashid, Welsh-Egyptian comic to William Morris Gallery damage in Yemen. Admission free. free. Samsung Digital Discovery and BBC Radio 2 presenter Omar Organised by: Oriental Rug and B102, SOAS. T 020 7731 3260 E Centre, BM. T 020 7323 8299 E Hamdi and Tunisian comedian Textile Society, UK (ORTS). [email protected] W www.al-bab. [email protected] and opener for the evening Following Anna Mason’s talk the com/bys/ / www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/ W www.britishmuseum.org Marouen Mraihi. Prelude to the previous week (see event listing events/ Liverpool Arab Arts Festival Wednesday 27 April), the curators 2016 which will take place 16 - of the William Morris Gallery will 8:00 pm | Yazz Ahmed Quartet EVENTS OUTSIDE 24 July. Tickets: £6/£5. Bluecoat, lead a guided tour of the museum performs Alhaan Al Siduri LONDON School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX. and show the group a selection of (Concert) Organised by: T 0151 702 7765 E admin@ textiles from the reserve collection. Th e Mosaic Rooms. Music Sunday 3 April arabicartsfestival.co.uk W www. Tickets: Members only event performance by the Yazz Ahmed arabartsfestival.com with £7 tour fee (Membership Quartet of music inspired by 8:30pm | Marcel Khalifé of one year for 11 events at £20). traditional Bahraini pearl divers (Performance) Organised by: William Morris Gallery Lloyd songs, a genre known as fi djeri, Marsm in association with Band MAY EVENTS Park, Forest Road, Walthamstow, or sea music which, despite the On Th e Wall and supported by London. E membership@ decline of the Pearl industry, has Arts Council England. Composer orientalrugandtextilesociety. survived and become closely and Oud Master Marcel Khalife Sunday 1 May org.uk W www. associated with Bahraini national Tickets: Various. Royal Northern orientalrugandtextilesociety.org. identity. Tickets: £10 E rsvp@ College Of Music, Manchester. W 7:30 | Beyond Any Form: uk / www.wmgallery.org.uk mosaicrooms.org Th e Mosaic www.arabartsfestival.com / http:// Homayoun Shajarian with Rooms, A.M. Qattan Foundation, bandonthewall.org/events/4983/ Sohrab & Tahmoures Poornazeri 7:30 pm | Th e 2016 Edward Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, (Performance) One of Iran’s W. Said London Lecture – Let London SW5 0SW. T 020 7370 Saturday 9 April most popular young vocalists, Th em Drown: Th e Violence of 9990 E [email protected] W Homayoun Sharajian, son Othering in a Warming World http://mosaicrooms.org/ 10:00 am | BATAS 2016 Spring of traditional Persian singer (Lecture) Organised by: A.M. Symposium Organised by: British Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, Qattan Foundation/Th e Mosaic Friday 6 May Association for Turkish Area joins an ensemble led by multi- Rooms, Southbank Centre and Studies (BATAS). Tickets: Various. instrumentalist composers Sohrab London Review of Books. Th e 5:30 pm | Friday Tonic: Yaz Th e Queen’s Building, Emmanuel and Tahmoures Poornazeri in a award-winning journalist and Fentazi Trio (Performance) A College, St Andrew's Street, concert that captures the sound author Naomi Klein will be giving blend of Gnawa, Chaabi, and Cambridge CB2 3AP. T 0115 848 of a new generation of Persian this year’s lecture in memory of Andalusian Music. Yaz Fentazi 2908 E [email protected] musicians. Tickets: £25-£70. Edward Said. Klein, introduced by (oud), Samir Nacer (percussion) Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, Shami Chakrabarti, will build on and Robyn Hemmings (upright Th ursday 14 April London EC2Y 8DS. T 020 7638 Said’s legacy to examine how the bass) perform music that draws on 8891 W www.barbican.org.uk tools of racial hierarchy, including the rich musical traditional of jazz, 9:00 | Sufi s and Mullahs: Sufi s Orientalism, have been the silent blues and North African music. and their Opponents in the Tuesday 3 May partners to climate change since Admission free. Central Bar at Persianate World (Th ree-Day the earliest days of the steam Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Conference: Th ursday 14 – 5:45 pm | Th e Struggle for engine. Tickets: £20/£15/£10 Centre, Belvedere Road, London Saturday 16 April 2016) Organised the State in Jordan: Th e W www.southbankcentre.co.uk SE1 8XX. T 020 7960 4200 W by: Centre for Persian and Iranian Social Origins of Alliances Royal Festival Hall, Southbank www.southbankcentre.co.uk Studies, Institute of Arab and in the Middle East (Lecture) Centre, Belvedere Road, London Islamic Studies, University of Jamie Allinson (University of SE1 8XX. T 020 7370 9990 E Saturday 7 May Exeter. Bringing together scholars Edinburgh). Organised by: [email protected] W http:// and specialists on Sufi sm from London Middle East Institute, mosaicrooms.org/ 9:30 am | Communication around the world, this conference, SOAS (LMEI). Lecture by Jamie and Confl ict: Iraq and Syria focused geographically on the Allinson on his book Th e Struggle Th ursday 5 May (Conference) A one-day Persianate world of greater Iran, for the State in Jordan: Th e Social conference bringing together Anatolia, the Ottoman Empire, Origins of Alliances in the Middle 7:00 pm | Endangered scholars from a variety of and Central Asia, aims to examine East (IB Tauris, 2015). Allinson's Archaeology in Yemen: recent disciplines to address one of the the theological, philosophical, and book, based on original research research by the EAMENA most hotly debated topics in literary dimensions of the Sufi / in Jordan, addresses the question Project (Lecture) Michael contemporary public life - the role anti-Sufi confl ict. Tickets: See of the instability of international Fradley (University of Oxford). of media in the confl icts in Syria contact details below for tickets. alliances in the Middle East and Organised by: British-Yemeni and Iraq, in political violence and Institute of Arabic and Islamic argues that the source of this Society in association with the extremism as well as in global Studies, University of Exeter, instability lies in the expansion London Middle East Institute, narratives of forced migration and Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4ND. of global capitalism in the region. SOAS (LMEI). Michael Fradley, the related phenomena of racism E [email protected] W Part of the LMEI's Tuesday Research Assistant for Endangered and exclusionary politics in Europe http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/ Evening Lecture Programme on Archaeology in the Middle East and elsewhere. Confi rmed keynote iais/ the Contemporary Middle East. & North African (EAMENA), speakers: Philip Seib (University Admission free. Khalili Lecture School of Archaeology, University of Southern California) and Lilie Friday 22 April Th eatre, SOAS. T 020 7898 of Oxford, will give a talk on Chouliaraki (LSE). Organised by 4330/4490 E [email protected] W the EAMENA project which Centre for Media Studies and the Time TBC | Arabs Are Not www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/events/ has conducted the largest London Middle East Institute,

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 29 SOAS (LMEI). Khalili Lecture Eugene Rogan (University of Friday 13 May Civil War: Revolution, Regime Th eatre, SOAS. E dm27@soas. Oxford). Organised by: British Resilience, and Stalemate ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/ Institute at Ankara (BIAA). 9:30 am | Soundspaces of the (Lecture) Michael Kerr (Institute events/ Th e Ottomans and the Anglo– Middle East and Central Asia: of Middle Eastern Studies and the Indian Army both approached Exploring the Intersection Centre for the Study of Divided Sunday 8 May Mesopotamia as hostile terrain. of Sound Studies and Societies, King’s College London). Th is lecture explores the common Ethnomusicology in the Middle Organised by: MBI Al Jaber 11:00 am | how to: Sunday experiences of all soldiers who East and Central Asia Middle Foundation. Part of the MBI Al Morning Live from the fought on the Mesopotamian East and Central Asia Music Jaber Foundation Lecture Series. Tabernacle: Bernard-Henri front, a campaign which marked Forum. Th e day will include a Admission free. Pre-registration Lévy on Islam, Islamic State, the end of Ottoman rule and the roundtable discussion on the required E info@mbifoundation. Kurdistan and the Peshmerga beginning of Britain’s moment in intersection of Sound Studies com MBI Al Jaber Conference (Lecture) Organised by: How the Middle East. Tickets: £10 non- and Ethnomusicology and a Room, London Middle East To Academy. Spanning more members/free for BIAA Members. fi lm screening. Convenors: Institute, SOAS (LMEI), University than two decades, the French British Academy, 10 Carlton Laudan Nooshin (City University of London, MBI Al Jaber Building, philosopher Bernard Henri Levy’s House Terrace, London SW1Y London) and Rachel Harris 21 Russell Square, London WC1B exploration of Islam led him in 5AH. T 020 7969 5204 E biaa@ (SOAS). Admission free. Pre- 5EA. E [email protected] 2015 to Erbil, Kurdistan, where britac.ac.uk W http://biaa.ac.uk/ registration required W www.city. W www.mbifoundation.com he witnessed the tiny army of events ac.uk/events/2016/may/middle- the Kurdish Peshmerga standing east-and-central-asia-music- 7:00 pm | Patriotism and Dissent up against the growing forces of Wednesday 11 May forum Music Department, City in the Global South (Talk) Islamic State. Tickets: £30/£25 University London, Room AG09, Organised by: Th e Mosaic Rooms. Earlybird. Th e Tabernacle, 35 7:00 pm | Tughra-mania and College Building, St John Street, Authors Pankaj Mishra and Vijay Powis Square (off Portobello Calligraphy During the Reign London EC1V 4PB. E l.nooshin@ Prashad in conversation about the Road), London W11 2AY. E john. of Sultan Ahmed III (r. 1703- city.ac.uk rise of authoritarianism in Egypt, [email protected] W 1730) (Lecture) Bora Keskiner. Turkey and India; the germination www.howtoacademy.com Organised by: Islamic Art Circle. Tuesday 17 May of cultures of resistance; and Chair: Scott Redford (SOAS). important questions surrounding Tuesday 10 May Admission free. Khalili Lecture 6:30 pm | Young Iranian Women; the intellectual and solidarity. Th eatre, SOAS. T 07714087480 E Narratives of Strife and Triumph Admission free. E rsvp@ 6.30 pm | Th e Mesopotamia [email protected] W in the Urban Space (Lecture) mosaicrooms.org Th e Mosaic Campaign from both sides of the www.soas.ac.uk/art/islac/ Mehri Honarbin-Holliday (Author Rooms, A.M. Qattan Foundation, trenches, 1914 - 1917 (Lecture) and Artist). Organised by: Iran Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, Heritage Foundation (IHF). London SW5 0SW. T 020 7370 Iranian women have been at the 9990 E [email protected] W heart of civil society debates and http://mosaicrooms.org/ Susan Boulter, HOME, 2011, Embroidery Thread. Are We All Human (e)? (see Exhibitions pp. 30-31) political development in Iran for over a century. Today, Iranian Tuesday 24 May women are a force to be reckoned with in the deeper discourses of 6:30 pm | Low-life and Sufi sm in the civil society movement and late Timurid painting (Lecture) a better developed democracy in Robert Hillenbrand (Edinburgh Iran. Tickets: £10. Asia House, 63 and St Andrews Universities). New Cavendish Street, London Organised by: Th e Iran Society. W1G 7LP. T 020 3651 2121 W Doors open 6:30pm. Admission www.iranheritage.org free for Society Members and one guest. Pall Mall Room, Th e Wednesday 18 May Army & Navy Club, 36-39 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN (Dress 6:00 pm | Agrippa II: Th e Last code calls for gentlemen to wear Jewish King in Jerusalem jacket and tie). T 020 7235 5122 (Lecture) Martin Goodman E [email protected] W www. (Oxford University and Oxford iransociety.org / www.therag. Centre for Hebrew and Jewish co.uk Studies). Organised by: Anglo Israel Archaeological Society and King’s College, London. Followed EXHIBITIONS by refreshments. Admission free. King’s College, Safra Lecture Th eatre, Ground Floor, King’s Until 24 April | ARE WE ALL Building, Strand, London HUMAN (E)? Exhibition of mixed WC2R 2LS. T 020 8349 5754 E media work by Susan Boulter. [email protected] W www. Unscrupulous exploitation - aias.org.uk culturally, morally, economically; the denial of human rights and Th ursday 19 May the absence of the rule of law, both internationally and nationally, is 5:45 pm | Understanding Syria’s endemic: are we not all being used

30 The Middle East in London April – May 2016 as pawns for the benefi t of those Heretic, Visionary and Icon Wednesday 4 May in power? Deliberately placing Exhibition exploring the herself within this exhibition ambiguous and contentious fi gure Until 21 August 2016 | Mona as an activist, an amateur and a of Akhenaten. Admission free. Hatoum Hatoum’s work highlights provocateur, Boulter challenges UCL Petrie Museum of Egyptian the condition of displacement, the audience to think and to act, Archaeology, Malet Place, London shared by many in the modern era. to become more than audience. WC1E 6B. T 020 7679 2884 E Th e fi rst UK survey of her work Admission free. P21 Gallery, 21 [email protected] W refl ects 35 years of consistently Chalton Street, London, NW1 www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/petrie poetic and radical thinking 1JD. T 020 7121 6190 E info@p21. expressed through a diverse range org.uk W www.p21.org.uk Friday 15 April of media and presents over 100 works from the 1980s to the present Until 21 May | Sea Change – Until 25 June | World Ikat day, from early performances Chapter 1: Character 1, In the Textiles...Ties that Bind and video, sculpture, installation, Rough First UK presentation Exhibition celebrating the rich photography and works on of the ‘fi rst chapter’ from Hajra legacy of Ikat, an age old textile paper. Tickets: £16/£14 conc. Tate Waheed’s Sea Change – an on- technique stretching across the Modern, Level 3 West, Bankside, going visual novel and multimedia continents of the world, which London SE1 9TG. T 020 7887 archive, commenced in 2011, includes over 200 items of unique 8888 W www.tate.org.uk which revolves around the journey Ikat textile from regions such as: and disappearance of nine persons Asia-Pacifi c, Latin America, the in the name of salvation, a better Middle East, West Africa and life or new one. Admission free. Europe. Two-day symposium Th e Mosaic Rooms, A.M. Qattan on Ikat Textiles-Ties Th at Bind Foundation, Tower House, 226 (Past, Present and Future) on Cromwell Road, London SW5 Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 May, see 0SW. T 020 7370 9990 E info@ contact details below for more mosaicrooms.org W http:// information. Admission free. mosaicrooms.org/ Brunei Gallery, SOAS. T 020 7898 4023/4026 E [email protected] Until 30 June | Akhenhaten: W www.soas.ac.uk/gallery/

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new, dedicated website for The Middle East in London: https://www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/meil/

Among the added features and pages, you will ﬁ nd:

• Featured articles: Thinking about obtaining a copy of the latest issue? Here readers can get a preview of the current issue of the magazine in the form of a featured article. • An archive of past issues of the magazine: Past issues can now be downloaded as PDFs by anyone. The archive pages are organised by publication year. • A photo competition page: Here we showcase winning and commendation photos from past photo competitions. We will also post the announcement for the 2016 photo competition on this page in the spring, so check back for details then! • A contact page: Have a question about the magazine or wish to make a comment for consideration of the Editorial Board? This page contains the contact details of the magazine staff, lists the member of the Editorial Board and includes information about letters to the editor and theme selection.

The magazine covers a wide variety of themes and topics related to the Middle East, written in a non-technical style for our informed readership.

Please support us by signing up for a subscription, or renew yours by visiting the LMEI afﬁ liation webpage.

April – May 2016 The Middle East in London 31 Middle East Summer School y 202423 June-21JuneJune-24 – 26 July July July 2016 2014 2013

AnAn intensive intensive five-week five-week programme programme which which includes includes a two choice courses: of two courses: a language one (Persian or Arabic, the latter at two levels) andan Arabicanother Language on the 'Government Course (introductory and Politics or ofintermediate) the Middle andEast' or 'Cultureanother and on Society‘Government in the andMiddle Politics East'. of the Middle East.

Beginners Persian (Level 1) Government and Politics of the Middle East This is an introductory course which aims to give the students a reasonable grounding in the basics of Persian grammar This course provides an introduction to the politics of the and syntax as well as to enable them to understand simple Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It gives on a and frequently used expressions related to basic language country by country basis, an overview of the major political use. They will be able to hold uncomplicated conversations issues and developments in the region since the end of the on topics such as personal and family information, shopping, First World War and addresses key themes in the study of hobbies, employment as well as simple and direct exchanges contemporary Middle East politics, including: the role of the of information related to familiar topics. By the end of the military, social and economic development, political Islam, and course they will also progress to read simple short texts. the recent uprisings (the ‘Arab Spring’). Beginners Arabic (Level 1) Culture and Society in the Middle East

This is an introductory course in Modern Standard Arabic. This course examines the major cultural patterns and It teaches students the Arabic script and provides basic institutions of the MENA region. It is taught through a study of grounding in Arabic grammar and syntax. On completing some lively topics such as religious and ethnic diversity, impact the course, students should be able to read, write, listen to of the West, stereotyping, the role of tradition, education and understand simple Arabic sentences and passages. This (traditional and modern), family structure and value, gender course is for complete beginners and does not require any politics, media, life in city, town and village, labour and labour prior knowledge or study of Arabic. migration, the Palestinian refugee problem and Arab exile communities, culinary cultures, music and media, etc. Beginners Arabic (Level 2)

This course is a continuation of Beginners Arabic Level 1. It completes the coverage of the grammar and syntax of Modern Standard Arabic and trains students in reading, comprehending and writing with the help of a dictionary Timetable more complex Arabic sentences and passages. Courses are taught Mon-Thu each week. Language courses To qualify for entry into this course, students should are taught in the morning (10am-1pm) and the Politics and have already completed at least one introductory Culture Courses are taught in two slots in the afternoon course in Arabic. (2:00-3:20 and 3:40-5:00pm).

FEES Session (5 weeks) Programme fee* Accommodation fee** 2024 June-21June–26 July July 2016 2013 (two (two courses) courses) £2,500 from £300/week

* Early bird discounts of 10% apply to course fees before 1 March 2013. * An early bird discount ofof 10%10% appliesapplies toto coursecourse feesfees beforebefore 30 15 April April 2016. 2014. ** Accommodation fees must be paid by 1 March 2013 to secure accommodation. ** Rooms Please cancheck be ourbooked website atat thethe from IntercollegiateIntercollegiate mid-October HallsHalls 2012 whichwhich for are conﬁare located located rmed prices.in in the the heart heart of of Bloomsbury: www.halls.london.ac.uk.

For more information, please contact Louise Hosking on

32 The [email protected] East in London April Or – May check 2016 our website www.soas.ac.uk/lmei February-March 2014 The Middle East in London 35