A few interesting links for your weekend consumption.
First is a long post on the Syria Comment Blog. The post deals with changing norms surrounding the rights and place of women in Syria. Very interesting reading, especially early on. You can find it here.
Second are a pair of articles from the New York Times. The pieces are both by Robert Worth, NYT’s premier Middle East correspondent. One discusses the state of media freedom in Syria. (particularly interesting when examined in tandem with the NPR report by Deborah Amos from earlier this month regarding new media) The second is a profile of Syrian actress, and former starlet, Nihad Alaeddin aka Seduction. (not making that up…take that Haifa Wahbe!) Worth’s piece on the media can be found here, and the profile is here, while a transcript of the NPR broadcast can be found here.
The third story I’ll suggest also comes from the Times. This one describes a local poetry night called Bait al-Qasid, or the house of poetry. I would caution readers against putting too much stock in this piece as the author might have gotten a little carried away, but it does a decent job of describing a controversial local institution that has proven quite resilient. The NYT article can be found here. There is another, similar piece which appeared in Syria Today in April of this year. While falling into many of the same traps of exaggeration, self importance, and hyperbole, it is also worth reading and can be found here.
Enjoy your weekend everyone!
A word to the wise.