Photo Essays

For the past four years, the parish of Saint Merry in Paris has organised a "Nuit Sacree" over the Pentecost weekend during which Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus pray and sing to God. The goal is to create and foster dialogue between the communities. By Jan Schmidt-Whitley

Far from the glittering skyscrapers of Riyadh and Mecca mania, there is another side to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia just waiting to be discovered. By Eric Lafforgue

Those travelling to Iran will encounter a history and culture thousands of years old, impressive buildings, breath-taking nature – and overwhelming hospitality. By Felix Schlagwein

Ramadan is regarded as a special time of spiritual discipline and purification by millions of practicing Muslims across the globe. The month-long fast is marked by local traditions and holy rituals alike. By Lewis Sanders

Half a century ago about one thousand families moved through the Anatolian steppe, today there are only 86, including the Gobut family of the Yoruk nomadic tribe. Osman Orsal accompanied them

The Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa has just had its sixth Car-Free Day, a monthly initiative launched by the government to encourage non-motorised transportation and fight air pollution. By Maria Gerth-Niculescu

Families across Senegal have long enrolled their children in schools called "daaras" to learn Islamic scripture and build character. The tradition of begging for food to instill humility – an integral part of this education – exposes many, however, to abuse and exploitation. By Juliette Jabkhiro

Amid the poverty and deprivation of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian women struggle to find a taste of the normality that so much of the rest of the world takes for granted. By Nidal al-Mughrabi

For more than 10 years, Pascal Mannaerts has been travelling the globe as a freelance photographer. Seeking to do justice to the beauty, elegance and grace of Islamic monuments, he has compiled a selection of his favourite shots taken in Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East.