Photo Essays

Europe and Turkey have a lot in common. Istanbul for one. The metropolis of 15 million is not merely geographically part of Europe. A foray through the city of contrasts. By Julia Hahn and Rena Effendi

A decorative cloth for some, a sign of resistance for others. All the aspects of "tatreez" come to light in Fatima Abbadi's latest photo series. By Jan Tomes

The centuries-old festival of "Pir Shalyar" is celebrated in the Iranian-Kurdish village of Hawraman Takht at the beginning of February every year. It is just one of many unique living traditions from this West Iranian mountain region close to the Iraqi border. By Marian Brehmer

Covering over 1,480 acres and accommodating over five million bodies, Wadi al Salam in Najaf, Iraq, has been a burial site for over 1400 years. The shrine of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam, attracts millions of pilgrims every year. By Changiz M. Varzi

Thoughtful, provocative, chic: Shehzil Malik′s new aesthetic seeks social transformation in Pakistan's conservative, male-dominated society — sometimes by deliberately flaunting social conventions. By Farhad Mirza

Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay don't have many liberties. Painting is one of the few activities they have been allowed to pursue in recent years. Last month an exhibition in New York showed a selection of their art works. By Heike Mund

Once Saudi Arabia was the world’s most difficult country for a non-Muslim to visit. Only Muslims making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca were allowed to enter. Now Saudi Arabia has announced it will begin issuing tourist visas during the first quarter of 2018. Things potential tourists should leave behind: any alcohol, non-Muslim religious items, pork-based products, games of chance, medicines containing codeine, pornography…  By Eric Lafforgue

Despite the civil war in its past, Beirut is struggling back to its former beauty. Restaurant owners like Kamal Mouzawak are part of that transformation. He unites cultures and religions around the dining table. Impressions by Michael Marek

The mass protests in Iran were initially about economic woes and foreign policy. Now, demonstrators are questioning the country's system of government. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is blaming the "enemies of Iran"

Contemporary science has its roots in the work of medieval Jewish, Christian and Muslim scholars who set about translating ancient texts with a view to preserving and passing on the precious knowledge they contained. A new touring exhibition by the Austrian National Library focuses on this heritage. As the organisers say, the significance of this transfer of knowledge cannot be overstated. By Fabian Schmidt