Photo Essays

Thousands of Muslims worldwide have demonstrated against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Protesters marched the streets, burned flags and shouted anti-Israel slogans. By Timothy Jones

In Mauritania, north-western Africa, slavery is a fact of modern life. It's estimated that 10-20 percent of the country's 3.5 million people are still enslaved in a system rooted in ethnic discrimination.

Some 50 million children in Pakistan are of school age, but more than 20 million of them do not attend any kind of educational institution. If funds are lacking, many parents send their children to Koran schools. By Nastassja Shtrauchler

With several countries in the Middle East in the grip of conflicts, children there are not only in danger but often miss out on schooling. Efforts are made to keep lessons going, even under dire conditions. By Timothy Jones

In his latest film, "In the Fade", Fatih Akin puts his leading lady through hell. The acclaimed director draws on the series of murders committed by the NSU terror cell in Germany to produce some of his best work to date. By Jochen Kurten

Every year, large numbers of Iranian Shias travel to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq to take part in Arbaeen, the ceremony which marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for Hussein Ibn Ali, the third Shia imam and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Changiz M. Varzi charted their journey

Saudi Arabia has announced that women will soon be allowed to obtain a driver's licence without the permission of a legal guardian. Here are some other milestones women in the Islamic kingdom have reached over the years. By Carla Bleiker

Remember Kobani? Kurdish fighters freed the besieged Syrian city from "Islamic State" militants in a battle closely followed by international media in 2014. The town is slowly being rebuilt, but the drama remains. By Karlos Zurutuza

Since the outbreak of war in Syria, the entire Lebanese border has become a red zone: travellers from the West are advised by their governments to give it a wide berth. Yet once in the field, only the odd military checkpoint serves to remind travellers that tensions in the area remain high. In the Bekaa Valley, Hezbollah – the Party of God – holds sway. Wielding considerable political, military and social clout, this powerful Shia Islamist organisation is government, parliament and welfare state rolled into one. By Eric Lafforgue

Last week Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah marked 50 years on Brunei's throne with a spectacular and lavish ceremony at his golden-domed palace. Among the sultan's contemporary monarchs, only Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for longer. By Rey Azizi