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Zainab Mehdi

Zainab Mehdi

Mehdi

Zainab Mehdi is °®Âþµº's Associate Editor and researcher specialising in governance, development, and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa region. 

The soundtrack to the captivating refugee animation, Lamya's Poem, is set to be released this week. Composed by Emmy-award-winning composer Christopher Willis, °®Âþµº sat down with him to chat about his inspirations and his creative process.

11 September, 2023

A faithful adaptation of Christy Lefteri's book by the same name, The Beekeeper of Aleppo play deals with the torturous journey of Syrians to Europe after fleeing the war. The play emphasises the fragility of comfort and a shared desire for safety.

17 February, 2023

Iraqis under the regime of Saddam Hussein faced a continuously threatened identity of self, with this generational trauma lingering today. Baghdaddy, performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London, unravels this period with humour and tragedy.

15 December, 2022

In an exclusive interview with °®Âþµº, the Head of Programs at the Iraq Health Access Organization Hayder Ali explains the most pressing barriers that Iraq faces in achieving proper sexual health awareness, and what needs to be done.

15 July, 2022

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Baghdad's creative milieu is on its way to being restored. This is in part due to a dedicated team of artists and architects who have helped beautify the city's architecture, of which Wijdan al-Majid is a member.

13 May, 2022

As we continue to tumble into the age of AI, new innovations pose new questions about our place in the world, our purpose and what have to offer. °®Âþµº speaks with the founder of Ai-Da, a humanoid robot, about how to navigate these futures.

03 February, 2022

Arabs in the UK series: As one of her final commissioned works, renowned British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid was entrusted to rebuild the Central Bank of Iraq after the 2010 attack. As the project nears completion, we take stock of her enduring legacy

07 January, 2022

A viral selfie between pop singer Dua Lipa and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad placed a renewed emphasis on the role celebrities can play in advocating for the less fortunate. But in the case of the Yazidis, will such exposure really make a difference?

03 December, 2021

British artist and sculptor Piers Secunda has been making drawings using rust ink, paying particular attention to surroundings nearby Osama bin Laden’s compound in the vicinity of Abbottabad, Pakistan.

25 March, 2021

After the Grenfell fire tragedy, the local community came together in many different ways including through the love of food, where witnesses and survivors could provide support to one another.

02 February, 2021