Aslan Media: #Intersection

  In this article from Your Middle East, Sofia Patel decries the simplification that the media has latched onto when referring to IS as ‘Sunni insurgents’. 

This should not be understood as a deep-rooted Sunni-Shia conflict, but instead as extremists perverting and exploiting religious Islamic principles. 

Patel discusses the social, historical, and political factors that have influenced instability in the region and shaped the nature and growth of this extremist movement. 

When the media consistently uses phrases like ‘Sunni insurgents’ to describe IS certain images, thoughts, or assumptions come to mind.

Words matter. 

Authorities forbid pro-Palestinian rallies in several cities across France.

Baseball might just become the newest passion in sports crazy Iran.

From WashingtonPost:

Closer to the “Bad News Bears” than the major leagues, organized baseball has been played here since 1991. Few Iranians beyond the estimated 500 players, coaches and umpires who belong to the national association, however, have even heard of the game.

From Al Arabiya:

In an interview with CNN, Nazer said “I want to create a revolution with music, with love rather than hate, or chaos and bloodshed.

This poignant Reuters photo essay by Goran Tomasevic, named The Guardian's 2013 photographer of the year, visually chronicles the Free Syrian Army's movements over the course of 18 days. Tomasevic's photos are accompanied by concise commentary that captures the humanity and complexity of the situation:

When some of the rebels took over a government position a few of their fighters were killed by government forces. Five rebels decided to go on a rescue mission to recover the bodies of their comrades. I went with them....The whole process took about 4-5 hours; it was a really long day. The bodies will be sent back to the families. One of the bodies was of the brother of one of the fighters.

After witnessing the horrors of war, Tomasevic has few words to offer:

I can't describe the situations of war....  I can't give any advice. Things are changing with the situation in Syria all the time.

Tomasevic humanizes the rebels in way that removes them from simply being headlines. Most might question this kind of reporting; but perhaps humanizing terrorists helps us understands exactly the things that motivate them- which could ultimately help to defeat their onslaught?

This Huffington Post article showcases the work of four female photographers — hailing from Yemen, Iran, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia — who are are “bringing a female perspective on the Middle East to the white walls of New York’s gallery world.”

For the first time in NYC, these four women will showcase their stunning and provocative portraits of non-Western identities in a group show titled “The Middle East Revealed,” shining a light on moments as traditionally significant as the Hajj and mundanely beautiful as a quite minute of reflection in a girl’s bedroom.

Their diverse array of subjects is especially significant in a world in which Middle Eastern women are too often stereotyped and misrepresented. One of the photographers, Boushra Almutawakel, “who is considered to be Yemen’s first female photographer," acknowledges the broader impact of her work:

Online dating has its fair share of difficulties, which a Colorado teenage girl has recently learned after being arrested by the FBI for her relationship with a member of ISIS. Despite being warned by her parents and a field agent, Shannon Conley, 19, was arrested in April after attempting to board a plane to Turkey. 

Via the Denver Post:

Conley went ahead with her plans, led by a man she met on the Internet who identified himself as a terrorist associated with ISIL and with whom she built a romantic relationship online as he encouraged her to travel to Syria to fight alongside him.

Although Conley had only been in touch with the ISIS associate for a year, she was enthusiastic about joining the organization.

Conley told the FBI agent she was "ready to wage jihad in a year."

Conley has been arrested on suspicion of supporting ISIS, and if convicted could face up to 15 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, or both. 

Frightening that she converted to terrorism so easily.

In a prime example of unchecked reporting, the viral media story that hit the internet yesterday about the Algerian football team donating all $9 million of their World Cup funds to support the people of Gaza has turned out to be completely false. 

ESPN and Al Jazeera journalist Maher Mezahi revealed the lack of truth:

Hate to burst everyone's bubble, but there's no credible source for #ALG players donating their bonuses to Gaza. Twitter rumour gone mad.

— Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher)

July 3, 2014

No source for the quote, 'They need it more than us.' Nothing in Algerian press, and the FAF haven't said anything either.

Seems like the rumour was started by this guy https://t.co/5l1t7DeMMk. No idea who he is... Rambles incoherently about Slimani and Gaza.

— Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher)

July 3, 2014

But despite the falseness of the donation, Mezahi notes that the fans of the Algerian team do support Palestine in different ways.

That said those following me might have noticed affection of #ALG supporters for Palestine. Fans sing 'Palestine the martyrs' at every match

— Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher)

July 3, 2014

Palestinian flag on display at the parade yesterday pic.twitter.com/tyk216dpi6

— Maher Mezahi (@MezahiMaher)

Justin Marozzi, author of Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood, chronicles Baghdad's turbulent history in this article for The Guardian.

...for the city that is next on the ISIS target list, the once glorious capital of the Islamic empire, the sight of a foreign army at the gates is all too familiar. Over the past 13 centuries, Baghdad’s population has been subject to rape, torture and indiscriminate slaughter, with terrible consequences: on the city’s physical infrastructure, on religious convictions, and above all, perhaps, on the minds of the long-suffering Baghdadi

The article humanizes the crisis currently escalating in Iraq, painting a picture of a battered city and a weary people: