Joshua Levkowitz

Syrian refugees in Turkey watch uneasily as Erdogan warms to Assad

Syrians in Turkey are wary of losing refuge as the Turkish President eyes dialogue with Assad

Syria's first astronaut reflects on his journey to space 35 years ago

Syrian musicians carve out small space in Istanbul’s live music scene 

Istanbul’s Syrian-run small art spaces have become a conduit of connection between locals and the refugee population through music amid high running anti-refugee sentiment across the country.

Syrians adapt to tumultuous Turkish environment

In the decade-old Turkish diaspora, thousands of Syrians have started businesses that fill niches in Turkey and open up new export markets — but economic and political challenges are rising.

Syrians dodge military conscription

Syrian military-age men are fleeing conscription, forcing them to defer their future or pay back the government.

Ancient, modern cultures still mingle in central Erbil's Ottoman masterpieces

Erbil's citadel and grand central market are living examples of the city's cultural heritage, which is both distinctly Ottoman and shaped by its local setting.

New Iraqi board games revisit cultural heritage, create common ground

Iraqis have played board games for millennia, and a new generation of them are creating new ones steeped in Iraqi history with the hope of getting more of them to put down their screens and meet other players face to face.

Coexistence converges at film festival in Iraqi Kurdistan

The films at the Duhok International Film Festival in Dahuk, Iraqi Kurdistan, show how conflict and trauma are hallmarks of collective memory in the region, from Tunisia to Palestine to Iraq.

Baghdad cabbies struggle with change as Green Zone opens up

Baghdad's taxi drivers face new challenges with the reopening of the Green Zone having to compete with ride share apps and helicopter and river transport services.

Who are the heroes, hustlers and innovators of Kurdish wedding music?

In marathon-like Kurdish weddings that can last for days, local wedding singers steer their audiences between folk songs, national anthems and even techno music.