Iraq | Jan 11, 2022 Conservative groups seek to shut down concerts in Iraq Iraqis fear that Islamic parties and armed religious groups are trying to impose their fundamentalist views on social and personal freedoms.
Saudi Arabia | Nov 22, 2021 Khashoggi's fiancee urges Justin Beiber to cancel Saudi performance Hatice Cengiz called on the Canadian pop star to choose "justice and freedom over money."
Culture | Nov 15, 2021 Japanese grand piano, gifted to Arafat in 1997, plays on in Gaza The Yamaha grand piano that Japan gave to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1997 returns to make music again after being exposed to three devastating wars.
Gulf | Sep 10, 2021 Houthis under fire for arresting wedding singer in Yemeni capital There are calls in Sanaa to form a union to defend the rights of singers, amid ongoing abuses and arrests targeting them by the Houthi rebel authorities.
Turkey | Aug 30, 2021 Turkey’s Family Ministry moves to turn down K-pop Turkey is full of young fans of Korean pop music, angering conservatives who claim the K-pop movement encourages homosexuality.
Iran | Mar 12, 2021 Provocative music video leads to arrests in Iran Iran has arrested two music producers for working on Sasan Heidari Yafteh's new music video, "Tehran Tokyo."
Egypt | Dec 9, 2020 Egyptian dancers call for protecting belly dance Several belly dancers in Egypt are leading a campaign to preserve their traditional dance from whom they describe as intruders that have sexualized the dance performance.
Iran | Oct 9, 2020 Protests break out in Iran after death of famed singer Mohammad Reza Shajarian was a renowned singer and composer of classical music. He also notably supported the 2009 protests in the country.
Turkey | Oct 9, 2020 Turkish music sector in hot water due to pandemic, arbitrary restrictions The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on Turkey's music industry that is already experiencing tough times due to a ban on alcohol advertising that has prevented companies from sponsoring events and festivals with their brand names.
Palestine | Aug 25, 2020 Gazan child raps about broken dreams under siege Abdel Rahman Salih al-Shanti, an 11-year-old rapper from the Gaza Strip, has made international headlines, with English rap songs evoking Gaza’s wars and sufferings under the Israeli blockade.
Ben & Jerry's to officially return to Israeli settlements after Unilever decision Agence France-Presse | AFP | Jun 29, 2022
Saudi Arabia banking on oil windfall to keep focus on fiscal discipline and diversification, says Stephen Kalin
Soundbite: Lahib Higel, Senior Iraq Analyst at the International Crisis Group, on the Sinjar agreement
