On Women’s Day, Thinking Beyond American Flag Hijabs
Written by Ajam editor Alex Shams. Among the most iconic images from the Women’s March in January was a poster of a woman wrapped in a hijab covered in the flag…
The Tourist’s Guide to Tehrangeles: Exploring the Capital of the Iranian Diaspora
Los Angeles is the capital of the Iranian diaspora, home to at least 700,000 Iranian-Americans and an Iranian culture industry that makes its presence known worldwide. Here’s your guide to visiting Tehrangeles.
Syriac Churches and Sephardic Synagogues: The Urban Legacy of Indian Ocean Cosmopolitanism in Kerala
In the southern Indian port city of Kochi, millennia of merchant cosmopolitanism have contributed to the growth of a diverse and syncretic culture that combines faiths, practices, and forms from across the Indian Ocean rim. The history of Syriac Christianity and Sephardic Judaism in the region offer a unique perspective on Kerala’s historic relationship with the Middle East.
Sacralizing a Shia Public Sphere: Muharram Commemorations Across Iran
A photo essay depicting Muharram observances and preparation across Iran in October of 2015. During the Islamic month of Muharram, Muslims of all backgrounds participate in a series of rituals observing the martyrdom of Husayn ibn ‘Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, and his companions at the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.
Exhausted Geographies: Mapping the Dream of Pakistan in the Streets of Karachi
Ajam co-editor-in-chief Alex Shams interviews Shahana Rajani and Zahra Malkani about their new edited volume “Exhausted Geographies,” which explores representations of the urban space of Karachi, Pakistan through mapping.
إيران “فارسية” ؟: تحديات الأسطورة الآرية والتعصب العرقي الفارسي
إن تاريخ وطبيعة التغييرات السياسية في معنى الهوية الوطنية والعرقية في إيران يسلط الضوء على أشكال الصراعات والتناقضات التي عرفتها جميع الدول في حقبة ما بعد الإستعمار. على الرغم من أن الأيديولوجيات تهدف إلى تعزيز الشعور والوعي الوطني – سواء العلمانية القومية الفارسية البهلوية أو القومية العربية العلمانية أو القومية الثورية الإيرانية الدينية- إلا أنها جميعاً ترتكز حول فكرة الحصرية، حصرية من يُشكل الأمة وكيفية الإنتماء إلى المجتمع الوطني المحصور بثقافة ولغة واحدة.