“Here, Freedom”—fiction from Danial Haghighi
A small town couple have a brutally honest conversation about marriage in light of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.
Fiction
“The Cactus”—new fiction from Mohammed Al Naas
Can a man who loves a woman prove his mettle by taking proper care of a cactus that stings him with its spines?
“The Agency”—a story by Natasha Tynes
A shrewd businesswoman runs a matchmaking agency in Amman that finds brides for male clients based on a virginity scale.
We Saw Paris, Texas—a story by Ola Mustapha
In Ola Mustapha's new story, a man falls for the seduction of a film and it becomes the blueprint for love, life, and even death.
Rich and Poor People—fiction by Farah Ahamed
After her controlling husband dies, a wealthy woman obsesses over the neighborhood crows until her maid decides to take matters into her own hands.
“The Afghan and the Persian”—a short story by Jordan Elgrably
An Afghan refugee, survivor of a shipwreck, washes up on the shores of southern France and applies for asylum in Montpellier.
“The City Within”—fiction from MK Harb
In MK Harb's latest story, a man steps out of his home in Beirut after two years of living in isolation to a life-changing encounter.
“The Long Walk of the Martyr”—fiction from Salar Abdoh
In Salar Abdoh’s new short story, Iranian militias return from war to a life and country to which they have difficulty adjusting.
“The Burden of Inheritance”—fiction from Mai Al-Nakib
In Mai Al-Nakib’s new short story, a woman makes a Herculean effort to preserve the memory and artwork of her late husband.
STAMP ME—a monologue by Yussef El Guindi
Yussef El Guindi explores an anxious traveler's mind racing with thoughts of what to say as he faces border and customs control.
In Shahrazad’s Hammam—fiction by Ahmed Awadalla
Ahmed Awadalla’s new story reveals sexual pleasure and doubt in a bathhouse in Beirut.
The Ship No One Wanted—a story by Hassan Abdulrazak
Can a crush on a teacher survive marriage, revolution, and a sinking, refugee dingy on the Mediterranean Sea?
Naar, Are You illuminated?
A fiction that celebrates the indomitable spirit of women who embrace their agency.
“Nadira of Tlemcen”—fiction from Abdellah Taïa
Sometimes you have to escape everything you know in order to become yourself.
Abortion Tale: On Our Ground
In Ghadeer Ahmed's latest story, three women with no abortion rights refuse to be victims of exploitation and blackmail.