For Our 50th Issue, Writers Reflect on Going Home
In the 50th issue of The Markaz Review, diverse writers explore the return home in creative nonfiction, fiction excerpts and prose poems.
Syria
On Forgiveness and Path—an Exhibition in Damascus
In post-regime Syria, forgiveness is not resolution—it’s a quiet demand for justice in the language of art.
Gaza, Sudan, Israel/Palestine Documentaries Show in Thessaloniki
Three documentaries screened in Thessaloniki shed light on conflicts often absent from international media headlines.
The Western Way of Genocide
Gaza was meant from the start of the genocide to be bombed into rubble, to be made uninhabitable and to be depopulated of the Palestinians.
The Closed Door—Return to Syria
After 13 years away, writer Odai Al Zoubi returns to Syria following the Assad regime's collapse, aiming to reconnect with a lost time.
Chronicles of a Boy Manqué
Growing up a "Boy Hassan" in Latakia, Rana Haddad refused to wear a dress and act like a lady, bucking the conventions of her day.
Three Nights in Free Syria
Filmmaker Yasmin Fedda and arts activist Daniel Gorman share their reflections of a three-day visit to Syria early this year.
Return to Damascus…the Long Road Home
A son of Hama — a former prisoner and now a TV correspondent — takes his first steps towards his country in over a decade.
Basel Abbas & Ruanne Abou-Rahme: Palestinian artists at Copenhagen’s Glyptotek
Palestinian artist duo Basel Abbas & Ruanne Abou-Rahme fight anti-Arab propaganda by making challenging art.
Beyond Rubble—Cultural Heritage and Healing After Disaster
Art, activism, archaeology, and archiving are crucial for rebuilding and healing cities by combining the past and present.
Birth in a Poem: Maram Al-Masri’s The Abduction
When a mother loses her child she can become inconsolable, living a desolate life, as she works for his return.
“Ten-Armed Gods”—a short story by Odai Al Zoubi
In a stream of consciousness short story by Odai Al Zoubi, a minister under investigation in the Syrian government awaits his fate.
Ripped from Memoirs of a Lebanese Policeman
True reflections of a former officer of the law in Lebanon from his hit memoir, translated by Lina Mounzer.
The Return of Danton—a Play by Mudar Alhaggi & Collective Ma’louba
A play about the French Revolution highlights the experiences of Syrian actors and theatre makers as artists in exile.
Noor and Hadi Go to Hogwarts—a Short Play
Lameece Issaq presents a short play borrowing a popular fantasy world.