To be continued...

Alan Johnston is still missing, but assurances are still coming that he is "alive and well" - now to a group of MEP's visiting Ramallah. But what is going on and why isn't he being let go if they know where he is and who is holding him???

Reading recommendations

I will return soon with more pictures from recent Turkish adventures (they will soon end by the way and the focus of my travels shift away from here), but first some accumulated reading recommendations (most of them from the last week or so, and mainly Middle East-oriented, as usual):

Women's Middle East Learning Partnership is an advocacy campaign for equal right to citizenship and nationality for Arab women.

ICG issued a report on Kirkuk, with recommendations for a range of involved parties.

HRW gave out this report on the human cost of rising insurgent attacks in Afghanistan. Amnesty International has several reports of interest on their webpage, but remember to search for the on one the death penalty in Iraq!

Read about an exhibition on historical artefacts found in Gaza.

In Swedish, you can read here an essay from Svenska Dagbladet on the ongoing Israeli debate on history and the founding of the state.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman has a long article on energy policy and the importance of the Caspian basin over the weekend.

Following Alan Johnston

BBC-correspondent Alan Johnston is reported by a Palestinian government member to be "in good health", 43 days after his disappearance in Gaza. 50 000 have signed a petition for his release.

Istanbul exhibitions

After a weekend spent in Istanbul I can recommend some ongoing exhibitions again. The private foundation-based Pera Museum has "Wall, Arch and Dome. Byzantine Istanbul in the eyes of Ottoman photographers". I ama a sucker for historical photography as you know....

The Topkapi Palace and the Museum of Islamic Arts are showing "Anatolian weaving traditions" - unfortunately, I can't find a web presence, but if I do I will give it to you.

Until the 12th of May, the Yapi Kredi Kültür Merkezi's exhibition center on Istiklal Caddesi has an exhibition on the histroy of communications: "Nur-ı Dîdem Kızım Hâmidem" - displaying development from cuneiform tablets to Ericsson mobiles!

Photo archive Middle East

I've discovered the photography archive of the Middle East at the University of Chicago. The contents are to be extensively explored by ME shortly, but I'd also like to share them with you, if anyone else is interested.

Alan Johnston again

Rumour has had it for a few days that BBC-correspondent Alan Johnston in Gaza, missing (kidnapped) is dead. But Palestinian president Abbas denies it in Stockholm today. We cling to hope as no evidence of his death has turned up and Abbas implies quiet ongoings in the case.

Buses - riding through Turkey

Well, this first picture isn't even from Turkey actually (it's Aleppo, in Syria) but the idea was to illustrate travelling through Turkey on intercity buses. The other pictures are all taken at different service centers belonging to one of the major bus companies.

Sheep again...

Or sheepskins and wool, at least.

I'm digging deep in my backlog now and bringing out features I may or may not have shown you before.

Istanbul from above

Thanks to Carpetblogger (read her, is my only advice for you!, even if I brazenly stole her picture...) and Wikipedia, I can share this exceptionally cool image of Istanbul taken from space with you. You actually can't imagine how detailed it is - and I thought I got a really good view of the city from above when flying in over it late Saturday afternoon...

At the top of the picture is the Black Sea and the Marmara sea at the bottom. And the Bosphorus as a live highway, or something... You can also see the bridges and the Topkapi and and and and... everything!

Abundance

Well, you all know I like fruit and vegetable markets - they are so visual and aestethic. Here is a real mountain of watermelons, from last summer. This year's season hasn't started yet, of course.

Tractors!

Some old pictures, here: agriculture machinery!

Middle East-reading

As usual, I have several links to recent reports and articles to share, that the reader interested in the Middle East may appreciate.

First Göran Rosenberg (in Swedish) in Dagens Nyheter today on the opposition in Syria and the need for democratization with (as opposed to without or against) islam.

A report on Egypt from Amnesty International. And Human Rights Watch on detained women's rights activists in Iran. Lastly, ICG on regional peace negotiations.

And finally, a non-Middle East recommendation - A Swedish Save the Children report on the need for development assistance targeting the Millenium Development Goal on schooling for children.

Re:Orient

The Re:Orient festival programme for this year has now been announced! As I believe I have said before, it takes place 7-10 June this year, in Stockholm - as usual. The only difference is the number of locations... ;-)

Johnston still missing

BBC correspondent in Gaza Alan Johnston is still missing, one month after being seized in Gaza. Several important international news media (BBC, Al-Jazeera, CNN and Sky News) are acting for his release (read here also) as well as the British government.

There is still a petition to sign for him, too.

13 april update: more on the release action.

Google Earth

I'm a bit low on photos in the backlog right now, but don't worry, I'll be back!

In the meantime,a I guess you've all discovered Google Earth? Otherwise, I can only suggest it for download - if you are the least interested in maps and images. The quality can be a bit varied though, mostly things are clearly visible to the point when it's almost scary (I can see my Ankara-balcony...). But, having been to Aleppo we wanted to look at that - but that was a non-starter.

Svenska Dagbladet reports today that you can clearly see traces of atrocities in Darfur on the images of that region - especially after a cooperation with a Washington holocaust museum that marks out i a burned houses.

Iraq anniversary

On the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad to American troops in 2003, the BBC shows these photos from Iraq.

Schildt exhibition - photos from the Eastern Mediterranean

We saw the Göran Schildt photo exhibition in Stockholm today - with photos from the Finland-Swedish travel-writer's sailing trips on the small sailing boat Daphne in Greece and Egypt in the 1950's. Fantastic faces and sceneries, absolutely amazing imagery! Monasteries, folk art, sailing, antique remnants and people inhabit his world which is all but lost today. I recommend all to see the exhibition and perhaps read his books on the trips.

You can read more here on the Göran Schildt Foundation in Finland, Villa Schildt (in Swedish). Schildt's book may be purchased here.

Photos - "Vintage Egypt"

Another black-and-white photo book recommendation here: "Vintage Egypt" on travel on the Nile in the early 20th century.

Easter again

Apparently I missed the other day that Pesach is also celebrated this week, so all imaginable Easters coincide this year.

Here is a BBC picture gallery of some Orthodox celebrations having taken place.

"Beyond the river"

Photography is a main topic of this blog and I recently read a review of this book (Beyond the River - Ottoman Transjordan in Original Photographs) and decided to get a copy. I haven't had time to look at it properly yet, but would still like to share it with you. Old and black-and-white photography is a favourite of mine - I'm fascinated with old photos.

Al-Jazeera

Read here (in Swedish, Bitte Hammargren from Svenska Dagbladet as usual writes excellent analyses on the Midde East) about Al-Jazeeras English-language channel, launched in November 2006. I've also added links to their websites (Arabic and English) in the righthand margin. I'm just waiting to have access to seeing it myself on a regular basis!!!

Mesopotamian plain

The view from Mardin, out across the plains of Mesopotamia. As I said, Mardin is pretty much on the last hill, before the plain stretches out southward. Placed mid-between the two rivers, Euphrates and Tigris (Firat and Dicle in Turkish), too.

Happy Easter

I understand that for once also (at least some?) Orthodox Christians also celebrate Easter this weekend - like Catholics and Protestants do. That is at least in my exeperience not a common calendar coincidence. So all the more reason to extend greetings to all!

40 martyrs

The Syriani church of the 40 martyrs, in central Mardin. I think I have previously mentioned how many early martyrs (from the persecutions of Christians under Diocletian in the 2nd century AD) came from Anatolia.

Mardin

A view up Mardin hill - the last before the Mesopotamian plain...

Alan Johnston petition

BBC and the Guardian here have an online petition where you can add your name to a demand for the immediate release of BBC reporter Alan Johnston. Johnston is missing kidnapped in Gaza since 3 weeks now and has not been heard of since. Support him and his family. Read more here.

6 April update: a protest has taken place in Gaza. The sad thing, apart from of course at the individual level and for Johnstons family, is of course how it decreases the decent reporting on ongoings in Gaza even more...

Diyarbakir wall

A popular viewpoint on the city wall, around the corner from the Kervansaray Hotel. Unfortunately, much of the city's modern urban misery also centres here in close quarters. Previously, I almost had my bag snatched at this very point and this time we ran into a large gang of young boys hanging out armed with thinner and knifes...

Gazi Kösk

The Diyarbakir Gazi Kösk, where Atatürk stayed upon visiting. The house is a museum these days and the gardens sold out and used for strolling, drinking coffee, parties, picnics, etc. Probably a wellneeded lung in the urban fabric of Diyarbakir.