We are in a state of volatility. This seems to be the general mood on the street lately. Everyone feels it. Everyone sees it. Everyone hears or reads about it. Fights here, campus violence there, city lock-downs over there. There seems to be an endless stream of sporadic violence within the Kingdom lately, and by [...]

It may go without saying, that in the past few weeks, since the one tragic football managed to reignite tensions between two major Jordanian camps – that things have been just a bit tense when it comes to the identity issue. To make matters worse, nearly every move the state has made has not helped [...]

REUTERS: An Iraqi Christian girl attends a Christmas mass at Chaldean Catholic church in Amman December 22, 2010. Thousands of Iraqi Christians fled to neighboring Jordan following a spate of bombings that targeted churches in Iraqi cities in the past few years. I thought this was a great capture. Maybe because it feels like the [...]

These images struck me today: Reuters: Muslims pray for rain in drought-hit Jordan during a mass in Amman December 2, 2010. Demotix: Hundreds gathered yesterday afternoon at the Wailing Wall for a mass prayer for rain, following a day of fast called upon by Chief Rabbis of Israel. and finally… Getty Images: Jews (R) and [...]

Hope everyone enjoys their holiday! Couldn’t resist posting this latest Hajjaj caricature.

Having been incommunicado since the beginning of September, which included finishing up a boatload of work before the holidays, flying off to beautiful Turkey for three days with the 7iber gang, and then getting stuck in the holiday mode – I missed the usually Eid greeting post. So Eid mubarak to all the readers! It [...]

For myself, Ramadan has always been one of those months that reminds me of the fact that there people who are worse off. Charity has always been an interesting concept and one that I’ve been involved in since I can long remember. In the past three years since I’ve come back to Jordan, perhaps some [...]

To all the readers of the Black Iris, a Ramadan Mubarak inshallah, and may your prayers and fasting be accepted! If you’re in the giving mood, as well you should be, please take some time to head on over to Islamic Relief and help out those in need, especially our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, [...]