Arthur Blok

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Executive Editor in Chief at The Levant

Executive Editor in Chief at The Liberum

https://t.co/tq65bzyZ7k

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Articles

The regional implications of the ethnic cleansing against the Alawites in Syria

1 month ago | theliberum.com | Ahmad Ghosn |Adriana Lebbos |Arthur Blok |Paul Cliteur

Image credits: Alawite Syrians fleeing into Lebanon at Nahr el Kabir. Photo courtesy Mohamed Azakir. March 12, 2025 | Lebanon, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey | Featured, UnderstandingHay'at Tahrir al-Sham and its allies shocked the world by overthrowing the Syrian regime in eleven days last year. This week, they overthrew themselves in eleven hours when carrying out their ethnic cleansing against the Alawite sect, documenting the massacre on social media and calling for jihad.
Work-out is not working out for me: A tragicomedy in three acts | The Liberum

1 month ago | theliberum.com | Paul Cliteur |Arthur Blok |Adriana Lebbos |Rafael Baroch

March 7, 2025 | Lebanon | Featured, UnderstandingI have always hated the gym. Not in a casual, “Oh, I don’t feel like working out today” kind of way, but in a deep, visceral, “I would rather study math while listening to elevator music” way. And yet, every few years, I find myself in a new episode of self-delusion, convinced that this time will be different. Spoiler: it never is.
Western Azerbaijanis also have the right to return to their native land

1 month ago | theliberum.com | Arthur Blok |Paul Cliteur |Ahmad Ghosn

The peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan paved the way for another unresolved matter between the two countries to be put on the agenda: the right of return for the people from the Western Azerbaijan Community. “Our case is a fundamental human rights issue, we also have the right to return,” Ulviyya Zulfikar, the community’s spokesperson and head of the Western Azerbaijan TV station, said.
Rushdie attacker Hadi Matar found guilty of attempted murder

1 month ago | theliberum.com | Arthur Blok |Paul Cliteur |Emad El-Din Aysha |Adriana Lebbos

In a knife attack in the French city of Mulhouse in late February, one person was dead and several injured. The attacker was an Algerian. Or rather a Muslim immigrant from Algeria. Who is still surprised hearing about an Islamic terrorist attack in Europe? The mainstream media, however, tries to downplay it as much as possible. This also applies to the trial against Hadi Matar (24), who attacked Salman Rushdie on a stage in 2022 in the US. Matar was found guilty of attempted murder last week.
Tens of thousands join mass funeral in Beirut for slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

2 months ago | theliberum.com | Arthur Blok |Adriana Lebbos |Ahmad Ghosn

Image credits: Thousands gathered in Beirut 'for the funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Photo courtesy Al Manar TV. February 23, 2025 | Iran, Lebanon, Syria | Featured, UnderstandingTens of thousands of people gathered in Beirut Sunday morning to attend the funeral of Hezbollah's former leader, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his headquarters in the southern suburb of Beirut.
The murder of Quran burner Salwan Momika illustrates jihadist theo-terrorists are pushing the envelope in the West

2 months ago | theliberum.com | Arthur Blok |Paul Cliteur |Emad El-Din Aysha

Image credits: Immigrants in Sweden burn the Swedish flag to protest the burning of the Quran by Iraqi immigrant Salwan Momika. Picture courtesy Euronews (2023). February 11, 2025 | Asia, Europe, Middle East, Sweden | Featured, UnapologeticThe murder of Quran burner Salwan Momika in Sweden in late January shows that jihadist theo-terrorists are pushing the envelope in enforcing their perspective. Even writing a novel can result in a life-threatening situation.
Who saves the new Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa?

2 months ago | theliberum.com | Ahmad Ghosn |Arthur Blok

Iran emerged from its eight-year war with Iraq (1980-1988) battered: its economy in shambles, no allies to count on, a fragile new political system, and an exposed national security apparatus. Its first and foremost strategic partner in this precarious state became Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria from 1971 to 2000. Now that the Assad dynasty has collapsed, will the new Syrian president Ahmad al Sharaa’s strategic ally be in the region?
Dystopian Arab Predictions

2 months ago | theliberum.com | Emad El-Din Aysha |Arthur Blok

Following on from my trek through the Cairo International Book Fair, I also had the good opportunity to attend a session by Algeria’s premier author, Wasini al-Araj, who shot to international fame through his erstwhile science fiction novel 2084: The Story of the Last Arab (2015). By Emad AyshaWell, I hate to disappoint you, but in answer to my query, he insisted he wasn’t an SF author, as much as he loved to read from the genre, and that he never saw his novel as science fiction.
The Liberum editor-in-chief explains Lebanon’s challenges at AnewZ

2 months ago | theliberum.com | Arthur Blok

Lebanon's dynamics are a complex interplay of political turmoil, a wrenching economic crisis with hyperinflation, and ongoing security challenges. After almost three years of political stalemate, Lebanon has a newly elected president and a promising new prime minister. How can one unravel this complexity? This week, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Azerbaijani journalist Orkhan Amashov in his newly launched programme on AnewZ Headlines Special.
Will Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko’s grip on power survive Donald Trump's return?

2 months ago | theliberum.com | Nikola Mikovic |Paul Cliteur |Arthur Blok

Image credits: Belarusian President and presidential candidate Alexander Lukashenko visits a polling station during the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus, January 26, 2025. Picture courtesy Belarus News Agency. January 27, 2025 | Belarus, Europe, Russia, United States | Featured, UnapologeticElections in Belarus are far from uncertain. President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, won yet another term.