Matt Broomfield

1 week ago | thebaffler.com | Matt Broomfield

Lovers of Franz K. by Burhan Sönmez, translated by Sami Hêzil. Other Press, 144 pages. 2025. A single letter can bear a heavy burden. Just ask the fifteen million Kurds living in Turkey, where the letters X, Q, and W were long banned from names and public use due to their association with the repressed Kurdish language. Or the Palestinians, whose claims to nationhood have been similarly denigrated by Israeli lawmakers on the spurious basis that the Arabic language lacks a letter P.

1 month ago | unherd.com | Matt Broomfield

AssadGeopoliticsKurdsrestofworldSyriaTurkeyWar From the moment I cross the rickety pontoon bridge from Iraq into Syrian Kurdistan, I feel a deep sense of isolation. The arrivals hall, which offers the only link to the outside world, is falling apart around me. The duty free shop is shuttered, and even its sign is crumbling — the “DUTY” has long since vanished, but you can just about make out “FREE” clinging to the wall outside.

2 months ago | truthdig.com | Matt Broomfield

I recently returned to Rojava, as Syrian Kurdistan is known, for the first time since the collapse of the Assad regime. Throughout years working in the Kurdish-led, multiethnic federation, famed for its key role in defeating ISIS, I had never before witnessed such widespread trepidation.

Jan 16, 2025 | atlasobscura.com | Matt Broomfield

Tourists trickle down into the bowels of Belgrade’s monumental fortress, attracted by banners promising a “MEDIEVAL TORTURE MUSEUM.” A $5 entrance fee secures access to three dusty, gloomy rooms, tucked away in the battlements alongside a range of other money-spinning ventures. The sounds of axes chopping and muffled screams are piped through the catacombs, creating a slightly cheesy, slightly unsettling atmosphere.

Jan 16, 2025 | flipboard.com | Matt Broomfield

7 hours agoPanorama of Andromeda galaxy unveils hundreds of millions of starsIn the years following the launch of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have tallied over 1 trillion galaxies in the universe. But only one …Think twice before moving to these cities ⚠️#travel #tips16 hours agoLiving Abroad? Here Are the 10 Worst Cities, According to ExpatsFrom chaotic commutes to unbearable costs, these cities scored the lowest on expat satisfaction.The post Living Abroad?