Syria has been embroiled in a bitter civil war for more than two years. That prompted one Syrian woman, Ahlam, to come to America to give birth to her daughter, near her family. But now, with her husband unable to leave, she’s preparing to return to the violence that is Syria today.
The Middle East, once a region of great religious diversity, has seen a mass emigration of minorities in recent decades. It’s now one of the most religiously monolithic regions in the world. One Middle East scholar says the trend is likely to continue as tensions there continue to grow.
The trial of Anders Breivik, the Norwegian man who is accused of trying to start a race war by massacring dozens at a political party youth conference, has faded from the headlines as it marches onward. But for Norwegians, the questions it raised are still bold. They’re trying to find their way forward amidst uncomfortable questions.