AL-BUSTAN NEWS
Covering Philadelphia’s Southwest Asian and North African Communities
For Tazhib Master Ayse Tunc, Illumination Is the Art of Slowing Down
By Gawhara Abou-eid
Even after years of formal training and building a professional practice in Turkey and the U.S., Tunc’s approach remains rooted in the curiosity and wonder she felt as a child, captivated by the rhythms and forms of nature.
Cinema, Etcetera | How Are We Supposed to Talk About ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’?
By Joseph Fahim
The film demands a plurality of critical perspectives — and a more nuanced conversation.
‘We Can’t Afford Mistakes’: The Human Toll of the Crisis in Immigration Advocacy
By Lauren Abunassar
Today, the advocacy landscape is less about idealism and more about triage, grit and the endurance of caring under pressure.
Art as Resistance | At Philadelphia’s First Muslim Arts Festival, Beauty Is a Form of Cultural Power
By Lauren Abunassar
“Talking about art and creativity is not secondary or tertiary to Islam. It’s primary to Islam. There is a place in Islam for levity. There is a place for celebrating beauty.”
Cinema, Etcetera | Where is the Arab American Film Wave?
By Joseph Fahim
The cornerstone of works by diaspora filmmakers is identity and alienation, and intricate community dynamics in relation to diverse American environments. In the scant body of work by Arab Americans, these issues have never surpassed an elementary examination.
Za’atar and Olive Oil: Fishtown Native Serves Flavors from His Childhood at The Olive Branch Pizzeria
By Ben Bennett
“It’s just a Palestinian’s addiction. You just know [when] you go to your parents’ house, you’ll have a couple big jugs of homemade olive oil.”
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