sharq.org debuted in 2005 as a print magazine catering to a large diaspora population of Arabs in the UK and beyond. the next issue will be published in autumn 2025.
Sharq magazine was conceived in 2004 as a response to the UK government’s relentless othering of Arabs and Muslims; to the dismay of the million people who marched against the invasion of Iraq in London only to witness its aftermath; to the continued villainisation of the Middle East by the White House and Hollywood; to the urgency and energy of the second intifada; and to what Samir Kassir later named the Arab malaise.
the magazine was the product of a family that had for generations been fluent in activism and familiar with displacement. the small but determined team that brought it to life worked out of the same basement in which, 20 years prior, an Arabic opposition pamphlet named Aljihad (The Struggle) had been produced.
the first eight issues of Sharq magazine, published in 2005-2006, included a mix of culture, lifestyle and politics, in a bid to promote pride among a people who had long struggled with and against people in power who treated them with unearned superiority.
issue nine aspires to the same goal. it is currently in production and will available to purchase in late 2025. a call for pitches for issue 10 will be launched soon. sign up to our newsletter to stay abreast of all developments, and contact us if you want to get involved.
we want to include content that reflects the diversity of our readership, incorporating: profiles of people popularising Arab creativity and innovation; the work of people making their mark in the diaspora; fashion shoots highlighting the creations, businesses and talents of professionals of Arab heritage; analytic political essays.
Sharq magazine is an evolving aspirational magazine grounded in the concrete activism and achievements of inspirational people of Arab heritage. it has the attitude of a zine and the quality of a magazine.
