Matthew Brunwasser
Video: Black Metal Bassist Elected to Greek Parliament
With the election of a bassist from Black Metal band to Greek Parliament, Greek metal fans are worried that their favorite musical genre is suffering yet another blow to its much maligned reputation. Black metal has been blamed for teen suicides, Satanism and fostering drug use. Metal heads now fear that their genre of music will now be blamed for far-right Greek nationalism.
The Blossoms of Revolution: A Musical for Syria’s Refugee Children in Turkey
In the Yayladağı One refugee camp, residents organized a musical ensemble for the children living there.
How Sufi Music Helps Patients in Turkey
Sufi music is being used in Turkish hospitals to calm patients. Reporter Matthew Brunwasser tells us that studies suggest that using music can cut stress quite significantly.
Turkish Border Town Struggling in Face of Ongoing Syria Crisis
Just a year ago, trade between Turkey and Syria was booming. Gaziantep in southern Turkey is known as one of the “Anatolian Tigers” for its dramatic economic growth, driven by industry and border trade. But the boomtown has been hit hard by the crisis next door. From Gaziantep, Matthew Brunwasser reports.
In Syria’s Former Province in Turkey, Assad Finds Backing
In Turkey’s multi-ethnic Hatay province, minorities are sensitive to Syria’s ethnic politics next door and support President Assad.
Is Syria’s Idlib Like Srebrenica?
Many Syrian fighters and refugees have fled over the border into Turkey. Some see similarities between what is happening now in Idlib and the massacres in the mid-90s at Srebrenica, in Bosnia.
Syria Crisis: Activists Trying to Send Aid Into Syria From Turkey
International activists want to help Syrians by sending in caravans of humanitarian aid through Turkey and Jordan. It’s unlikely the food and medicine will reach their destination, but they hope their efforts will boost morale inside the besieged country.
Escaping Violence in Syria Now Threatened by Landmines Near Border
After forcing most of the rebel fighters out of Homs, the Syrian army is now focusing on the northern city of Idlib. Many civilians are fleeing to Turkey. Matthew Brunwasser caught up with some of them in a Turkish bordertown.
Slideshow: Bosnian Muslim Walking to Mecca for the Hajj
A 47-year-old Bosnian Muslim is making a 3,600 miles pilgrimage from Bosnia to Mecca on foot. Each year millions of Muslims make the annual pilgrimage to the Saudi city for the Hajj.
Levantines Lament at Loss of Community in Turkey
The city that we are looking for in the Geo Quiz today has gone through many transformations in its long history and part of what it is today was shaped by the Levantines.
Salamworld, the Facebook for Muslims?
A group of investors has brought together Muslims from around the world to create a new, “halal” website. It aims to be the “Muslim Facebook”.
Kosher Phones For Britain’s Orthodox Jews
Orthodox Jews in Britain aren’t afraid of modernity, but they are worried about the negative influences it can have on young people. Rabbis there have now sanctioned a “kosher” phone that blocks the internet and text messages.
Preserving the Cold War in Sunny California
We are looking for a museum of Cold War history that has a collection of everything from East German blueprints to Soviet artwork.
In Turkey’s Last Armenian Village, a Place to Get Away From it All
For the Geo Quiz we are looking for a province in southern Turkey about the size of Delaware. The province used to be part of Syria once, but was ceded to Turkey in 1939. It is an ethically diverse province and even includes a village with a 100 percent ethnic Armenian population. Can you name it?
Making the Rules of Cyberwar
Cyberspace is the new fifth domain of war between states, after air, land, sea and outer space. Its unclear how the rules of war apply. At a meeting of military and academic legal scholars at the UC Berkeley law school, the consensus was that the laws have fallen far behind the technology.
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