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The Herald Scotland
08-08-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow racist attacks mother in front son, 11, at bus stop
It was as if the sight of her niqab had surprised him, she reflects. He did a double-take before beginning to curse at the 36-year-old mother of two. At first, Fatma tried to ignore him. A few commuters stood, milling around the bus stop, watching the incident unfold. She took a step back, widening the space between them. But after two minutes, Fatma began filming the encounter on her phone. It was not the first time she was subjected to racist abuse. She had experience in dealing with such a situation, but this time was the worst. Fear began to take hold of her. The boy was already terrified. She asked her son to pass over his phone so she could call the police. At first, her son protested. 'We have to do this for our security reasons,' Fatma told him. She tried to ignore Chalmers while answering questions from the police officers over the phone. She tried not to give him any attention, the camera shaky in her hand. She wasn't intending to film his face; she just wanted a record of what was happening. At least to capture his voice, the things he was saying to her and her frightened child. 'I'm filming this because it's not the first time this has happened to me,' she says to the police over the phone. She is certain the man has approached her because she is a Muslim, covering her face. 'P**** off. Get to f***. P*** off, rat,' Chalmers called. 'Get to f**** you wee rat. Go away. P*** off. Get to f****. Rat c***.' Fatma moves to get the bus stop number from the shelter to relay it to the officers on the phone. 'Tell them to come down then,' Chalmers said. 'Rat. P*** off. Show your f***ing coupon. Nothing to show you wee mug.' The man moved suddenly towards Fatma. 'Show your f***ing face,' he said. 'Keep away from me,' she said, pulling back. 'Keep away. Don't come.' He continued to shout at her, calling her a rat and swearing. Fatma's fear heightened. She told the police over the phone that he had tried to take her niqab off. 'Take your son with you,' Chalmers said. 'Go to Birmingham.' A bystander stepped in following Chalmers' remarks. He told Chalmers to stay away before turning to ask Fatma if she was okay. 'No, I'm not okay,' she said. Her voice breaks, and Fatma begins to cry. Chalmers continued shouting behind them. 'Take, take, take,' he said. Glasgow mum Fatma Elaraby (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Glasgow mum Fatma Elaraby with her sons. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) The police arrived after around ten minutes, and Chalmers was arrested. Fatma's brother met her and her son at the police station, where they were giving their statements. Fatma's son was badly shaken in the wake of the incident. He used to love playing outside, but after the attack, he refused to go out. Fatma worried about his mental health and gently persuaded him to play outside. 'I know it's not the first incident you've encountered with me, but you have to move on,' she told him. 'You have to keep going.' She found the police officers to be really helpful. Chalmers was charged with a hate crime, having found to have been acting in a manner which was racially aggravated and which caused alarm or distress and was sentenced to 12 months of supervision. He was required to pay a fine of £500, and a Community Payback Order was imposed, which included the requirement to perform unpaid work. At first, Fatma was worried he would only be charged with a fine. If it were just money, he could borrow it from anyone and just pay it back. But with community service, she hoped Chalmers would think a million times before attacking a migrant after that. He was just 'repeating quotes from the far right', like telling her to go back to her country. 'This is my country as well,' she says. 'I'm a migrant here, I have a valid visa here. I'm not here doing something illegal. I pay taxes the same way you pay taxes.' Fatma moved to Newcastle from Egypt three years ago with her two sons. She lived there for nine months ('I never faced a problem, it was very good for me,' she says) before coming to Glasgow, where her brother and his family were living. The incident at the bus stop happened on July 29, 2024. It was the same day that Axel Rudakubana, 17, carried out a 12-minute knife rampage in Southport, attacking a children's Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop. Two girls died at the scene of the mass stabbing, and another died in the hospital the following day. Six children and two adults were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. After the stabbings, false claims circulated online that Rudakubana was a Muslim asylum seeker (he was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents). By the evening of July 30, rioters swarmed the streets of Southport, throwing objects at a local mosque and police officers. Over the next five days, demonstrators clashed with police officers in cities around the country and the discontent carried on for weeks. The rhetoric of the rioters was awash with racist and anti-immigrant language. Yet in Glasgow, an anti-immigration demonstration in George Square on September 7 was met by thousands of anti-racism counter-protesters. Police Scotland recorded 6,227 hate crimes in 2023-24, the lowest since 2014-15. Glasgow City had the second highest number of reports with 22 crimes per 10,000 population. More than 60% of hate crimes were racially aggravated. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) 'I work in the refugee sector, so I know how Glasgow is welcoming to people,' Fatma says. 'I know there are individual actions from individual people. They will not affect my thinking about Glasgow or the city because I know how welcoming Scottish people are. I've seen this myself every day. 'But I believe that there are some racist people, and we will not change them until they change themselves. We can't deny that there are some racist people here. To be honest, I'm not feeling safe all the time, but this also won't change anything." 'Migrants are your neighbour, your teacher, your nurse, your doctor, your cleaner, part of the community you live in,' says Nazek Ramadan, director of charity Migrant Voice. She says the far-right riots which spread across the UK last summer are not isolated in signalling the hate and division which some spread against migrant and marginalised communities. But Scotland has stood apart. 'Instead of the divisive political rhetoric we have seen from some politicians, Scotland has promoted unity among communities, it has championed the rights and acceptance of people coming from other countries,' says Nazek. 'This is not to say Scotland is perfect, we still see hate on the streets, and we still see migrants fearful of going out, but Scotland's approach to inclusivity and combating division has been evidenced by a continuing decline in hate crimes, now at roughly their lowest levels for a decade. 'We still see violence against migrant and marginalised communities across the UK, most recently outside hotels in places such as Epping and in areas of Northern Ireland, causing fear among these communities. 'There is so much more which needs to be done to combat the rising spread of far-right hatred, but by promoting positivity and inclusion, by standing up for communities instead of with those spreading division, we can ensure everyone feels safe.' Marissa MacWhirter is a columnist and feature writer at The Herald, and the editor of The Glasgow Wrap. The newsletter is curated between 5-7am each morning, bringing the best of local news to your inbox each morning without ads, clickbait, or hyperbole. Oh, and it's free. She can be found on X @marissaamayy1
Observer
23-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
What makes you, you?
Have you ever thought about what makes you the person you are? We think it is our thoughts. Maybe that is true in a way. But where do these thoughts originate from? There was an incident that made me think about it. It was a fast food restaurant, and I like to call it the Fatma experience. Fatma was energetic, humorous and helpful. Later, when she was talking to us, she explained that there is excitement in the air because the ownership has changed and they have been promised a salary hike starting this month. "In the past, I was not interested in promoting or marketing anything, but now I feel good, and I participate wholeheartedly in everything because of the new developments," she said. She is experiencing motivation. The joy is genuine, and one can almost see her drifting off for a few seconds once in a while. What could be the changes this salary hike is going to create? Definitely, it has generated an element of hope in her. Here, it was an external factor — a decision taken by the management that triggered her emotions that led to the motivation. No matter how hard one tries to stay self-motivated, an element of appreciation is a booster that makes one leap forward, and it is an exceptional feeling. It was not just Fatma but the whole team that was riding high on joy, leaving us too feeling nice. After all, emotions are energy in motion. Emotions are considered as dynamic forces that can move through us. Now wouldn't it be wonderful if every organisation could recreate that positive energy? Themes, ambience and marketing schemes can do a lot, but genuine happiness can be a game changer for an organisation. Recently, I came across a blue ice cream truck named Al Hara Ice Cream. It is Salam al Gamari's dream project. He makes his own ice cream. He started his project six years ago with two popular flavours, which were strawberry and vanilla. And when Covid-18 appeared, he had to stay at home, but he took up experimentation and came up with 13 flavours in total. He continued to pursue further, and now he has 23 to 24 flavours. He has four trucks and is on his way to Salalah for the Khareef season. Can we say circumstances made him who he is? He used the challenging period of the pandemic to his advantage. His knowledge is his asset, and his passion to serve his customers the best makes him work harder and harder. His passion fruit ice cream is sugar-free, and he is constantly trying to explore new recipes and flavours. It must be a great feeling to watch his customers come back for more with complete satisfaction. Interestingly, ice creams take us back to childhood memories. Again it brings back the emotions. The word 'emotion' is derived from the Latin word 'emotere'. And guess what it means? It means energy in motion. An energy that is felt sometimes as feelings. Emotions also have frequencies. talks about high and low frequencies of emotions: "Emotions like joy, love, gratitude, and passion are associated with high vibrational frequencies, while fear, anger, guilt, and sadness are linked to lower frequencies." So when you are following your passion, there is that extra zest. According to the experts, emotional energy relates to how negative or positive one feels. But the biggest vibration could be authenticity. It is that which sets each one of us apart. Authenticity makes the true you. This is probably why there is so much encouragement to find your true calling.
Identity
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
Turkish Dramas We'd Love to See Get an Egyptian Spinoff
Even after all these years, Egyptians' love for Turkish dramas hasn't faded one bit. There's always that one friend in every group who's obsessed with the intense storylines, dreamy actors, and unforgettable moments from the early 2000s to today. That got us thinking: what if some of these iconic Turkish series got an Egyptian spinoff? Just imagine the twist. Here's a list of fan-favorite dramas that Turkish drama lovers in Egypt would be curious to see with a local take. Fatma A cleaning lady turns into an unexpected killer as she searches for her missing husband, on her way to uncovering a range of dark secrets. This drama is considered one of the most recent yet highly captivating ones, and it feels interesting to explore. Kuzgun (The Raven) After years of being forcibly separated from his family, Kuzgun returns to take revenge on the man who betrayed his father and stole every potential opportunity from him. But things get complicated when he falls for that man's daughter, with a story where love, revenge, and power collide most intensely. Ezel Betrayed by his closest friends and framed for a crime he didn't commit, a man returns years later with a new identity to exact revenge. Lately introduced in the Lebanese adaptation of 'Asser,' this stirred our curiosity about how an Egyptian spinoff would be like. Hayat Şarkısı (Song of Life) Two childhood friends are forced into an arranged marriage to settle a family feud, but their lives take unexpected emotional turns. A romantic drama filled with secrets, family tensions, and personal growth. Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love) A wealthy man's young wife begins a dangerous affair with his nephew, setting off a chain of betrayal and heartbreak. A classic drama of passion, morality, and forbidden love, exactly as its name says. Sen Çal Kapımı (You Knock on My Door) A fake engagement between a fiery landscape designer and a cold-hearted businessman slowly turns into real love in the most unexpected way. This can be considered a lighthearted romantic comedy that is full of both tension and charm. Tell us in the comments, which one you think would work best in an Egyptian setting.
Kuwait Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Souq Mubarakiya's charm trumps online shopping
Kuwait's iconic market thrives as a cultural landmark where tradition, connection and community converge By Christine Susan Shine In an age where shopping is often just a swipe away, Kuwait's historic Souq Mubarakiya stands out — not merely as a marketplace, but as a living memory. Despite the rise of e-commerce, conversations with visitors reveal a simple truth: The experience of offline shopping, especially at Mubarakiya, remains irreplaceable. While online shopping offers convenience, Mubarakiya offers something deeper — a human connection. The opportunity to negotiate prices, chat with a shopkeeper who's been there for decades or simply lose oneself in a maze of history is what makes the souq unique. Everything one might desire is found under one roof: Gold shops, antique stores, bead vendors, perfumeries, money exchangers, toy sellers, sweet stalls, fresh produce, bustling fish and meat markets and an entire street dedicated to women's fabrics and tailoring. More than a place to shop, Souq Mubarakiya is a destination to experience. Fatma, a regular visitor, shared: 'I come here three times a month. It's easier to shop here because we know the sellers personally. I like to touch the fabrics and smell the perfumes before buying. The prices are reasonable, the quality is good, and there's that emotional attachment.' This sense of familiarity and connection is echoed by many. For locals like Muhammad Ali, a visit to Mubarakiya is more than a shopping trip — it's a cherished tradition. 'Since childhood, I would come here with my mother to buy dishdasha and ghutra (headdress),' he recalled with a smile. 'Now, I come here to drink tea, enjoy a variety of cuisines and maybe bump into old friends.' A vendor displays traditional teapots at a shop in Souq Mubarakiya. A vendor stacks dates at his shop. A vendor sits in his prayer bead shop in Souq Mubarakiya. Foreign students in Kuwait visit the souq. Muhammed Ali, a regular visitor. A jeweller arranges ornaments at his gold shop in the souq. People shop for fruit and vegetables and foodstuff at Souq Mubarakiya. 'Coming here gives a completely different feeling,' said another customer, strolling through the souq. 'You see people from all walks of life. It's the same feeling I had 20-30 years ago when my grandfather and father used to bring me here. In today's digital world, it's very hard to get in touch with reality. But here, you get to sense it all.' It's not just Kuwaitis who are drawn to the souq. Tourists, expats and students all agree that the charm of Mubarakiya lies in its ability to offer an authentic, welcoming experience. For many, it's also a weekend retreat. Warrior, a student from Tajikistan, and Iman, a Russian student, both regulars at the souq, shared: 'We come here not just to shop, but to walk around and enjoy the surroundings. It's a weekend tradition for us now.' 'Going to shops in Kuwait will never go out of trend,' said another visitor. 'People here love the act of shopping itself — feeling, seeing tasting. It's part of who we are.' This sensory richness cannot be replicated online. At Mubarakiya, shoppers experience a level of reliability and connection that no digital platform can match. According to recent figures issued by the Central Bank of Kuwait, consumer spending reached an all-time high of KD 47.81 billion in 2024 — a testament to Kuwaitis' enduring love for shopping. In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and automation, Souq Mubarakiya stands as a reminder of shopping's roots as a social, sensory and deeply human experience. Every corner of the souq tells a story, every stall contributes to Kuwait's cultural fabric. As the nation moves into a digital future, Mubarakiya continues to prove that tradition and progress can coexist in harmony. And as long as the love for tradition remains strong, the story of Mubarakiya will not be written on a screen — but lived in the very heart of the city.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' Review: Ethical Concerns Riddle Iranian Documentary About a Palestinian Photojournalist Killed by the IDF
On April 15, 2025, it was announced that 'Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' — a series of filmed video conversations between Iranian documentarian Sepideh Farsi and 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist, Fatma Hassona — would play in the ACID strand of the Cannes Film Festival. On April 16, as they slept in their home in Gaza City, Fatma, Walaa, Alaa, Yazan, Mohammed, and Muhannad Hassona were killed by an Israeli airstrike. Fatma's parents were wounded and father Raed died later from his injuries. Final responsibility for the murder of a bright and gifted young woman who dreamed of visiting the world lies with the Israeli Defence Force. However, given widespread awareness of how Palestinians are targeted for raising the profile of the daily suffering induced by the occupation (see also the abduction of 'No Other Land' co-director Hamdan Ballal after its Oscar win) a question hangs over this documentary about how deeply Farsi weighed her duty of care to her collaborator. Did Fatma decide that speaking in this format was worth the deadly cost that it ultimately exacted? More from IndieWire Who Will Buy Cannes' Buzziest Sales Title, 'Sound of Falling'? Natalie Portman and Ugo Bienvenu Place Humanity Above the Machines in Futuristic 'Arco' If she did, this matter is not touched in the course of the conversations that make up the soul and the substance of this documentary. Instead, the brutal news of seven deaths (and we have met three of Fatma's family members by this point) is starkly presented in a closing title card that follows a video call on April 15 subtitled, 'The Final Conversation.' Here Sepideh breaks the news to Fatma about Cannes. Fatma is a radiant presence who has been fighting back depression over the documentary's timespan of April 2024-April 2025. It's been a year in which food is becoming harder and harder to source and the sound of bombs and Apache helicopters are a daily soundtrack. A light goes on inside Fatma as Sepideh suggests that she comes to Cannes and the dramatic irony feels tasteless and cruel. We know that she will only come to Cannes as a still image behind the dates 1999-2025. In this grave context, it's hard not to weigh 'Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' against the value of seven lives, an equation that can only be answered to the film's detriment. Complicating this assessment, however, is the fact that Fatma had already achieved global recognition for her photography. Her images locate splashes of vivid color and human faces that pop against the ruined buildings behind them. Farsi folds these into the documentary for its most striking and artistic sequences as we see new perspectives through Fatma's eyes. More slapdash are the newsreel clips designed to situate what Fatma is going through in Al Tuffah within a broader global narrative about Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. A variety of sources from across the political spectrum are included whose reports unfold from clashing sets of values. This is not highlighted or analysed by the film, it simply muffles an intention to create a clear frame of reference. To backtrack: Sepideh Farsi was compelled by the images coming out of Gaza to travel there. After being denied entrance through the Rafah Crossing through Cairo, she began filming refugees coming the other way. A man named Ahmed from the same neighborhood as Fatma introduced them and their personal connection proved stronger than the sketchy wifi that causes their video conversations to cut in and out. The rapport between the women is undeniable, even if Sepideh's attempt to force parallels between her own personal history in Iran and the unfolding situation in Palestine does not fully cohere. Having left Iran at the age of 18, she will not return for fear of arrest, however over the course of their conversations she calls in from France, Morocco, and Italy as a misty-eyed Fatma confesses that she has never left Gaza and that to do so is her dream. She is especially energized when Sepideh calls from Rome as The Vatican is on her bucket list. To her credit, Sepideh is aware enough to own the surreal gulf between what to her is a normal life and what has become Fatma's normal life. 'We're used to it but we're not used to it,' said Fatma, 'Because we can't get used to killing or bombing or this suffering.' At the outset of their conversations, Fatma beams with a wide, white smile even as she narrates the death and destruction she has witnessed. She is proud to be a Palestinian in Gaza. 'The strongest thing is that we have nothing to lose.' Conversations touch on the molecular details of living in a destroyed place under daily bombardment. Sometimes Fatma goes to the balcony to show her pen pal the view, and her closeness to this devastation rebirths its horror anew. She has a log on WhatsApp of family deaths, each accompanied by a photo and a description of the circumstances. There are many photos of children. They found her uncle's wife's head in the street. As she said, Fatma is both used to and not used to her loved ones being picked off. When her artist friend is martyred, she still has tears to cry. This is a slight, ambling documentary that now has a permanent shadow over it. Its leading lady deserved a stronger film and a longer life. Under the circumstances IndieWire is not awarding a grade. Instead, here is a taste of Fatma Hassona's photography. 'Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk' premiered in the ACID section parallel to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution. 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