New York Magazine’s ‘Habibi City’ celebrates 'jihad chic,' while pushing Jews out of the picture
MEDIA AFFAIRS: Critique of New York Magazine’s “Habibi City” package argues it ignores Jewish communities while presenting a one-sided Middle East narrative.
New York Magazine recently published a controversial cover story titled "Habibi City," promoting "SWANA" culture in New York, which includes people from Southwest Asian and North African countries. The article, written by award-winning novelist Zaina Arafat, celebrates shared beliefs like the need for human rights for Palestinians and the belief that the events in Gaza constitute a genocide. However, the coverage notably omits Jews whose families originally migrated to New York from these countries.
The story also subtly disparages Zionism while praising non-Zionist Jews and critics Zionism. It features a Jewish chef, Loren Abramovich, who has stopped making falafel due to concerns about cultural appropriation, which is deemed acceptable in the context of the piece.
Arafat explores various aspects of SWANA culture in New York, including book-making workshops, a fundraiser for Gaza journalists, and the literary journal Bidoun. However, her account lacks any mention of the hardships faced by people living in SWANA countries, such as restrictions on freedom of speech. The article showcases a lack of sympathy for Iranians who demonstrate against the Islamic regime, suggesting that support for the war in Iran goes unacknowledged.
Overall, the story presents a biased and Islam-centric view of SWANA culture in New York, undermining the contributions and experiences of Jewish communities.
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