Decoding facial hair in the Arab world. 1 February 2013Last updated at 20:11 ET During the Mubarak-era, beards were a no-no in Egypt - but now they're back in fashion with a vengeance. In the Arab and Muslim world, facial hair signifies a lot more than personal style, writes Cairo-based journalist Ashraf Khalil. A couple of years ago, I was with my parents in a mosque near Chicago. They introduced me to an old family friend - a lady who'd known me since I was a kid but hadn't seen me for years. She embraced my mother and shook hands with my father, but when she turned to me she stood about a foot away from me, didn't offer to shake my hand and instead sort of awkwardly waved. My father asked her why she had been so distant and she said it was because of my beard.
Continue reading the main story About the author Ashraf Khalil is a Cairo-based journalist and author of Liberation Square: Inside the Egyptian Revolution and the Rebirth of a Nation Follow him on Twitter @ashrafkhalil It's not just a Muslim thing either. European History Interactive Map. Civilization : Australia. Migrations Map: Where are migrants coming from? Where have migrants left? Beginning a life in Australia.