Algeria
All countries-
Book review: Fatima Daas' "The Last One"
Confessions of a Muslim woman
In her debut novel, Fatima Daas makes use of traditional narrative forms reminiscent of Koranic suras. The piercing, insistent rhythm of her writing style addresses topical issues such as same-sex love, gender and questions concerning her identity as a French woman with Algerian heritage. Volker Kaminski read the book
-
Women in the Arab world
More violence, less income: Arab women bear the brunt of COVID-19
A new survey by Arab Barometer adds numbers to the narrative that COVID has led to a harsher reality for women in the Middle East and North Africa. By Jennifer Holleis and Razan Salman
-
"Algeriennes" by Swann Meralli and Deloupy
The bravery and resilience of Algeria's "mujahidates"
Using a graphic novel to address a contentious issue like the Algerian war of independence may seem an odd choice, but new release "Algeriennes", translated into English by Ivanka Hahnenberger, defies any preconceptions you may have about the genre's limitations. Richard Marcus read the book
-
Interview with the Algerian scholar Said Djabelkhir
What we Muslims need is a critical appraisal of Islamic law
Algerian scholar Said Djabelkhir rejects the charge of "offending Islam". In interview with Ismail Assam, he maintains that he has been wilfully misconstrued. At the same time, he stresses that he was talking in a "historical" manner about Islam, calling for it to move on from the era of fatwas and to look critically at Muslim religious heritage
-
International Libya Conference in Berlin
Libyans harbour high hopes for a transition to stability
The Libya Conference will be held in Berlin on 23 June. Much has been achieved since the last Libya Conference in Berlin in January 2020. The ceasefire is holding, there is a united interim government for the first time and parliamentary elections are scheduled for 24 December. But the path ahead remains strewn with obstacles. By Karim El-Gawhary
-
Democratic disappointments in Algeria
How can the Hirak meet Algerians' democratic needs?
Saturday's historically low election turnout was a reflection of Algerians' ongoing frustration with the political status quo. Faced with mounting state repression, however, the likelihood of the Hirak evolving from popular protest movement into a significant opposition force appears slim. By Ilhem Rachidi
-
Crisis between Morocco and Germany
Western Sahara, source of strife among would-be partners
Morocco and the European Union are at cross purposes when it comes to the Western Sahara. And, as Germany does not support Moroccan claims to the territory, a major conflict has arisen between the two countries. And the German-Moroccan crisis is getting expensive – for both sides, as Hans-Christian Roessler reports
-
Ankara’s Maghreb moment
Advancing Turkey's economic, energy, and military aims
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, disappointed by the European Union’s reluctance to integrate Turkey into its ranks, has re-directed his country’s diplomacy toward the Maghreb and Africa to expand Turkey’s sway in the Mediterranean, writes Dalia Ghanem
-
DW documentary: Algeria – Between hope and resignation
Why Hirak supporters are still piling on the pressure
Since February 2019, millions of Algerians have been demonstrating against the government. They first took to the streets to demand more democracy and protest the renewed candidacy of former authoritarian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
-
Femicide and coronavirus in the Maghreb
Algeria's ongoing war against women – #WeLostOneOfUs
The Algerian state's insufficient response to a recent spate of femicides has driven hundreds of women to defy coronavirus lockdown restrictions to take part in street protests, while also rekindling a debate about the death penalty. By Dalia Ghanem
-
MEP Dietmar Koester on Fortress Europe
"The EU allows human rights to be trampled underfoot"
EU parliamentarian Dietmar Koester criticises the Union's failure to speak up when faced with human rights abuses committed by its Middle Eastern allies, while pointing out that its own isolationist migration policies contravene fundamental European values. Interview by Ismail Azzam
-
The legacy of the Arab Spring
"The Syrian revolution is resumable today and tomorrow"
On the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring we can’t quite escape that substance called remembrance. Yet, eschewing facile modes of nostalgic remembrance and/or tragic lamentation, we opt for asking questions. Yassin Al-Hajj Saleh reflects