Malaysia
All countries-
Saudi Arabia and Iran
Defeat Islamic State - or become it
The dawn of 2016 has brought a new round of doomsday predictions that Saudi Arabia’s ruling Al Saud family cannot sustain its autocratic grip on power. The kingdom, pessimists argue, is caught in a perfect storm with economic problems, social challenges and foreign policy crises all converging at the same time. By James M. Dorsey
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Interview with Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch
"These are people floating around, waiting to die"
Thousands of minority Rohingya Muslims remain stranded at sea without adequate food and water. On Wednesday, 20 May, Malaysia and Indonesia finally bowed to mounting international pressure, announcing that they would offer refugees temporary shelter provided that they are resettled and repatriated by the international community within a year. Roma Rajpal Weiß spoke to Phil Robertson, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch in Asia, who condemned the policy of the countries of South-East Asia
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The Muslim Rohingya minority in Myanmar
Stateless people in search of a home
Mass graves in Thailand and overcrowded boats full of refugees in the Gulf of Bengal highlight the dramatic situation facing the Muslim Rohingya minority. According to Rodion Ebbighausen, this stream of refugees is not about to run dry any time soon
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The Rohingya refugee crisis
Boats carrying more than 1,600 Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants arrived off the coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia last week after human traffickers reportedly dumped the boats in shallow waters. Others have entered Thailand's territorial waters. Some refugees were able to land; others have been towed back out to sea in their boats. All three countries have stated that they view the refugees as illegal migrants and have said they would provide food and water for them but not safe harbour. In this photo gallery, we take a look at the refugees' ordeal.
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Contrasting images of Islam
The last gasp of archaic masculinity?
One in every two people in Germany believes that Islam is not part of German society. Until this attitude changes, the Islam we see in the evening news and not the actual reality of Islam in Germany will remain for many the genuine face of Islam. In this essay, Charlotte Wiedemann takes a closer look at Muslim women in Germany and shows how drastically they differ from the prevailing image of Islam in this country
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Book review: Zahra Ali's "Islamic Feminisms"
Female emancipation based on the spirit of Sharia
In 2012, the French sociologist Zahra Ali published a book entitled "Féminismes islamiques" (Islamic Feminisms), a compilation of ground-breaking articles by female Muslim scholars and activists from around the world. It has just been published in German translation. Claudia Kramatschek read the book
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The introduction of Sharia in Brunei
The sultan's new laws
The tiny sultanate of Brunei is the first country in South-East Asia to officially impose Islamic Sharia law at national level. Roxana Isabel Duerr considers what this means for Brunei and the development of Islam in the region
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Gay Rights in Malaysia
Creating Change in the Mosque
Malaysia's government has gained a reputation for running a policy of intolerance towards the gay and lesbian community in the country. But a younger generation of Muslims is starting to change perspectives, using their faith, as Joseph Mayton reports
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Acquittal of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim
A Small Victory for Democracy in Malaysia
It was a trial with many scandalous facets: Anwar Ibrahim, one of Malaysia's most prominent politicians, had been charged with homosexuality – in the eyes of many, a politically motivated manoeuvre orchestrated by the government. The acquittal came as something of a surprise, and is a small victory for Malaysia's democracy movement, says Andy Budiman
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Women as Sharia Judges in Malaysia
A Step forward in Equal Rights
In early July this year, the Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak announced that two women had been appointed judges in the country's sharia Courts. Marina Mahathir, author and Muslim female rights activist reports from Kuala Lumpur
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Islam and Politics in Malaysia
Islamist Genie Is out of the Bottle
In Malaysia's current political climate, it is no longer possible to distinguish Islamic radicals from Islamic moderates. Despite official boasting about the country's diverse population and commitment to pluralism, Islam and the government have essentially merged, writes Maznah Mohamad
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Islam in Malaysia and Indonesia
The Rise in Extremism
As fundamentalists in Malaysia and Indonesia strive to control and homogenize Islam, social harmony is the first casualty, says Baladas Ghoshal