About us & contact

The Arabic word Qantara means "bridge" — and that is precisely what we aim to be: a space for connection, exchange, understanding and fresh perspectives. Since 2003, we have published content in German, English and Arabic, using translations to link communities, discourse spaces and generations. 

Qantara combines in-depth journalism with academic insight, presented to our readers in an accessible and engaging way. We focus particularly on the Arab world, Muslim life in Germany and the lived experience of Islam. Dialogue is at the heart of our work: intercultural, interfaith and international. 

Our international team is based in Germany, but our topics and contributors come from across Europe, the Arab world and beyond. 

Since its founding in 2003, Qantara has been supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. Since 2024, the platform has been run by ifa — Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations — and was previously part of Deutsche Welle (DW) in Bonn. Through its work in the arts and civil society, ifa fosters understanding and trust worldwide, promotes democratic civil societies and advocates for freedom in art, science and expression. It brings international expertise and networks in culture, politics and society to broaden perspectives — in Germany and globally. The project is funded by the Federal Foreign Office, the state of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Stuttgart. 

Contact: 

General
kontakt@qantara.de

Susanne Lenze, editorial assistant
susanne.lenze@qantara.de

Max Graef Lakin, editor (English)
graef-lakin@qantara.de

Jannis Hagmann, editor-in-chief
hagmann@qantara.de, +49 (0) 173 352 40 47

Mohammed Magdy, editor (Arabic)
kassem@qantara.de

Clara Taxis, editor (German)
taxis@qantara.de

Atifa Qazi, social media editor
qazi@ifa.de