Photo Essays
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The "Master Musicians of Joujouka": Straddling East and West
Few other bands can look back on such a diverse musical culture as the Moroccan group "Master Musicians of Joujouka" – not least due to their musical co-operations with western rock and jazz greats since the 1960s. A photo essay by Arian Fariborz
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Mauritania: Slavery's Last Bastion
In Mauritania, northwestern Africa, slavery is a fact of modern life. It's estimated that 10-20 percent of the country's 3.5 million people are still enslaved in a system rooted in ethnic discrimination.
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Syria's Cultural Heritage in Danger
The civil war in Syria, which has taken the lives of thousands since 2011, is becoming increasingly brutal. Valuable cultural sites are also being destroyed in the fighting. UNESCO has now provided reports on the damage.
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The Father of Indonesian Painting
Raden Saleh spent many years - the "best of his life" - in Germany. In the mid-19th century, the Javan artist became one of the founders of German Orientalism.
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Egypt's Critical Test
The Egyptian military announced that it intends to clear protest camps established by supporters of overthrown President Mohammed Morsi. But growing crowds could put a crimp in this plan. The situation could escalate. A photo essay by Jennifer Fraczek...
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One Year On: Morsi's Meltdown
In 2011 demonstrators gathered at Cairo's Tahrir Square to protest against the old regime signalling the start of the Arab Spring in Egypt. A few weeks later the Mubarak regime was ousted and there was hope that Egypt was on a path to change. Today, one year into Mohammed Morsi's presidency, the protests continue at Tahrir Square - against the president and the ruling Muslim Brotherhood party. By Andreas Stahl
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The Many Faces of the Arab Revolutions
The Arab Spring has many faces: Anger, hope, exhaustion and outright fear have marked the lives of thousands of people between Libya and Syria in recent months. While there is already widespread concern at the prospect of counter-revolutions and frustration at the political stagnation following the ousting of the old guard in some nations, in others people still fear for their survival
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Traces of Jewish Life in Iraq
The history of the Jews in Iraq has been documented since the Babylonian captivity, which began c. 586 C.E. During this period, Jews who had settled in and around Babylon were quickly assimilated into Babylonian society. Iraqi Jews not only flourished at this time, they also represented the oldest and most significant religious-historic Jewish community in the world. The Talmud dates from this period. In the 20th century, many Jews left the country as a result of persecution and pogroms following the Arab-Israeli war (1948).
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Syria: Learning to cope
Syria is suffering the effects of the civil war. Forty percent of the nation's infrastructure has been destroyed. Four million people have been bombed out of their homes. Everyday life is becoming increasingly difficult in the worst-hit regions. Impressions from Andreas Stahl
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Libya's legacy - one year after Gadhafi's death
It's been a year since Moammar Gadhafi's death - how are Libyans going about their lives and what remains of his legacy? A photo essay by Gaia Anderson