Politics

Interview with former Tadmur inmate Bara Sarraj

Surviving hell

The city of Palmyra has been under the control of the self-styled "Islamic State" since mid-May. But for many Syrians, the city was a gateway to hell long before the arrival of the jihadists: Palmyra was home to the infamous Tadmur prison, where the Ba'ath regime tortured tens of thousands of people. When IS seized the city, one of the first things it did was to blow up the hated jail. Bara Sarraj, who now lives in Chicago, was one of its inmates. He told Fabian Kohler about his years in prison
By Fabian Köhler
Erdogan and the Kurdish conflict

A battle for votes

For a brief moment, NATO allies thought they were witnessing a major policy turnaround when Turkey finally joined the campaign against Islamic State. But in actual fact, Ankara's first priority appears to be to move against the PKK and the HDP, the pro-Kurdish party that prevented President Erdogan's party from retaining its parliamentary majority. By Markus Bernath
By Markus Bernath
Interview with journalist Chris Woods on drone warfare

"It's not risk-free war, it's displaced war"

For more than a decade now, the US has been using drones in warfare. During this time, thousands of people, especially civilians, have been killed by the unmanned machines. In this interview, Chris Woods, one of the leading investigative journalists on drone warfare, explains to Emran Feroz why use of drones is on the rise and what the consequences are
By Emran Feroz
Suez Canal extension

A drop in the ocean?

The Suez Canal extension can be seen as a political success for Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. But Egyptian experts doubt that a single large-scale project such as this will be enough to power up Egypt's sluggish economy. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Cairo
By Karim El-Gawhary
Druze in the Golan Heights

Squeezed between occupation and civil war

The Golan Heights were unilaterally annexed by Israel in 1981. At the time, many Syrian residents fled. Most of those who remained belong to the Druze community. In this article, Ylenia Gostoli takes a closer look at the situation for the Druze in the Golan Heights and shines a light on their relationship with both Syria and their co-religionists in Israel
By Ylenia Gostoli
Tunisia after the terror attacks

A battle for freedom and dignity

In the wake of the attacks on Sousse and the Bardo Museum, Tunisia has to stand up to those who oppose the nation's democratic development. The best way to counter the feelings that draw young people to extremism, writes Rachid Ghannouchi, chairman of the Ennahda Party, is to ensure participation, fair economic growth, and security without restricting the country's hard-won freedoms
By Rachid al-Ghannouchi
The Kurdish conflict

Barzani in a tight spot

Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, wants rid of the PKK. Demanding that the group leaves the Qandil Mountains is a politically calculated move. But the Iraqi Kurds are not united in this view: another leading Iraqi Kurd politician and former Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, wants the PKK to stay. An analysis by Birgit Svensson in Erbil
By Birgit Svensson
The Baloch community in Pakistan and Iran

A forgotten conflict that is very much alive

Ever since colonial borders were drawn in Central Asia over 120 years ago, the Baloch people in both Iran and Pakistan have faced oppression and struggle – largely unnoticed by the international community. By Emran Feroz
By Emran Feroz
Turkish military operations against IS and the PKK

Erdogan's double strategy

After years of hesitancy, Turkey has begun launching airstrikes on IS positions in Syria. At the same time, Ankara has also deployed its air force against fighters with the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Analysts suspect that President Erdogan is now pursuing a strategy all his own. By Cigdem Akyol in Istanbul
By Cigdem Akyol
Kurds in Iraq

When hope turns to fear

By extending its airstrikes against the terror organisation IS to include Kurdish militant PKK targets, Turkey risks escalating conflict with other Kurdish groups in the region. The Iraqi Kurds are worried. By Birgit Svensson in Irbil
By Birgit Svensson
New anti-terrorism law in Tunisia

Law triggers hope and concern

Tunisia has adopted a new anti-terror law in a bid to rein in the country's security problems. But critics say the legislation is inadequate and that it could potentially spell a return to authoritarian structures. By Sarah Mersch in Tunisia
By Sarah Mersch
The rise of Boko Haram

When the terror began

In his new book, journalist Mike Smith describes the rise of Boko Haram from an obscure sect to a feared terrorist group. According to Ulrich Schwerin, while Smith vividly portrays the group's violent practices, he leaves many questions about the movement's goals, structures and financing unanswered
By Ulrich von Schwerin