Politics

On the Death of Pope Shenouda III

A Pragmatist Who Was Not Afraid to Take a Stand

Pope Shenouda III, the head of the Christian Coptic Church, passed away last weekend. Throughout his time as Coptic spiritual leader, he faced a variety of challenges from all sides: Islamisation, dictatorship and even revolution. His successor has yet to be named. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Cairo
By Karim El-Gawhary
Interview with Samar Yazbek

Conveying the Suffering of the Syrian People

In her "Damascene Diaries", the Syrian writer and journalist Samar Yazbek documents the first months of the revolution. Since she has been in exile, she sees how Syrians have been left utterly alone. She has made it her task to give them a voice. Susanne Schanda met the author for an interview in Zurich
By Susanne Schanda
Syria

Plea for a Humanitarian Intervention

The urgently needed humanitarian intervention in Syria will only become reality if there is consensus between the five veto powers in the UN Security Council. As impossible as it seems – it can be done, says Andreas Zumach
By Andreas Zumach
The Presidential Election in France

Flirting with the Political Right

In the run-up to next month's presidential election in France, the country's conservative politicians are trying to attract the attention and the support of right-wing voters by using right-wing populist rhetoric in the debate about immigration and integration. Bernhard Schmid reports from Paris
By Bernhard Schmid
Middle East Peace Process

Palestinian Unity Required to Move Forward

Palestinian analysts doubt that the recent deal between Fatah and Hamas will help overcome the Palestinian division. Still, people are demanding that both political camps put their differences aside and reach solutions. Bettina Marx reports
By Bettina Marx
After Yemen's Presidential Election

A Herculean Task

Militia in the north, separatists in the south, al-Qaeda and the return to the country of the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh ... the challenges facing Yemen's interim government on the road to democracy are staggering. From Sanaa, Birgit Svensson explains that the country's new leadership is actually fighting a war on four fronts
By Birgit Svensson
Parliamentary Elections in Iran

A Well-staged Show

The elections to the Iranian parliament on 2 March were strictly monitored by police and security forces. The regime is undoubtedly satisfied with the outcome and claims a healthy turnout. Reformers, on the other hand, have dismissed the elections as an "orchestrated farce". Marcus Michaelsen reports
By Marcus Michaelsen
Interview with Kifah Al-Jawahiri

''Iraq's Political Crisis Is Massive''

In the wake of the US withdrawal from Iraq and amid a growing internal political crisis, Karlos Zurutuza spoke to Kifah Al Jawahiri, one of the country's most respected human rights activists
By Karlos Zurutuza
Uprising in Syria

Homs and Hama: Is History Repeating Itself?

Thirty years after the massacre in the Syrian city of Hama, in which over 20,000 people lost their lives, people are once again being massacred in Syria. Yet according to Kristin Helberg, although the regime's brutality is the same; the current uprising is different to the one in 1982
By Kristin Helberg
Interview with the Yemeni Minister Huria Mashhour

''The Immunity Law Is an Offence against Everything''

In Yemen, it is predominantly the younger generation protesting against the immunity law that guarantees dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh full legal protection for the entire duration of his 33 years in office. Charlotte Wiedemann spoke to Yemen's Minister for Human Rights, Huria Mashhour, in Sanaa
By Charlotte Wiedemann
Start of the Trial against NGO Staff in Egypt

Indignation instead of Evidence

Hardly begun and already adjourned: The accused foreigners in the case against the german Konrad Adenauer Foundation didn't even attend the trial in Cairo. By Karim El-Gawhary
By Karim El-Gawhary
The West and Syria

It's Time to Act

The mass atrocities being committed daily in Syria will not cease without outside intervention, says Radwan Ziadeh, spokesperson of the Syrian National Council
By Radwan Ziadeh