Politics

The Armenian Genocide

The Search for Truth and the Historical Context

Questions about the young Turkish Republic and the Armenians are still causing waves ninety years later. Now historians who are trying to reconstruct the historical context are increasingly being paid heed. Jürgen Gottschlich reports
Security Situation in Afghanistan

More Faith in the Taliban than in the Government?

The Taliban's attacks are no longer restricted to targets in the South and East of the country. Moreover, as Ratbil Shamel reports, their numbers have recently been swelled by dissatisfied police officers and soldiers who have deserted their posts
Civil War in Somalia

Worse Even Than Darfur

For the last year, the transitional government of Somalia has been involved in a bloody campaign of street fighting with insurgents. In spite of the many victims among the civilian population, no-one seems to be prepared to intervene. Marc Engelhardt reports
Ban Looming for Turkey's Kurdish DTP Party

Strategy of Escalation

In July of this year, the DTP succeeded in fielding a pro-Kurdish fraction in the Turkish parliament, for the first time in the history of the republic. But now the party may be facing a ban because of its political proximity to the PKK. Antje Bauer has the details
The Case of Hrant Dink

Incitement to Violence as Free Speech

In January, the Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was shot by a nationalist in Turkey, but the people behind the murder have still not been caught. In Berlin, Henriette Wrege met Hrant Dink's lawyer, Fethiye Cetin
Hereditary Succession in Egypt

Keeping Up Democratic Appearances

Jordan has a hereditary monarchy, in Syria dictatorial power has been passed on from father to son. In Egypt, too, though formally a democracy, the handover of power is looking more than likely to be a family affair. Jürgen Stryjak reports
Interview Ahmad Saif al-Islam Hamad

"No to Another Term of Mubarak in Office"

Egyptians will be voting in September on whether to extend the term of Husni Mubarak as president once more. Opposition to the move is growing, says Ahmad Hamad, executive director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre
Women's Rights in the New Turkish Constitution

In Favor of the Man

In Turkey, a growing number of women's rights advocates and feminists are critical of the draft constitution. The government's planned reform does not expand women's rights but substantially restricts them. Dilek Zaptcioglu reports from Istanbul
Al Jazeera English Celebrates Its First Anniversary

An Internal Clash of the Civilisations?

Few other television channels have received such intense media attention as the English version of Al Jazeera when it was launched one year ago in 2006. Has the channel lived up to expectations? Stephanie Dötzer reports
Kurdish Policy of Turkey's Governing AKP

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Although the Kurdish policy of the AKP differs radically from other parties in Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan has nonetheless been accused of leaving his policy of reconciliation by the wayside as a result of pressure from the military and nationalists. By Susanne Güsten
Iran's Independent Journalists under Pressure

Walking A Tightrope

Since Ahmadinejad came to power in Iran, the independent, critical press has seen its already restricted political freedom being eroded even further. But hardliners are also increasingly zeroing in on bloggers and members of Internet forums. By Arian Fariborz
EU Progress Report

A Bureaucratic Look at Turkey

The EU progress report on the situation in Turkey ignores the current crisis in the Kurdish region. In this respect it seems unrealistic. But it is these prosaic tactics that enable negotiations to progress, writes Daniela Schröder