Politics

The Nuclear Conflict with Iran

Tehran's Game of Cat and Mouse Continues

In the mounting dispute with the West over its nuclear program, Iranian foreign policy has taken some confusing and contradictory twists and turns. Bahman Nirumand takes a look behind the scenes
The West and Iran

Iran's Attack Blowback

A military confrontation with Iran will serve only to revive the fortunes of the country's infamous president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and fortify the Islamic Republic's last, desperate grab for a rebirth.
By Nasrin Alavi
Dispute over Iran's Nuclear Programme

Compromise-Free Politics

Sanctions or military intervention would achieve exactly the opposite of what they are allegedly being used to achieve. Instead of isolating the regime, Iranian civil society would be split right down the middle, writes Bahman Nirumand
Controversial Immunity Law in Afghanistan

National Reconciliation at the Cost of the Victims?

A new law has been proposed in Afghanistan to pave the way toward national reconciliation by guaranteeing all groups involved in the war during the past 28 years immunity. Ratbil Shamel with details
Intellectuals in Turkey

Targeted by the Nationalists

Following the assassination of journalist Hrant Dink, the lingering ultra-nationalist mood in Turkey is becoming more and more unbearable and dangerous for intellectuals. Gunnar Köhne reports from Istanbul
Palestinian Government Crisis

Abbas and Meshaal Strike Deal for Unity Government

Palestinian leaders Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Meshaal ended two days of intensive talks in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where they reached an agreement on the formation of a national unity government. Louisa Schaefer has more
The UN Human Rights Council

"The Situation Is Worse Than Before"

When the Human Rights Council was established in March 2006, it replaced the UN Commission on Human Rights, which was often criticised for the high-profile positions it gave to member states with bad human rights records. In this interview, Council member Günter Nooke talks about the work of the new institution
Saudi Arabia and the Middle East Conflict

Not an Enemy of Israel

On the one hand Saudi Arabia is, together with Israel, the most important US ally in the Middle East; on the other, Saudi Arabia lays claim to a leadership role in the Arab and Muslim world, where radical anti-Israel positions are widespread. By Guido Steinberg
Presidential Elections in Turkmenistan

Opposition Left Out in the Cold

Turkmenistan will elect a new president this coming Sunday. For the first time, citizens have the chance to choose between several candidates. But the victor is already a foregone conclusion – the old, new President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov. Gesine Dornblüth reports
EU Positions on Turkey's Membership

Negotiations in the Freezer

Views on Turkey's EU membership bid are still widely divergent in many European countries and in all political parties. Daniela Schröder summarizes the various European positions
Islamic Banking

Investing as Pleases God

Financial transactions in accordance with Islamic law are gaining ground. Klaus Hachmeier discusses "riba" prohibition, "murabaha" transactions and other principles of Islamic banking
Holocaust Research

The Arab Righteous of the Maghreb

Was there an Arab Raoul Wallenberg? This question was the inspiration for Robert Satloff's five-year research into the "lost stories of the Holocaust's long reach into the Arab lands". Götz Nordbruch takes a look at Satloff's findings