Politics

Conflict over Berg Karabakh

"It's Time to Forget This War"

In the Berg Karabakh region, where Armenians are a majority, the war has long been over. But the conflict continues to smolder. Armenians as well as Azerbaijanians are ready to wage war, if necessary. Andreas Brenner reports from Berg Karabakh
Muslims in Germany

Accepting the Reality of Immigration

Germany is the country with the largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. In this interview with Angela Lieber, Jonathan Laurence from the International Crisis Group asseses the state of integration in Germany
Microcredits for Small Business Start-Ups in Indonesia

Religion No Bar to Financial Support

The Indonesian Dian Mandiri Foundation is a Christian organisation that specialises in the allocation of microcredits, the majority of them to Muslim savings clubs. The funds are intended to provide the means to set up small businesses. Christina Schott reports
Human Rights in Egypt

Fighting Torture with Mobile Phones and Weblogs

Despite the fact that Egypt has signed the international convention against torture, torture incidents are still prevalent. Nelly Youssef takes a look at the most recent torture scandals and some of the reasons behind them
The EU and Egypt

Stability or Human Rights?

In order not to put its credibility as an international player at risk, the European Union must demonstrate a consistent commitment to human rights in its relations to Egypt, says Isabel Schäfer
Algeria's Petrodollars

Full Coffers, Poor Population

Although the Algerian state has profited hugely from the oil boom, poverty levels in the country are rising. More and more people in Algeria are starting to wonder where the petrodollars actually go. Youssef Boufidjelin and Hassan Znined report
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's Confession

Trying to Silence the Critics of Guantanamo

The confession of al Qaida No. 3 Khalid Sheikh Mohammed may be exactly what Washington wanted. But Guantanamo's history makes his admission suspect, Peter Philipp warns
Fighting in Northern Yemen

National Versus Tribal Law

For the last three years, largely unnoticed by the rest of the world, there has been an armed conflict under way in Northern Yemen. The government hopes finally to crush the Shiite rebels with its latest offensive. Susanne Sporrer reports
Somalia and Ethiopia

"Against the Islamists, Peace Is Impossible"

Somalia's government and Ethiopian troops drove out the Council of Islamic Courts late last year, but the government is now struggling with a growing insurgency. In this interview, Wolfgang Heinrich, expert on northeast African affairs, says the West used the wrong strategy
Islamic Funds

Shares Overseen by Sharia

On the international financial markets one can now find "Islamic finance" and investments which conform to Sharia law. Matilda Jordanova-Duda looks at what makes them different
Portrait Ramzan Kadyrov

The Idi Amin of the Caucasus?

Effective March 2, 2007, Chechnya has a new president who grew up amidst the extreme violence of a ten-year-long civil war and who is known today for his dubious economic and political machinations. By Marcus Bensmann
The EU's Common Asylum Policy

Rights on the Edge

One gets the impression that the aim of the EU's common asylum policy is not to protect refugees, but to protect Europe from refugees, says Karl Kopp in his commentary