Politics

Interview with Heiner Bielefeldt

"A Ban on Torture Is an Absolute Ban"

Heiner Bielefeldt is the director of the German Institute for Human Rights. In this interview with Mona Naggar, he talks about the rule of law in times of terror, about the headscarf ban, and religious minority rights
Egypt's Hijab Debate

"Islam Is Not a Dress"

Earlier this month Egyptian Cultural Minister Farouk Hosni said that the headscarf is a "symbol of backwardness". The minister, who was quoted in an independent daily, said he was only stating his personal opinion and not a religious view. Reem Nada reports
Holocaust Conference in Teheran

A Circus for Deniers

The "Holocaust Conference" in Teheran was less a meeting of minds and more of a "traveling circus" of Holocaust deniers who are not taken seriously anywhere, says Peter Philipp
Ceasefire in the Middle East

Signs of Attrition

The Gaza Strip remains under siege. With Hamas and Fatah apparently incapable of compromise, it's likely that the current ceasefire in the Middle East will not withstand the next storm. A commentary by Christian Sterzing
International Day of Human Rights

A Dam Breach for the Rule of Law

After 9/11 a great number of constitutional democracies have approved many national security policy measures at the expense of civil liberties – a development that brings the threat of barbarism straight to our doorstep, says Ulrike Mast-Kirschning
Islamic Economy

For Muslims, Profit Is Not a Dirty Word

Many Muslim economists criticize the dominant western economic systems that are forced upon other cultures. They demand a fundamentally different, Islamic economic system. By Sibylle Pohly-Bergstresser
Reactions to the Pope's Visit to Turkey

In the Best Interests of Both Sides

While the Roman Catholic Church welcomes the Pope's visit as a chance to mend its damaged relationship with the Muslims, the Turkish government is taking advantage of the opportunity to present the Pope as chief witness to Turkey being part of Europe. By Ömer Erzeren
AIDS in Iran

Dubious Education

AIDS has long ceased being a taboo topic in Iran. The state has made efforts to bring the problem under control. However, official statements and social reality are still worlds apart. Shahram Ahadi reports
Sudan/Chad

War Without Borders

Violence is escalating in Darfur in western Sudan and in eastern Chad. Although both conflicts have very different origins, they are mutually fuelling aggression on both sides of the border. Marc Engelhardt reports
Lebanon

A Country Divided

In the wake of recent events, Lebanon is now confronting a new crisis that is splitting the country into two camps. This time, however, it's not different faiths that are squaring off, as in the civil war of the 1980s. Bernhard Hillenkamp reports
World Bank Report

International Migration as Challenge and Opportunity

By analyzing the economic implications of migration, the World Bank concludes that migrants are more of a boon than a burden to the world economy. And, if properly managed, it says migration can help reduce poverty. By Lisa Schlein
Interview with Samina Ahmed

"Karzai Must Win Back the Trust of his People"

In order to get Afghanistan back on track, President Hamid Karsai will have to tackle corruption in earnest and make his government accountable and transparent, says Samina Ahmed, political analyst, in this interview with Qantara.de