Politics

Political Islam in South Asia

Islamising Malaysia

The debate about Malaysia's Islamic identity is intensifying. Seeming contradictions inherent in the country's constitution are further complicating the situation. Maznah Mohamad reports
Skull Scandal in Afghanistan

The Abhorrent Exception to the Rule

German officials have reacted well to the alleged desecration of a skull by German soldiers in Afghanistan, writes Peter Philipp in his commentary. He hopes the authorities in Kabul will follow suit
Palestinian-Israeli Peace Initiatives

Many Davids versus One Goliath

Although constantly faced with sharp restrictions imposed by the Israeli security forces, courageous Palestinian-Israeli peace activists are persisting in their protests against the Wall. Mona Sarkis reports on the activities of the joint action alliance
Turkish reactions to the French bill on the Armenians

Attempts to limit the damage

Since the lower house of the French parliament passed a bill making the denial of Turkish genocide against the Armenians into a punishable crime, it's not just Turkish nationalists and right-wing politicians who have been protesting against the law. Ömer Erzeren reports
France and the Armenian Genocide Bill

Political Maneuvering

There is widespread speculation over the motivations behind France's Armenian genocide bill. Some critics call it a pre-election maneuver while others denounce it as an attempt to block Turkey from entering the EU. By Bernhard Schmid
Islamists in Somalia

Fears of War on the Horn of Africa

After 15 years of anarchy in Somalia, Islamists have taken control of large parts of the country. But the growing influence of the Union of Islamic Courts and the rise to power of extremists threaten to embroil the entire region in war. By Marc Engelhardt
By Marc Engelhardt
Arrest of Sayyid Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi

An Ayatollah under Siege … in Tehran

The Tehran regime's persecution of a dissident Shi'a cleric and his supporters reveals not just its own ruthlessness but the depth of opposition to its rule.
By Nazenin Ansari
Sharia in Indonesia

Narrow-Mindedness versus Diversity

The introduction of Sharia-based regional laws in several Indonesian provinces has aggravated the sociopolitical climate in the world's most densely populated Muslim country. Yet it has also aroused resistance, as Christina Schott from Jakarta reports
Journalists in War Zones

A Deadly Grey Area

With military conflicts growing increasingly complex, the safety of journalists in battle zones and troubled areas is becoming a major issue. More and more, journalists and media workers are moving in a deadly grey area. By Petra Tabeling
Germany's Colonial History in the Mediterranean

A Place in the Orient

In his new book about the history of Germany's colonial endeavours, historian Malte Fuhrmann examines German political ambitions and strategies in the Orient in the 19th Century. Götz Nordbruch read the book
Row over Book Burning in Turkey

Reactionary Forces Try to Create National Hysteria

Turkish nationalists see their country's liberalization and its moves toward joining the EU as a betrayal. They are joining forces against those they hold responsible for the eclipse of Kemal's legacy, including writers. By Ömer Erzeren
Court Case against Intellectuals in Turkey

Minority Issues a Taboo Subject

There is no end to the wave of court cases against Turkish intellectuals on the alleged grounds of denigrating Turkish identity. Immediately following the Pamuk case, two government advisors were also brought to court last week. Günter Seufert reports