Politics

Afghanistan

Taking Stock of Four Years of Reconstruction

The goals of the Petersberg Agreement have largely been met: an emergency and constituent Loya Jirga was convened and presidential and parliamentary elections were held. But the country is still in hot water, writes Martin Gerner
Islamophobia in French Media

An Imaginary Conception of an Essentialised Islam

In his book "Imaginary Islam: The media's construction of Islamophobia in France", the political scientist Thomas Deltombe reveals certain parallels in the way Islam is perceived by the French media and by ultra-conservative Muslims. By Bernard Schmid
Islamic Terrorism in Indonesia

Jihad Misunderstood?

A video containing admissions by three of the suicide bombers who perpetrated the Bali attacks of 1 October has triggered a long-overdue debate amongst Muslims in Indonesia about Islamist terrorism. Bettina David reports
Indonesia

How Do Women Influence Political Islam?

Efforts to influence political Islam are made by Indonesian women both within the Islamic movement and outside it. Which is more effective is difficult to say. However women in Indonesia have changed their political strategies considerably. By Susan Blackburn
Iraq Elections

Conflict along Ethnic and Religious Lines

The allegations of voter fraud in the Iraqi elections have not been disproved; yet the major parties have agreed to go along with the outcome now presented. In this interview Gareth Stansfield, Iraq expert, talks about the troubled waters of Iraqi politics
Commentary Hamas' Electoral Win

Headache for Israel and the West

Hamas has a reputation among the electorate of social involvement and incorruptibility. For Israel and the West, however, the radical Islamic Hamas is a political pariah. Peter Philipp comments the outcome of the Palestinian elections
Drug Trafficking in Tajikistan

Fighting a Losing Battle

If Europe and the US had their way, the drugs from Afghanistan would end their journey to the west at the border with Tajikistan. But such a proposal requires more resources than such a desperately poor country can manage. Tobias Asmuth reports
Islamic NGOs

The Globalisation of Islamic Relief

The experience of one Islamic charity with modest English origins is symbol and portent of changes in the landscape of NGOs worldwide.
By Ehsan Masood
Political Power Struggle in Afghanistan

The President's New Rivals

Following the election of the ethnic Tajik Yunus Qanuni as president of the lower house of parliament, it is just a matter of time before conflicts with President Hamid Karzai erupt, writes Said Musa Samimy
Middle East

Hamas vs. Fatah

For the first time the Islamist Hamas movement is running for Parliament. Opinion polls suggest a neck-and-neck race and a possible sharing of power between the ruling Fatah movement and the highly controversial Hamas. Igal Avidan has more from Ramallah
Commentary Tahir Aslam Gora

Islam Needs to Evolve

The London bombings have shocked the world and once again raised the question 'Why?'. But people who hurry to blame fundamentalists and poverty are missing the point: Islam itself. A commentary by Tahir Aslam Gora
Interview with Tom Koenigs

"The World Has to Prepare for a Long Presence in Afghanistan"

Germany's Tom Koenigs will soon take up his new post as UN special envoy to Afghanistan. Klaudia Prevezanos talked to him about his expectations and Germany's future human rights policy