Politics

How much longer till Turkey's elections?

President under pressure – Erdogan's popularity nosedive

Turkey's parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for June 2023. But they are already casting a shadow. While the opposition is calling for early elections, President Erdogan is insisting on holding the elections in the highly symbolic year of 2023. For right now, his ratings are poor. Ronald Meinardus reports from Istanbul
By Ronald Meinardus
Iran's 2021 presidential elections

Iran's elite politicians ignore the burning social issues

Despite promises to the contrary, the social and economic situation in Iran deteriorated under President Rouhani, prompting two nationwide revolts in recent years. Yet the social question continues to be neglected by all factions of the elite. Meanwhile the country urgently needs social reform. By Ali Fathollah-Nejad and Arash Sarkohi
By Ali Fathollah-Nejad & Arash Sarkohi
Loyalty and legitimacy in Syria

Bashar al-Assad's staging of the presidential election

By stage-managing his re-election in a poll widely dismissed as a farce, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has killed two birds with one stone: he has forced his compatriots to demonstrate their loyalty and submission and will use the outcome to get money from abroad. He needs both to stay in power. By Kristin Helberg
By Kristin Helberg
France24: Israel's ongoing parliamentary saga

Dreams of the father guide Yair Lapid, next Israeli PM?

Yair Lapid, like his late father, is a journalist-turned-politician renowned for his staunchly secular positions. But as the centrist politician edges towards the Israeli premiership post, he's stepped out of his father’s shadow.
Middle East conflict

China fears instability in the Middle East

China has long portrayed itself as a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause. It has also claimed that in sharp contrast to the stance of the USA, its position is based on values. At the same time, it has been building closer political, economic and military links with Israel for years. Mu Cui examines how important the Middle East is to China
By Mu Cui
Interview with Mustafa Barghouti

Palestinians rediscover their sense of unity

Mustafa Barghouthi, Palestinian politician and secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative party is a key voice of the secular liberal left in Palestinian politics. Following the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire, he gives his view of events in Israel and the Occupied Territories in recent days and his hopes for German and European foreign policy going forward. Interview by Jannis Hagmann
By Jannis Hagmann
Escalation in the Middle East

Israeli-Hamas hostilities: same old story, or is it?

A young generation is rising up in the Middle East, fed up with the old politics. They are no longer interested in a two-state solution or territory, but in equal civil rights in an Israeli state, writes Karim El-Gawhary in his commentary
By Karim El-Gawhary
Middle East conflict

Gaza and Israeli residents struggle through a new reality

Hostilities broke out between Hamas and Israel less than a week ago. But a swift escalation has left civilians on both sides trying to come to terms with the maddening unpredictability. Tania Kraemer reports from Israel
By Tania Krämer
Escalation in the Middle East

Flare-up between Israel and Hamas paints a bleak picture

A local row triggered by ultra-right wing Jewish settlers trying to secure the forced expulsion of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem has re-ignited hostilities in the Middle East. As the bombs and rockets fall on Gaza and Israel once again, there is seems little prospect of a swift end to the clashes. By Inge Gunther
By Inge Günther
Power politics in Iran

Fallout from Mohammed Javad Zarif's political bombshell

An interview by Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif has provoked outrage in Iran. In it, Zarif criticised the Revolutionary Guards' destructive role in both the nuclear agreement and the Syrian war. Ali Sadrzadeh has the details
By Ali Sadrzadeh
Religious persecution in Pakistan

Violence increasing against the beleaguered Ahmadiyya community

Pakistan's anti-Ahmadi laws have been in place for almost 40 years now, and the impact on this religious minority has been devastating. In a war of attrition, the laws have ground down the Ahmadi community, scarring an entire generation. Fear, flight and persecution are the hallmarks of life for the Ahmadiyya in Pakistan. According to Mohammad Luqman, there is little hope of improvement
By Mohammad Luqman
Repercussions of 9/11

The West and the Islamic world – mutually radicalised?

In his book "Ground Zero: 9/11 und die Geburt der Gegenwart" (Ground Zero: 9/11 and the Birth of the Present) Islamic scholar Stefan Weidner analyses the consequences of the attacks on the USA in September 2001. Kersten Knipp spoke with him about failures – as well as opportunities – in the West-East dialogue
By Kersten Knipp