Politics

Joe Biden and U.S. policy on Turkey

No more special privileges for Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The foreign policy direction favoured by Washington's new incumbent is putting a strain on relations with Turkey. The two nations look set to clash over a whole host of issues, from human rights concerns to the S 400 Russian missile system, Ronald Meinardus writes in his analysis for Qantara.de
By Ronald Meinardus
Syria torture trial in Koblenz

German court sends message on Syrian war crimes

The verdict of a court in western Germany is the first step toward justice in Syria. It also paves the way for verdicts in war crime trials worldwide, writes DW's Matthias von Hein
By Matthias von Hein
Sectarian strife in Pakistan

Syria's proxy war widens gulf between Sunnis and Shias

After a period of relative calm, the conflict in Syria is reigniting the tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims in Pakistan: groups from both sects are involved in the clashes in Syria. The authorities fear a new wave of sectarian violence. Background by Mohammad Luqman
By Mohammad Luqman
Podcast on the Hanau terrorist attack one year on

"From 1990 to 2020 Germany's far right killed about 200 people"

On 19 February 2020, a right-wing terrorist murdered nine people in the German city of Hanau: Gokhan Gultekin, Sedat Gurbuz, Said Nesar Hashemi, Mercedes Kierpacz, Hamza Kurtovic, Vili Viorel Paun, Fatih Saracoglu, Ferhat Unvar und Kaloyan Velkov. Journalists Sham Jaff and Aline Jabarine talk to Schayan Riaz about the ongoing search for answers
By Schayan Riaz
Turkey’s failing economy, COVID vaccines and the Uighur issue

Coronavirus less dangerous than Erdogan's politics

Turkey launched its nationwide vaccination campaign with a Chinese vaccine in January. But the public focus is more on the desolate economic situation. Turkish politicians have failed to create real awareness of the dangers posed by coronavirus, writes Marion Sendker in her report from Istanbul
By Marion Sendker
Arabellion and the advent of Joe Biden

Yemen 10 years after the Arab Spring – never lose hope

Yemen's Arab Spring uprisings led to a raging civil war that has inflicted immense suffering on the population for the past seven years. Will the United States' halt on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and a new envoy help bring peace? By Jennifer Holleis
By Jennifer Holleis
Iranian Faezeh Hashemi, Rafsanjani's daughter, speaks out

Will the Islamic Republic ever get a female president?

Iran's social media was buzzing in January when, Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of Iran’s former President Rafsanjani gave a controversial interview, striking a chord with many Iranians. Questioning the merits of Tehran’s regional policy of "resistance" pursued by the late General Soleimani, Hashemi went on to assert that it will take sustained pressure to change the Islamic Republic’s policies. By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Lebanon and COVID-19

Coronavirus lockdown weighs heavy on a country in crisis

Coronavirus, economic crisis and an unresolved explosion: the situation in Lebanon is tense and a new lockdown is only making things worse for a people already suffering trauma and economic devastation. Diana Hodali reports
By Diana Hodali
Statement released by Human Rights Watch

"Critical juncture" for human rights in Egypt

More than 100 organisations consider the situation in Egypt under head of state Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to be so bad that they are calling for the UN Human Rights Council to intervene
Five years after the murder of Giulio Regeni

Europe's dangerous Egypt policy

Egypt has never been called to account for the murder of Giulio Regeni, nor for the numerous human rights violations committed by the Sisi regime. Focusing only on stability, European governments are increasingly losing touch with actual developments in Egypt, say Lars Brozus and Stephan Roll
By Stephan Roll und Lars Brozus
Tunisia ten years after the Arab Spring

Where are the democratic dividends for Tunisians?

Tunisia has launched a successful transition to democracy, but difficult economic and social times lie ahead. According to political scientist Said AlDailami, Europe should focus more on joint interests in its co-operation with the North African state. Interview conducted by Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Charting the history of Iran sanctions

The Islamic Republic's never-ending labour pains

The Islamic Republic of Iran has been subject to sanctions ever since its creation in 1979. The more the regime has entrenched itself and expanded its power in the region, the more sophisticated the sanctions have become, effectively crippling the country. Will they ever end? Ali Sadrzadeh traces their history
By Ali Sadrzadeh