Politics

The politics of the Pope in Iraq

Pope Francis and Ayatollah al-Sistani, meeting in faith

When Pope Francis sets foot in Iraq, he will be breaking historic ground while manoeuvring religious and political minefields. So will his foremost religious counterpart, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the Shia Muslim world’s foremost scholars and leaders. By James M. Dorsey
By James M. Dorsey
MEP Dietmar Koester on Fortress Europe

"The EU allows human rights to be trampled underfoot"

EU parliamentarian Dietmar Koester criticises the Union's failure to speak up when faced with human rights abuses committed by its Middle Eastern allies, while pointing out that its own isolationist migration policies contravene fundamental European values. Interview by Ismail Azzam
By Ismail Azzam
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, Lars Brozus