Politics

Riad Seif’s testimony at the Syrian torture trial in Germany

A Syrian opposition legend speaks out

In the first case of its kind anywhere in the world, a German court is probing Syria's state torture system. Giving testimony at the trial is one of Syria's most widely respected opposition figures, Riad Seif, who helped the accused, Anwar R., get a visa for Germany. By Matthias von Hein
By Matthias von Hein
Interview with political scientist Hugo Micheron

"The attack on Charlie Hebdo was a belated wake-up call"

Political scientist Hugo Micheron on the origins of Islamist terrorism in France, his conversations with jihadists – and on the trial now beginning against the perpetrators of the 2015 attacks. Interview by Nadia Pantel
By Nadia Pantel
Pakistan and the Gulf

Arab allies jump ship over Pakistan's 'new Kashmir policy'

Lacking support from Arab countries for its stance on the Kashmir dispute, Pakistan is looking for new alliances under China's leadership. How practical is it for Islamabad to pursue its new foreign policy? By Haroon Janjua
By Haroon Janjua
2015 and the Syrian influx

Five years on: how has Germany's refugee policy fared?

Five years ago, as hundreds of thousands of refugees came to Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel maintained: "We can do it." How has Germany – and those who sought asylum – managed since then? Christoph Hasselbach explains
By Christoph Hasselbach
Escalation or mediation in the Eastern Med?

Turkey and Greece at loggerheads over maritime sovereignty

Will German attempts at mediation avert the Eastern Mediterranean crisis? Greece has accused Turkey of conducting illegal explorations for shale gas close to the Greek islands. Yet Ankara maintains that the waters are part of the Turkish continental shelf. Ronald Meinardus reports from Istanbul
By Ronald Meinardus
COVID-19 in the Middle East

It's high summer and coronavirus has never been stronger

Heat will kill coronavirus – that was the official line at the start of the pandemic. But this is not the case. Infection rates are currently on the rise, even in the world’s hottest regions. Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Activists fear increased cyber-surveillance

Will repression in UAE intensify under the Israel deal?

Thanks to the recent rapprochement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi should in future be able to access Israeli espionage software even more easily in order to spy on politically unpopular citizens. By Tom Allinson
By Kersten Knipp & Tom Allinson
Hic sunt dracones

Is Iran set to forfeit its national interests to China?

A partnership planned between Iran and China is intended to strategically link the two countries for a quarter of a century. It is unclear, however, exactly what the alliance will entail and whether its lofty ambitions can indeed be fulfilled. Iranian politicians of almost every persuasion remain highly sceptical. By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Interview with Middle East analyst Stephan Roll

"Egypt's leadership feels markedly threatened by Turkey"

The dispute about maritime territories between Turkey and Greece is heating up. Egypt's involvement has added a new dimension to the conflict, says Middle East analyst Stephan Roll. Interview by Panagiotis Kouparanis
By Panagiotis Kouparanis
Lebanese protesters call for systemic change

What now for Beirut, once the Paris of the Middle East?

The destruction of the port of Beirut – and Lebanon's free-falling economy – has fuelled calls to end the country's sectarian political system, which allocates power among Christians, Shia, and Sunni Muslims according to a rigid formula. But might such a change merely deepen suspicion among an already deeply divided population? by John Andrews
By John Andrews
Interview with Lebanese political scientist Bassel Salloukh

Will a new Lebanon arise from the ashes of Beirut?

The explosions in Beirut killed more than 150 people, injured 6,000 and left 250,000 homeless. In interview with Julia Neumann, political scientist Bassel Salloukh talks about the consequences of this tragedy, the worsening political crisis – and the nature of political reality in Lebanon as the government slowly unravels
By Julia Neumann
Amman and The Teachers' Syndicate

Free speech for everybody? Not so in Jordan, apparently

In recent weeks, Jordan's social media has been awash with photos and videos of demonstrators gathering in cities all over the country, chanting "Long live the teacher" and "we will not be silenced". Mainstream media coverage, however, has been noticeably lacking. By Marta Vidal
By Marta Vidal