Politics

Interview with Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji

When writing becomes a crime

The Egyptian military regime regularly targets authors, accusing them of "violating public morals". The trial of Egyptian novelist and journalist Ahmed Naji ranks as one of the most prominent cases in recent years. Interview conducted by Moritz B. and Luisa M.
By Moritz B., Luisa M.
Germanyʹs new Homeland minister

No to religious parity

By stating that Islam is not part of Germany, newly appointed Homeland Minister Horst Seehofer is not only polarising the population. At the same time, he is cementing the fundamentally unequal treatment of religious communities in Germany. Commentary by Farid Hafez
By Farid Hafez
Egyptʹs 2018 presidential elections

Blatant autocracy

No-one is under any illusion about the forthcoming presidential elections in Egypt at the end of March. With the current regime shamelessly and unambiguously issuing instructions to one political party after another to put up candidates, the outcome will be a sham, argues Shady Lewis Botros
By Shady Lewis Botros
Germany's new cabinet

Where's the ethnic diversity?

Before the new German cabinet had even got down to business, there were grumblings about its make-up. With the number of women ministers higher and the average age of the cabinet lower than ever before, one group was glaringly missing from the ministerial line-up: people with personal experience of integration. By Richard A. Fuchs
By Richard A. Fuchs
Interview with Kristin Helberg on the Syria conflict

Boundless cynicism

In conversation with Diana Hodali, Syria expert Kristin Helberg is critical of the fact that although the Europeans may be ready to take part in a military intervention in the Syrian conflict without a UN mandate if necessary, they insist on a UN mandate when it concerns the protection of civilians
By Diana Hodali
Iranʹs image in Europe

Making believe

According to many European analyses of Iran, the election of President Hassan Rouhani marked a significant turning point. While in the days of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the country was still widely regarded as the incarnation of evil, Iran has ever since been cast in a predominantly positive light. By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
By Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Sultanate of Oman

A happy symbiosis

It is rare that a ruler is able to concentrate so much power in his own hands while remaining popular with his subjects: Sultan Qaboos has achieved a synthesis of tradition and globalisation. By Ingrid Thurner
By Ingrid Thurner
Moroccoʹs treatment of Hirak El-Shaabi

Fair trial? Fat chance

More than a year after protests emerged in the northern city of Hoceima, Moroccan authorities continue to crackdown on support for Hirak, the popular movement that began when fish vendor Mouhcine Fikri was crushed to death in a garbage truck trying to retrieve his confiscated merchandise. By Matthew Greene
By Matthew Greene
Syria’s White Helmets

Stigmatising saviours

As mass murder takes place in Syria before the eyes of the world, civilian volunteers – such as the Syrian White Helmets – continue to be the subject of an extraordinary propaganda campaign. Instead of facts, this is dominated by fake news and a large dose of inhumanity. By Emran Feroz
By Emran Feroz
Interview with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkul Karman

"We need to bring back the Arab Spring!"

In 2011 Tawakkul Karman became the first Arab woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In interview with Nader Alsarras, the 39-year-old explains why the Arab Spring failed and why Yemen has since descended into war and chaos
By Nader Alsarras
Yemen′s Houthis

Defenders of the country?

It seems that whatever happens in Yemen, any victory is likely to prove to be a pyrrhic one, writes Stasa Salacanin. As a UN panel of experts recently reported, Yemen as a state essentially no longer exists and no party to the conflict has the political support or military strength to reunite the country
By Stasa Salacanin
Tunisia and the EU

Bolster the young democracy!

Many Tunisians are disillusioned with the EU. Convinced that fairer trading relations with their northern neighbours is the key to reinvigorating Tunisia′s flagging economy, they are critical of Europe′s failure to engage. By Isabel Schafer
By Isabel Schäfer