Politics

Civil war in Libya

Forever at loggerheads

After one year in office, Libya′s Government of National Accord is on the verge of collapse. While its ministers are trying to maintain order in the capital, the armed opposition is challenging them for strategic positions. At the same time, the government is involved in a proxy war with the East Libyan army. Valerie Stocker reports from Tripoli
By Valerie Stocker
German-Turkish relations in crisis

Fraying at the edges

The authoritarian course taken by the Turkish government is adversely affecting relations with Germany: the more the values in the two countries drift apart, the weaker the basis for a reliable and stable partnership. By Gulistan Gurbey
By Gülistan Gürbey
The decline of humanism in the Arab world

With an iron fist

Gone the dream of a modern Arab civil society. Syrian writer Nasser Rabbat examines the historical causes for despotism, tyranny and oppression in the Arab world
By Nasser Rabbat
Erdogan's 'Nazi' accusations

Politically motivated provocation

For German-Turkish journalist Cigdem Akyol, Erdogan′s recent ′Nazi′ outbursts can be put down to electioneering. Few taboos remain in his race to win the upcoming referendum. Yet German politicians and the media will be playing into his hands if they overreact. Interview by Laura Doing
By Laura Döing
Interview with Egyptian activist Ahmed Said

The scorpion's sting

Trainee doctor Ahmed Said was arrested in Egypt in 2015 and imprisoned for one year. His crime? Taking part in a peaceful event to mark the 2011 revolution. Part of his sentence was spent in the infamous ″Scorpion″, a prison where torture is rife. Interview by Delia Friess
By Delia Friess
Geert Wilders and the right-wing populists

Heads they win, tails they win

Geert Wilders' far-right populist party is neck-to-neck in the polls with the governing VVD in the run-up to elections in the Netherlands next week. While it′s unlikely to be part of the next government, many people fear its ideas will be implemented. Thessa Lageman reports from The Hague
By Thessa Lageman
German-Turkish relations

No real leverage

Repeated demands for Germany to take a firm line with Erdogan and to end the refugee deal with Turkey have become a favourite mantra of many among the German opposition parties. A hardening of the rhetoric alone, however, is hardly likely to induce Erdogan to change his tack. By Ulrich von Schwerin
By Ulrich von Schwerin
Egyptian Copts flee the Sinai

"They're slaughtering us like chickens"

Christians living in the Sinai are an easy target for IS jihadists. They began carrying out a series of murders aimed at intimidating the religious minority and causing panic. The result is a Christian exodus from the northern Sinai. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Ismailia
By Karim El-Gawhary
Angela Merkel′s visit to Egypt

Blinkered realpolitik

No head of state looks forward to meeting a national leader known for the brutal silencing of his critics. Had Angela Merkel pursued a more courageous line in foreign policy, she could have saved herself a deal of discomfiture. By Matthias Sailer
By Matthias Sailer
Deportations to Afghanistan

No safe country of origin

Since the middle of December, 78 Afghans have been deported from Germany on charter flights. The most recent of these joint deportation flights to Kabul took off only last week. Despite the fact that war and destruction are still part of everyday life in Afghanistan, other such flights are already planned. By Emran Feroz
By Emran Feroz
Iranian-Saudi relations

For better, for worse

The West often reduces the strained relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia to the sectarian Sunni-Shia conflict, but the reality is far more complex. By Joseph Croitoru
By Joseph Croitoru
Resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict

Expect nothing from Trump

While the US continues to turn a blind eye to settlement expansion, the international community and the EU in particular are left with the responsibility of ensuring that everyday life in the Palestinian enclaves does not collapse. Time for a rethink, argue policy analysts Sam Bahour and Mousa Jiryis
By Sam Bahour, Mousa Jiryis