Politics

Kurdish defence

Peshmerga help families flee from IS

Civilians who are fleeing from the "Islamic State" group near Mosul in Iraq are actively helped by Kurdish peshmerga forces during their escape. Judit Neurink reports from Bashiqa
By Judit Neurink
Tahar Ben Jelloun on the killing of a priest in Normandy

"A declaration of war on Christianity"

On the morning of 26 July 2016, in the church of St-Étienne-du-Rouvray, a small town near Rouen, the 86-year-old priest Jacques Hamel was murdered by two IS terrorists during a service. The Moroccan writer Tahar Ben Jalloun, a high-profile intellectual in the Arab world, issued this response the very same day
By Tahar Ben Jelloun
IS terrorism in Europe

Glorifying terminology

Those who kill in the name of the IS and do an especially thorough job of it earn the honorary title "Inghimasi". Efficiency is everything here. Joseph Croitoru provides insights into the murderous strategies of jihadist suicide bombers
By Joseph Croitoru
Interview with the turkish journalist Ahmet Şık

Turkey's coup plotters 'sold each other out'

Journalist Ahmet Şık believes Turkey’s July 15 military coup attempt failed because the alliance between followers of cleric Fetullah Gulen and other segments of the military fell apart. Interview by Beklan Kulaksizoglu
By Beklan Kulaksizoglu
Putsch aftermath in Turkey

Autocracy or military dictatorship?

What we can learn from the Turkish and Egyptian examples and why both Erdogan's model and that of al-Sisi are doomed to fail. An analysis by Karim El-Gawhary in Cairo
By Karim El-Gawhary
Turkey and the failed coup

God′s gift to Erdogan

The military coup in Turkey only strengthens Erdogan's power – and weakens democracy in the country, writes Christiane Schloetzer in her commentary
By Christiane Schlötzer
Erdogan′s Turkey

Night of terror

An attempted coup in Turkey led to a night of gunfire and explosions, with residents waking up to an uncertain future. Diego Cupolo reports from Ankara
By Diego Cupolo
France following the attack on Nice

Duty-bound to act

Terrorism is a threat to everyone in France. It′s not a case of ″us against them″: such attacks are also putting the future and safety of Muslims in Western societies in jeopardy. A commentary by Barbara Wesel
By Barbara Wesel
Reform in Morocco

Plagued by inertia

The former Secretary-General of Transparency Maroc Azzedine Akesbi was in Germany in June for a research project he is conducting as a fellow at the German Development Institute (DIE). With a view to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Morocco on 7 October 2016, Martina Sabra spoke with the economist and education expert on political reforms and the fight against corruption in the country
By Martina Sabra
The not-so-United Kingdom

A potentially sticky wicket

Although a majority of Asian and Muslim voters rejected a Brexit, about a third did vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Thomas Baerthlein reports from London about their motives – and increasing concerns about the negative fallout of the referendum on all ethnic minorities, particularly Asians and Muslims
By Thomas Bärthlein
The reconquest of Fallujah

The serpent′s head

Last week Iraq′s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, announced victory over the "Islamic State" terror militia in Fallujah and the liberation of the city. But following the advance of government forces into the centre of the western Iraqi IS stronghold, the refugee crisis in the region is worsening. The mass exodus from Fallujah continues, with people still leaving in their thousands. By Birgit Svensson
By Birgit Svensson
Where is Egypt's left heading?

"The political arena is closed"

Nearly three years after the army seized power, Egypt's regime-critical opposition finds itself with its back to the wall. Politically marginalised left-wing parties and movements are now trying to maintain their ability to act by forging close alliances. Will this really allow afford them political influence in the longer term? Sofian Philip Naceur reports from Cairo
By Sofian Philip Naceur